chapter 4a - coal heritage

Four

35 Addendum to the Coal Heritage Trail Corridor Management Plan

Intrinsic QualitiesThe resources along a scenic byway corridor must be able to be seen or experienced and must be of a quality that elevates them to regional signifi cance. In the case of the Coal Heritage Trail, the earlier CMP demonstrated that there was a plethora of signifi cant and important resources suffi cient to justify the Coal Heritage Trail’s status as a national scenic byway. The National Scenic Byways Program refers to these resources as intrinsic qualities, of which there are six:

1. Scenic quality;

2. Natural quality;

3. Historic quality;

4. Cultural quality;

5. Archeological quality; and

6. Recreational quality.

The CHT CMP described the historic, cultural, natural, scenic and recreational qualities of the resources along the CHT. Similarly, in this addendum, the six intrinsic qualities will be assessed and evaluated. However, the historic qualities of the extension areas, just as along the earlier designated Coal Heritage Trail, are what elevates this corridor to a place of regional signifi cance.

Historic Quality

The National Scenic Byway Program defi nes historic quality as follows:

Historic Quality encompasses legacies of the past that are distinctly associated with physical elements of the landscape, whether natural or manmade, that are of such historic signifi cance that they educate the viewer and stir an appreciation for the past. The historic elements refl ect the actions of people and may include buildings, settlement patterns, and other examples of human activity. Historic features can be inventoried, mapped, and interpreted. They possess integrity of location, design, setting, mate-rial, workmanship, feeling, and association.

Intrinsic Qualities in the Raleigh and Fayette County Extension Areas

The resources in the Raleigh and Fayette County exten-sion areas, and the added Wyoming County resources, were inventoried and assessed for their intrinsic quality (or qualities); for the degree of intactness of the resource; for the resource’s ability to appeal to a broad, enthsiast or specialist audience; for the ability of the resource to portray one of the multiple intepretive themes; and, lastly, for how easy or diffi cult it is for visitors to access the resource. The list below summarizes the information that was gathered during inventory of the resources.

Information Gathered during Inventory

1. Name of resource

2. Location [district number] of resource

3. Intrinsic Quality Category of resource

• Archeological Qualities (A)

• Cultural Qualities (C)

• Historic Qualities (H)

• Natural Qualities (N)

• Recreation Qualities (R)

• Scenic Qualities (S)

4. Degree of intactness of resource

• Largely

• Somewhat

• Not intact

5. Visitor attraction value of resource

• Broad attraction potential

• Enthusiast attraction potential

• Specialist attraction only

6. Interpretive theme that the resource can

depict:

• Abundance of coal in the region;

4. Resource & Intrinsic Quality Assessment


• Community life;

• Architecture and built environment;

• A “melting pot” or “ethnic and racial

quilt”;

• Change and adaptation; and

• Natural and scenic views.

7. Accessibility of the resource by visitors:

• Easy to reach

• Challenging to reach

• Diffi cult to reach

As described in the previous chapter, the extension areas in Raleigh and Fayette Counties and the added resources of Wyoming County have been organized and separated into districts and assigned a name and number. A spreadsheet inventorying the resources is displayed for each district and photographs of the resources are located proximate to the spreadsheet.

District 1: Pineville (Wyoming County)

Reso

urce

Num

ber

Resource Name

Intrinsic Qualities Categories Degree of Intactness

Visitor Attraction Value Interpretive Theme Access

Arc

heol

ogic

al

Cultu

ral

His

toric

Nat

ural

/Geo

logi

c

Recr

eatio

nal

Scen

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Larg

ely

Som

ewha

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Not

inta

ct

Broa

d at

trac

tion

pote

ntia

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Enth

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ctio

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tent

ial

Spec

ialis

t Att

ract

ion

Onl

y

Abu

ndan

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f Coa

l in

the

Regi

on

Com

mun

ity L

ife

Arc

hite

ctur

e/Bu

ilt E

nviro

nmen

t

Mel

ting

Pot/

Ethn

ic a

nd R

acia

l Qui

lt

Chan

ge a

nd A

dapt

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eclin

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d Re

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and

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Easy

to R

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1.1Wyoming Co.

Courthouse & Jail

(see photo next page)

1.2 Labor Day FestivalNot

Applicable

1.3 Castle Rock

1.4

1.5

Hatfi eld-McCoy

Trail System & Trail

Head

(see photos next page)

Not Applicable

1.6

Pineville

Commercial

District

(see photo next page)

Photographs accompany the spreadsheets and illustrate the resources. The photographs are captioned with the resource number which is found in the left column of the spreadsheet.

District 1. Pineville (Wyoming County)

Wyoming County offers include two important elements in coal culture--the courthouse and Castle Rock.

Castle Rock is a striking rock formation located at the con-fl uence of the Guyandotte River and Castle Rock Creek, rising above the county seat of Pineville. The spectacular geological oddity juts more than two hundred feet above the riverbed, measuring some one hundred feet in diameter at its base, then gradually narrowing until its crest, which forms a fl at surface some twenty-fi ve feet across.

The spectacular stone formation perfectly demonstrates the ancient patterns of erosion which exposed the coal seams along the Guyandotte, home of the Winding Gulf coalfi elds of the Virginian Railway. The eons of drainage which created the topography of industrial Appalachia are clearly displayed in Castle Rock.


Resource 1.1Wyoming County Courthouse

Resource 1.6Pineville Commercial District

Resources 1.4 and 1.5Hatfi eld-McCoy Trail System and Trail

Moreover, the striking stone formation was used as a land-mark for early surveys and mapping. The resulting deeds were very often the same land patents used by railroad and coal interests to acquire coal and timber land and mineral rights when the region industrialized in the late nineteenth century.

The Wyoming County Courthouse also refl ects the coal heritage of the region. Constructed in 1916, it stands as an “extraordinarily handsome neoclassical temple of justice,” as one of America’s leading architectural historians wrote in a recent survey of the buildings of the Mountain State. The magnifi cent county headquarters crowns Pineville’s downtown, rising majestically above the county seat.

District 2. North Beckley (Raleigh County)

The Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley is the northern terminus of the Coal Heritage Trail. As such, it is the logical starting point for the extension areas discussed in this addendum.

The Exhibition Mine Complex includes the Youth Mu-seum of Southern West Virginia, the Mountain Home-stead, the underground mine tour, and a recreated coal camp (featuring the recently completed Rahall Company Store Visitor Center). The complex is located in New River Park; the park was named for the ubiquitous New River Company coal mining operation which had extensive mining infrastructure across the region.


District 2: North Beckley (Raleigh County)

Reso

urce

Num

ber

Resource Name



Arc

heol

ogic

al

Cultu

ral

His

toric

Nat

ural

/Geo

logi

c

Recr

eatio

nal

Scen

ic

Larg

ely

Som

ewha

t

Not

inta

ct

Broa

d at

trac

tion

pote

ntia

l

Enth

usia

st A

ttra

ctio

nPo

tent

ial

Spec

ialis

t Att

ract

ion

Onl

y

Abu

ndan

ce o

f Coa

l in

the

Regi

on

Com

mun

ity L

ife

Arc

hite

ctur

e/Bu

ilt E

nviro

nmen

t

Mel

ting

Pot/

Ethn

ic a

nd R

acia

l Qui

lt

Chan

ge a

nd A

dapt

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n/D

eclin

e an

d Re

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al

Nat

ural

and

Sce

nic

Easy

to R

each

Chal

leng

ing

to R

each

Diffi

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t to

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h

2.1Exhibition Coal Mine

(see photo below)

2.2New River Park

(see photo below)Not

Applicable

2.3Youth Museum

(see photo below)Not

Applicable

2.4Mountain

Homestead

(see photo below)

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

2.5New River Company

Store at Cranberry

(see photo below)

2.6North Beckley

Commercial District

(see photo below)

Resource 2.1Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

Resource 2.2New River Park

Resource 2.5Youth Museum

Resource 2.4Mountain Homestead

Resource 2.6North Beckley Commercial District

Resource 2.4Cranberry Company Store


District 3: Bradley (Raleigh County)

Reso

urce

Num

ber

Resource Name



Arc

heol

ogic

al

Cultu

ral

His

toric

Nat

ural

/Geo

logi

c

Recr

eatio

nal

Scen

ic

Larg

ely

Som

ewha

t

Not

inta

ct

Broa

d at

trac

tion

pote

ntia

l

Enth

usia

st A

ttra

ctio

nPo

tent

ial

Spec

ialis

t Att

ract

ion

Onl

y

Abu

ndan

ce o

f Coa

l in

the

Regi

on

Com

mun

ity L

ife

Arc

hite

ctur

e/Bu

ilt E

nviro

nmen

t

Mel

ting

Pot/

Ethn

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nd R

acia

l Qui

lt

Chan

ge a

nd A

dapt

atio

n/D

eclin

e an

d Re

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al

Nat

ural

and

Sce

nic

Easy

to R

each

Chal

leng

ing

to R

each

Diffi

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t to

Reac

h

3.1Bradley Commercial

District

(see photo below)

Resource 3.1Bradley Commercial District

District 3. Bradley (Raleigh County)

The historical intrinsic quality is limited in the Bradley district. There are not compelling resources either visible in the corridor or inherent in the corridor.

District 4. Mount Hope (Fayette County)

Mount Hope has a suffi ciently large number of outstanding examples of architecture that it has been nominated for inclusion as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Containing some 125 contribut-ing buildings, sites, structures and object that date from the period of signifi cance (from 1895 to around 1956), and

20 noncontributing buildings and objects that post-date the period of signifi cance, the district “as a whole retains integrity in all of its component qualities and refl ects the basic appearance which it enjoyed at the end of the period of signifi cance” (from nomination, section 7, page 2). The complete nomination to the NRHP is located on the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Offi ce’s website. One of Mount Hope’s strongest ties to the history of coal is its location as the headquarters for the New River Coal Company.

Recent development of a downtown park provides the opportunity to intepret this story for visitors.

Resource 4.2Mount Hope Community - newly constructed park and interpretive signage


District 4: Mount Hope (Fayette County)

Reso

urce

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ber

Resource Name



Arc

heol

ogic

al

Cultu

ral

His

toric

Nat

ural

/Geo

logi

c

Recr

eatio

nal

Scen

ic

Larg

ely

Som

ewha

t

Not

inta

ct

Broa

d at

trac

tion

pote

ntia

l

Enth

usia

st A

ttra

ctio

nPo

tent

ial

Spec

ialis

t Att

ract

ion

Onl

y

Abu

ndan

ce o

f Coa

l in

the

Regi

on

Com

mun

ity L

ife

Arc

hite

ctur

e/Bu

ilt E

nviro

nmen

t

Mel

ting

Pot/

Ethn

ic a

nd R

acia

l Qui

lt

Chan

ge a

nd A

dapt

atio

n/D

eclin

e an

d Re

new

al

Nat

ural

and

Sce

nic

Easy

to R

each

Chal

leng

ing

to R

each

Diffi

cul

t to

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h

4.14.2

Mount Hope

Community

(see photo - next page)

4.3Downtown

Commercial District


4.4

New River Company

General Offi ce Bldg.411 Main Street

(see photo- next page)


Store


4.6Mountainair Hotel


4.7Coal Mining Mural

Post Offi ce


4.8Coal Monument


4.94.104.11

Two Mine Portals /

Exposed Coal Seam

(see photos - next page)

4.12 YMCA Building

4.13Kilsyth Community



Reunion

NotApplicable

4.15 Coke Ovens


Resource 4.11Mine Portal

Resource 4.2Mount Hope Community

Resource 4.3Downtown Commercial District

Resource 4.4New River Company General Offi ce

Resource 4.5New River Company Store

Resource 4.7Post Offi ce (coal mining mural inside)

Resource 4.6Mountainair Hotel

Resource 4.8Coal Monument

Resource 4.9Coal Seam (mine portal at right)

Resource 4.10Mine Portal (enlargement)

Resource 4.13Kilsyth Community


District 5: Glen Jean to Whipple (Fayette County)

Reso

urce

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ber

Resource Name



Arc

heol

ogic

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Cultu

ral

His

toric

Nat

ural

/Geo

logi

c

Recr

eatio

nal

Scen

ic

Larg

ely

Som

ewha

t

Not

inta

ct

Broa

d at

trac

tion

pote

ntia

l

Enth

usia

st A

ttra

ctio

nPo

tent

ial

Spec

ialis

t Att

ract

ion

Onl

y

Abu

ndan

ce o

f Coa

l in

the

Regi

on

Com

mun

ity L

ife

Arc

hite

ctur

e/Bu

ilt E

nviro

nmen

t

Mel

ting

Pot/

Ethn

ic a

nd R

acia

l Qui

lt

Chan

ge a

nd A

dapt

atio

n/D

eclin

e an

d Re

new

al

Nat

ural

and

Sce

nic

Easy

to R

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Chal

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ing

to R

each

Diffi

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t to

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h

5.1Bank of Glen JeanMain Street

(see photo below)

5.2Dunloup Creek

Corridor(Fishing)

5.3Captain Thurmond's

Challenge(Triathlon)

NotApplicable

5.4Whipple Company

Store

(see photo below)

Resource 5.1Bank of Glen Jean

Resource 5.4Whipple Company Store

District 5. Glen Jean to Whipple (Fayette

County)

District 5 has two important historic intrinsic qualities--the Bank of Glen Jean and the Whipple Company Store. Whipple is located approximately one mile west of US 19 on the Scarbro Loop (612) which is approximately two miles south of Oak Hill. The Whipple Company Store, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the dominant structure in Whipple. The store was built circa 1900 by Justus Collins for his Whipple Company Colliery.

The store served a variety of functions including coal administrative offi ces, store, post offi ce, doctors’ offi ce and community gathering center. The building is a three story structure with an impressive cut stone foundation. The building is architecturally signifi cant, partly because it is the only remaining one of four identical stores that once stood in the region. It is very likely the last remaining wooden company store still standing in the region. The store’s most notable characteristic is the prominent arched opening that leads to the building’s main entrance. Certain


aspects of the store’s interior are also notable, including an expansive circular room under the second fl oor octagon portion of the building, and the hand-operated freight elevator serving all fl oors. Despite closing as a company store in the late 1950s, Whipple continued to be operated as a trading post until the late 1980s. Other than some deferred maintenance and the effects of time, the store is architecturally unaltered and remains remarkably intact.

District 6. Thurmond (Fayette County)

The Thurmond district has several important historic in-trinsic qualities. These are located in the formerly thriving community of Thurmond, now managed by the National Park Service as part of the New River Gorge. Essentially a modern-day ghost town with a year round population of seven, Thurmond is signifi cant for its extraordinary commercial and industrial activity during the coal boom era. Thurmond is located in one of the most remote and

inaccessible locations in the coalfi elds; tucked along the New River in Fayette County. For more then 35 years, the only access to Thurmond was by railroad or, much more infrequently, via the New River. Nevertheless, Thurmond served as the chief railroad center for the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) railroad, which served vast areas of the coal-fi elds. The town was laid out parallel to the C&O tracks, which served as its main street. The town boasted several banks, hotels, taverns and worker housing. The extant commercial block is intact, but vacant. Architecturally, it is an excellent representation of commercial architec-tural styles of the era. Thurmond slowly lost vitality and population as mechanism changed coal mining. The C&O railroad station was renovated by the National Park Service and is open as a seasonal visitor and interpretive center. Rafters on the New River can catch a glimpse of Thurmond as they pass the town while crossing under the railroad bridge.

District 6: Thurmond (CR 25) (Fayette County)

Reso

urce

Num

ber

Resource Name



Arc

heol

ogic

al

Cultu

ral

His

toric

Nat

ural

/Geo

logi

c

Recr

eatio

nal

Scen

ic

Larg

ely

Som

ewha

t

Not

inta

ct

Broa

d at

trac

tion

pote

ntia

l

Enth

usia

st A

ttra

ctio

nPo

tent

ial

Spec

ialis

t Att

ract

ion

Onl

y

Abu

ndan

ce o

f Coa

l in

the

Regi

on

Com

mun

ity L

ife

Arc

hite

ctur

e/Bu

ilt E

nviro

nmen

t

Mel

ting

Pot/

Ethn

ic a

nd R

acia

l Qui

lt

Chan

ge a

nd A

dapt

atio

n/D

eclin

e an

d Re

new

al

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ural

and

Sce

nic

Easy

to R

each

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h

6.1

6.2

Thurmond Historic

District

(see photos below)

6.3 Thurmond ReunionNot

Applicable

6.4Thurmond Restored

Railroad Depot

(see photo below)

6.5Thurmond-Minden

Trail

Not Applicable


Resource 6.2National Bank of Th urmond

Resource 6.4Th urmond Restored Railroad Depot

Resource 6.1Th urmond Historic District

District 7. Oak Hill / North Oak Hill (Fayette

County)

Downtown Oak Hill rests adjacent the gently sweeping curves of US 16 which winds through the city center. With a vibrant downtown, buildings located close to the street and a vibrant pedestrian commercial district, Oak Hill retains much of its original form and function. Most downtown buildings were built in the early 20th century. One notable exception is the Merchant and Miners Bank, a cut stone edifi ce constructed at the turn of the century. Despite many additions and alterations, portions of the original structure remain visible. One major renovation in the 1950s was in the international style and is notable for its striking linear design and relative uniqueness in the coalfi elds. The downtown does not enjoy designation as a National Register District. One structure that is on the NRHP in the downtown is the Oak Hill Railroad Depot, once a thriving passenger and freight stop on the C & O main line. The corridor north out of Oak Hill is characterized by more recent strip type development, and is generally devoid of historic resources.

Resource 7.1Oak Hill Commercial District


District 7: Oak Hill / North Oak Hill (Fayette County)

Reso

urce

Num

ber

Resource Name



Arc

heol

ogic

al

Cultu

ral

His

toric

Nat

ural

/Geo

logi

c

Recr

eatio

nal

Scen

ic

Larg

ely

Som

ewha

t

Not

inta

ct

Broa

d at

trac

tion

pote

ntia

l

Enth

usia

st A

ttra

ctio

nPo

tent

ial

Spec

ialis

t Att

ract

ion

Onl

y

Abu

ndan

ce o

f Coa

l in

the

Regi

on

Com

mun

ity L

ife

Arc

hite

ctur

e/Bu

ilt E

nviro

nmen

t

Mel

ting

Pot/

Ethn

ic a

nd R

acia

l Qui

lt

Chan

ge a

nd A

dapt

atio

n/D

eclin

e an

d Re

new

al

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ural

and

Sce

nic

Easy

to R

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t to

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h

7.1Commercial District

(see photo below)

7.2

Oak Hill Railroad

DepotJunction of Virginia and

Central Avenues

7.3 Oak Leaf FestivalNot

Applicable

7.4Skyline Drive-In

"Hank's Last Stop"

(see photo below)

Resource 7.4Skyline Drive-In

District 8. Fayetteville (Fayette County)

Downtown Fayette is recognized within the mid-Atlantic region as an embarkation point for exploring historic, scenic and recreational resources in the New River Gorge. The downtown is a charming and intact turn of the cen-tury district characterized by brick and cut stone two- and three-story buildings which are almost entirely intact. The most dominant structure in the downtown is the Fayette County Courthouse, a stately three-story building designed in the Romanesque style that looms over down-town from an elevated site along Main Street. Downtown is a National Register of Historic Places District. Several contributing structures are very well preserved including the E.B. Hawkins Hotel. Fayetteville boasts buildings of architectural signifi cance, superior access to area resources and a growing population of new residents seeking a small town atmosphere, progressive environmental attitudes and rich natural and historic resources. This combination of qualities has increased investment and renovation of his-toric resources, thus strengthening the intrinsic qualities of the corridor.


Resource 8.1Altamont

Hotel

Resource 8.2Fayette CountyCourthouse

Resource 8.4E.B. Hawkins House

Resource 8.3Fayetteville

Historic District

District 8: Fayetteville (Fayette County)

Reso

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Num

ber

Resource Name



Arc

heol

ogic

al

Cultu

ral

His

toric

Nat

ural

/Geo

logi

c

Recr

eatio

nal

Scen

ic

Larg

ely

Som

ewha

t

Not

inta

ct

Broa

d at

trac

tion

pote

ntia

l

Enth

usia

st A

ttra

ctio

nPo

tent

ial

Spec

ialis

t Att

ract

ion

Onl

y

Abu

ndan

ce o

f Coa

l in

the

Regi

on

Com

mun

ity L

ife

Arc

hite

ctur

e/Bu

ilt E

nviro

nmen

t

Mel

ting

Pot/

Ethn

ic a

nd R

acia

l Qui

lt

Chan

ge a

nd A

dapt

atio

n/D

eclin

e an

d Re

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ural

and

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nic

Easy

to R

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Diffi

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h

8.1Altamont Hotel110 Fayette Avenue

(see photo below)

8.2

Fayette Co.

CourthouseCourt Street

(see photo below)

8.3

Fayetteville Historic

DistrictBounded by SR 16, Maple and Fayette Avenue(see photo below)

8.4E.B. Hawkins House120 Fayette Avenue

(see photo below)

8.5 DuBois Reunion(African American families)

NotApplicable

8.6Italian Ancestors

Family Reunion

NotApplicable

8.7 FOOTMAD FestivalNot

Applicable


District 9: Beckwith (Fayette County)

Reso

urce

Num

ber

Resource Name

Intrinsic Qualities CategoriesDegree of

Intactness

Visitor

Attraction ValueInterpretive Theme Access

Arc

he

olo

gic

al

Cu

ltu

ral

His

tori

c

Na

tura

l/G

eo

log

ic

Re

cre

ati

on

al

Sce

nic

Larg

ely

So

me

wh

at

No

t in

tac

t

Bro

ad

att

rac

tio

n p

ote

nti

al

En

thu

sia

st A

ttra

cti

on

Po

ten

tia

l

Sp

eci

alis

t A

ttra

cti

on

On

ly

Ab

un

da

nce

of

Co

al i

n t

he

Re

gio

n

Co

mm

un

ity

Life

Arc

hit

ec

ture

/

Bu

ilt E

nv

iro

nm

en

t

Me

ltin

g P

ot/

Eth

nic

an

d R

aci

al Q

uilt

Ch

an

ge

an

d A

da

pta

tio

n/

De

clin

e a

nd

Re

ne

wa

l

Na

tura

l an

d S

cen

ic

Ea

sy t

o R

ea

ch

Ch

alle

ng

ing

to

Re

ach

Diffi

cu

lt t

o R

ea

ch

9.1

Chimney Corner Community/Settlement(see photo below)

Not

Applicable

9.2

Cotton Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA)(see photo below)

Not

Applicable

9.3

9.4

Cotton Hill Public Fishing Area(see photo below)

Not

Applicable

9.5Jenkins Branch Waterfall(see photo below)

Not

Applicable

9.6Beckwith(see photo below)

9.79.89.9

Fayette County Park(see photos below)

Not

Applicable

District 9. Beckwith (Fayette County)

Beginning immediate north of downtown Fayetteville, the Beckwith District offers a more limited palate of historic resources but a rich introduction to scenic and natural resources that begin to dominate the landscape. Entering the Beckwith initially reveals a landscape with open, but not spectacular vistas and scattered residential and com-mercial development. Soon though, the road narrows, tree canopies begin a closer embrace and the road dives towards lower elevations seeking the New River. US 16

follows a New River tributary as waterfalls and recreation areas begin to appear. About the midway point between Fayetteville and the Midland Trail reveals an abandoned commercial hub with a small dam and abandoned 1950’s era fi lling station located partially overhanging the adja-cent tributary. The District remains consistent in scale and character as one intersects with the Midland Trail at US 60, which was once the major east and west transit in the region. This history is refl ected in the tourist complex at the intersection which is highlighted by a faux pioneer era general store, which concludes the Beckwith District.


Resource 9.3Cotton Hill Public Fishing Area

Resource 9.4Cotton Hill Public Fishing Area

Resource 9.5Jenkins Branch Waterfall

Resource 9.6Beckwith

Resource 9.1Chimney Corner Community / Settlement

Resource 9.2Cotton Hill Wildlife Management Area


Resource 9.7Fayette County Park



District 10. Midland Trail (Fayette County)

Beginning at the intersection of US 19 and US 60 at Chim-ney Corner, the Coal Heritage Trail and the Midland Trail share the same route traveling east to the intersection of US 19 near Hico. Designated a National Scenic Byway since 2000, the Midland Trail boasts recreation as its primary intrinsic quality, although both byways possess historic, recreational and scenic qualities. Recreational qualities along the Midland Trail include Hawk’s Nest State Park, access to the New River and abundant trails and natural ar-eas. Views along this section of the byway are often closed by heavy vegetation with occasional panoramic openings at this high elevation. Historic qualities along this section of the Coal Heritage Trail are best found in Ansted, the largest community in the area. Historic structures include Contentment House, Halfway House (Tyree Tavern) and the Page-Vawter House. In recent years, an African Ameri-can Museum which tells the story of black Americans in this part of the state has opened to visitors.


District 10: Midland Trail (Fayette County)

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10.1Ansted Community

(see photo below)

10.2

ContentmentUS 60, Ansted(currently used as & owned by Fayette County Historical Society)(see photo below)

10.3

10.4

Halfway House (Tyree

Tavern)Off Old US 60Ansted(see photos below)

10.5

10.6

Page-Vawter HouseRt. Box 20Ansted(see photos below)

10.7African-American

Museum

(see photo below)

L S N

10.8Hawk's Nest Trail Head

(see photo below)

Not

Applicable

10.9Midland Trail Motel

(see photo below)

10.10Hawk's Nest State Park

(see photo below)

Not

Applicable

10.11Mystery Hole

(see photo below)

Not

Applicable


Resource 10.1Ansted Community

Resource 10.2“Contentment”

Resources 10.5 and 10.6 (at right)Page-Vawter House

Resources 10.3 and 10.4 (at right)Halfway House (Tyree Tavern)


Resource 10.8Hawk’s Nest Trail Head

Resource 10.9Afr ican-American Heritage Museum

Resource 10.11“Th e Unbelievable Mystery Hole”

Resource 10.9Midland Trail Motel

Resource 10.10Hawk’s Nest State Park


District 11. US 19 (Fayette County)

The northern edge of District 11 begins near Hico as the Midland Trail continues east and the Coal Heritage Trail dips south as it picks up US 19. The divergence point at Hico is developing with undistinguished highway-oriented uses and is bereft of historic resources. US 19 is a new sec-tion of the Appalachian Regional Commission highway system. As a result, it does not follow traditional transpor-tation routes providing access to coal camps and historic resources, but is a new alignment with very limited access to intrinsic resources. With limited historic resources, this segment is characterized by stunning and occasionally spectacular vistas and views. The most striking vista is a breathtaking view along the New River Gorge at the famous arch bridge, which is the largest arch bridge in the western hemisphere. Itself a major tourist attraction, the New River Gorge is more fully revealed in a highly accessible and dramatic fashion. The small community of Lansing is nearby, but does not possess any historic resources


District 11: US 19 (South) (Fayette County)

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11.1

New River Gorge

National River

(the landscape associated

with the river & the

gorge)

11.2New River Gorge Arch

Bridge

11.3

11.4Lansing Community

Resource 11.3 & 11.4 (at left & below left )Lansing Community

Resource 11.2New River Gorge Bridge


District 12: Fayette Station Road (Fayette County)

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12.1Canyon Rim Visitor

Center

(see photo)

Not

Applicable

Not

Applicable

12.2Fayette Station Road

(see photo)

12.3

12.4

Fayette Mine Portals

(see photo)

12.5Arch Bridge Overlook

(see photo)

12.6Fayette Station Bridge

(old)(see photo)

Not

Applicable

12.7Wolf Creek Pool

(see photo)

District 12. Fayette Station Road (Fayette

County)

Fayette Station road provides a unique insight into the region’s coal-mining history and is literally a trip back to an earlier time within the New River Gorge. Beginning in around 1875, in-migration and mining began the radical transformation of the Gorge from a pristine landscape to a corridor teeming with more than 40 mining towns and coal camps. During the heyday of mining, the region was an economically and socially vibrant area, alive with com-merce and community. Fayette Station Road was one of the only roads into this area for many years, and is replete

with abandoned mine portals, equipment and memories. Just as Fayette Station Road is rich with remnants of its coal mining history, it is also a story of the founding, fl ourishing and ultimate demise of a unique way of life. The last hundred years has seen the utter abandonment of mining communities and the inexorable return of the Gorge to a natural state. Today, interpretive signs installed by the National Park Service tell this remarkable story along Fayette Station Road.


12.8

Kaymoor CommunityAlong the New River, South of US 19Fayetteville

12.9

12.10

Kaymoor Trailhead

and trail

(see photos)

Not

Applicable

12.11 Mine Blowout SiteNot

Applicable

Not

Applicable

12.12

12.13

Ajax Mine Watering

Station

(see photos)

District 12: Fayette Station Road (Fayette County)

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Resource 12.3Fayette Mine Portal

Resource 12.4Fayette Mine Portal

Resource 12.1Canyon Rim Visitor Center

Resource 12.2Fayette Station Road


Resource 12.12Ajax Mine Watering Station

Resource 12.10Kaymoor Trail

Resource 12.9Kaymoor Trailhead

Resource 12.7Wolf Creek Pool

Resource 12.5Arch Bridge Overlook

Resource 12.6Fayette Station Bridge


Resource 12.18Marrs Branch Waterfall



Resource 12.15New River Gorge National River

Resource 12.14New River Gorge

Resource 12.13Ajax Mine Watering Station

chapter 4a - coal heritage

Documents