Jewell Valley, Virginia is a former coal camp constructed by the Clinchfield Coal Company in the Buchanan coal field.
Jewell Valley was constructed as a company town by the Clinchfield Coal Company circa 1930. 1
The first railroad to serve the region was a line built by an earlier lumber company, which snaked up Mudlick Creek from Richlands to Whitewood and west to Loggy Bottom School. This was replaced by a Norfolk & Western Railroad (N&W) branch in 1931, which followed the Levisa Fork and Dismal Creek east to Whitewood and then Jewell Valley.
The first underground bituminous coal mines opened at Jewell Valley shortly after the railroad’s completion, which was exhausted by the 1960s. Smaller strip mine operations continued until the 1980s when most of the region’s facilities were abandoned.
Discover more from Abandoned
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sources
- DellaMea, Christopher. “Buchanan Field.” Appalachian Coalfields. N.p., 2011. Web. 14 March 2011. Article.
Discover more from Abandoned
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Discover more from Abandoned
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
When did little Red School House close?
I am a filmmaker from New Jersey and have become fascinated with this topic. I am interested in filming interviews with anyone who lived, worked, or visited Jewell Valley when it was an active community. Too many stories go untold before getting lost to history forever. Please feel free to email me at freedomtodreamproductions@gmail.com if you are interested in doing an interview it will be very laid back and i will come to you.
The last house photo with the white gable roof was my aunt and uncle’s home. Last name Goodwin. Maiden name White.
Hey Jeff did you personally live in this camp? I am interested in filming a documentary style video about the area and would be interested in interviewing anyone who lived or visited the camp when it was occupied.
There is a video showing a small segment of Jewell Valley https://youtu.be/aSegSvn5qi0?si=QF7l2RA5pBwJqfZm
This was apparently named for my father’s family.
I would like to know more history on the Jewell surname that this valley was named after. My maiden name is Jewell and I know from early family records that my Jewell genealogy migrated through Virginia, across the Appalachians into Kentucky where they eventually settled around what is now Spencer county KY. Would appreciate any direction of info that I can obtain. Thank you.
My mamawe was born and raised there and her name was Mary D. Jewell before she married daddy and became Mary York if you tell me your parents or grandparents name I might be able to find out if you’re related and get more information about it
I am looking for articles or photos of the minors from 1947. My grandpa broke his back in the mines in 1947.
Do you know where I can find any information? Thank you
karenb0157@gmail.com
Hi, my Mother’s 3 Brother’s and there families lived there until, I believe 70’s. No one lived in those houses after that. Except the Sole occupied house, that still remains and my Aunt an my Cousin are still there as far as I know. Hackworth was last name James, Ronnie an Bob. I’ve family that are still in that Area. My Father’s Family lived atop Chicken Ridge (Keen). There are only a couple of the original Miners still alive. Looking at these Old Photos bring back the good/bad times. I had been in at least 3 of those homes growing up. It’s very eerie.
Hello cousin! Zelphy and Pam are my relatives from the White family.
Does anyone remember the Compton family? My mother was Barbara Compton daughter of Mary Compton / Clark. (Garden Creek). George Howard Compton was my grandfather.
do you remember the allen family father otis mother georgia siblings robert hebert velma and me
we moved in 1952 i was just a year old at that time
Wondering if anyone has a picture of The Little Red Schoolhouse?
Hi I was wondering if anyone remembered the Hale family. We moved from there in 48 . Father Harrison ..mother Edith….sister Clauda Fay and Lela May. I remember mostly of the families in the upper camp……..