TRAMMEL, VIRGINIA
Trammel was built in 1918-1919 by the Virginia Banner Coal Corporation. After being briefly operated by Wakenva Coal Co., Trammel became the property of Vance L. Bird in the 1930's. Bird
named his company the Big Banner Coal Corporation. Mining was in the Upper Banner and Lower Banner coal seams. In 1986, after Bird and his wife had died, Trammel residents formed the Trammel Homeowners Association, which raised more than $90,000 to help residents purchase their homes, which they
had been renting.
Former Virginia Banner Coal Corp. company store in Trammel. The coal companies at Trammel did not use the scrip payroll system.
Former coal company houses still in existence at Trammel.
This larger structure at Trammel was the probably the clubhouse. It has since been torn down.
A close look at this rown of coal company houses reveals that some of the original homes have been replaced by metal garages.
Most Trammel houses have no driveways, so the residents park wherever they can.
Bluefield Daily Telegraph, August 18, 1990 titled, "Former Mining Camp Steps Toward Modern Times."
TRAMMEL, Va. (AP) - This castoff
coal mining camp is about to become
a modern town, four years after it
was bought for $70,000 by its tenants
in a highly publicized auction.
Dickenson County officials broke
ground for the community's $1.3 million
water and sewer system on Thursday.
"This is a very, very special day,"
said Delores Rose, of the Trammel
Homeowners Association." At one
point, I did lose faith and give up, but
now we have to look toward what
we're going to have."
The Trammel Homeowners Association
was formed soon after residents
learned their rented homes would be
sold at auction to settle the estate of
M.S. Bird, who bought the property
from Banner Coal Co. about 50 years
ago.
The auction attracted national media
attention as the community of
two-dozen families held bake sales
and yard sales to raise money to buy
the 27 homes. Donations came in
from organizations in several states.
Six different agencies are providing
funding for the project including the
Appalachian Regional Commission.
$500,000, and the Virginia Department
of Housing and Community Development,
$700,000.
Nov. 2016 image by author
Nov. 2016 image by author
Google Street View image
Nov. 2016 image by author
Nov. 2016 image by author