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Coal Camp Assignment

I grew up in Fayette County WV. I am very familiar with coal mining locations, and culture, but not because it had a direct effect on my family. There are a few men in my family that have worked in the mines, and my uncle is now a mine inspector but I never truly experienced the lifetyle first hand. Taking this class has inspired me to understand my local heritage historically, culturally, and scientifically!

For the Coal Camp Assignment I chose Sewell , WV.  I grew up only 10 miles from the actual mine town so I have a personal motivation to my research.

Sewell WV

Location- Sewell WV is in Fayette County located in the bottom of the New River Gorge. It is considered part of the New River Coal Field The access road to this deserted historic location is from the Danese (my hometown) entrance to Babcock State Park. The road is only accessible by hikers and bikers now and the town has been abandoned since 1973.

 

Major Employer -In 1874 the mines and coke ovens at Sewell were built  by the Longdale Coal Company (Originally an Iron Company from VA) The Sewell mining community was the first in the gorge to experiment in the burning of coke. Eventually, 196 beehive coke ovens were constructed there.  I also found the name of a company called Babcock Coal & Coke Co.which was used as the company name in the 1930s. I could not find an exact day of operation sales to this new company.

Population - The population of Sewell in 1920 according the the W.Va. Geological Survey (1919) was 525. 

The coke ovens burned until 1956 and were the last to shut down in southern WV. During it's operation it was said to be the largest coke company in the New River Gorge! 

I found this site with pictures of the remnants of the coal camp and coke ovens and plan to hike there next time I go home!

http://www.coalcampusa.com/sowv/river/sewell/sewell.htm

Other Websites used:

http://www.coalcampusa.com/sowv/river/newriver.htm
http://www.coalcampusa.com/sowv/index.html
http://www.wvexp.com/index.php/Sewell,_West_Virginia