The rise of coal in Virginia in the early 1900s was propelled by the expansion of railroads and the increasing demand from industrializing cities. This era saw the development of many new coal mines in the Appalachian region, transforming local economies and shaping the landscape of communities in southwestern Virginia.
Category: Appalachia
Deep within a secluded valley in West Virginia lies an intriguing sight—a forgotten repository of cars.
Tunnel No. 1 is located along the defunct Norfolk & Western Railway Pocahontas Branch near Pocahontas, Virginia.
The presence of two abandoned houses in a rural area of West Virginia has piqued curiosity and left some wondering about their history. The reason for their abandonment remains a mystery, but nevertheless, these houses stand as a testament to the region’s past.
During a hike near the stunning Moon Rocks in Tucker County, West Virginia, we unexpectedly came across an old Honda motorbike that had been abandoned for a long time.
I visited two former Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad branch lines in eastern Kentucky that have been transformed into rail trails on a pleasant spring afternoon.
As I drove through the winding backroads of southern Ohio, I stumbled upon an unexpected sight—a group of long abandoned fire trucks resting in the weeds at the site of a forgotten gasoline station.
In the isolated hills of West Virginia stands the forgotten and dilapidated Dusk Camp Methodist Church.
The warm spring weather of April 2022 was perfect for a hike along the former South Side Branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.
On a cold and rainy day, we encountered a charming house nestled along the Dry Fork of the Cheat River in West Virginia.
Many of the abandoned “beehive” coke ovens of the Davis Coal & Coke Company are still visible today in the company town of Coketon, West Virginia.
I stumbled upon a circa 1970-71 Chevrolet Corvette Stringray, abandoned on the side of a road in Kentucky.
Work progresses on the massive Grand Patrician Resort & Country Club development in Milton, West Virginia. The complex was once the Morris Memorial Hospital for Crippled Children that was built in phases from 1936 to 1941 by the Works Progress Administration for children stricken with polio.
Earlier this year, I revisited the Lonaconing Silk Mill, a significant historical site as one of the last intact silk mills in the United States. This mill, operated by the Klotz Throwing Company and General Textile Mills Company, was in active use from 1901 until its closure in 1957.
If you are traveling along the West Virginia Turnpike, you may have noticed the portals to Memorial Tunnel.
Today, Briceville, Tennessee, appears tranquil, but it played a pivotal role in the Coal Mine Wars of 1891-92.
Positioned prominently along Interstate 75 in Campbell County, Tennessee, two rusting Ferris wheels and a replica Titan rocket continue to draw the attention of drivers passing by.
The New Salem Baptist Church stands as the sole remaining structure in the now-deserted town of Tams, West Virginia.