Mountain State Memories

01/19/2024

02/11/2023

, an armored train called the Bull Moose Special made its most notorious trip through the coalfields of West Virginia when it was used to attack a tent colony during the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek Strike of 1912-14.

On February 7th, after strikers of Holly Grove shot at a company ambulance and nearby store in Mucklow, Kanawha County Sheriff, Paint Creek coal operator, deputies, mine guards, and railway police boarded the Bull Moose Special with arrest warrants in hand. As the train approached the tent colony, bullets went flying into the tents of sleeping miners and their families.

In an effort to save his son and pregnant wife, one striker, Cesco Estep, lost his life that day. In retaliation, the furious strikers set to attack the mine guards' camp of Mucklow two days later.

(Photo from Seletyn)

11/03/2021

Two hunters from Grafton, W.Va, pose with the two white tails they bagged, and their 1938 Willys car in the early 1940’s

Credit: WVRHC

11/02/2021

The Ohio River when it dried up during the draught of 1908. This was taken from the West Virginia side looking towards Bridgeport. October 15th, 1908.

11/01/2021

Coal miners in the mid 30’s to late 40’s. From the WV state archives.

10/20/2021

H.L. Hollendyke Wrecking Service. Clarksburg, W.Va, 1933.

10/14/2021

On this day in 1947, famous aviator, and West Virginian, Chuck Yeager, became the first man to break the sound barrier.

In an X-1 rocket jet built by Bell Aircraft Company, Yeager was lifted to 25,000 feet by a B-29 bomber; then released through the bomb bay doors, where he was rocketed to 40,000 feet and 662 miles per hour. In a split second, man’s understanding of flight completely changed. No longer limited to the fear that flight past the sound barrier would destroy a plane, we began to engineer aircraft that would go to unheard-of level of speeds, and eventually transform that understanding into the basis of space travel.

Without daring men such as Yeager and his colleagues, we likely would have never progressed into jets and and space travel, and thus we owe the highest honors to this generation who went into the unknown, to better us all.

Yeager would continue serving the U.S. military until 1975, when he retired with the rank of Brigadier General.

Though his military service was over, Yeager continued to serve his home state of West Virginia as a philanthropist and sponsor of Marshall University. Sadly, he passed away on December 7th, 2020, at the age of 97. However, his memory still lives on in inspiring young West Virginians that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, or how poor you are, you can become anything you set your mind to.

Charles Elwood Yeager
February 13, 1923 – December 7, 2020

09/20/2021

On September 23, 1938, the fabled Mingo Oak was cut down, after succumbing to fumes from a burning coal refuse pile. For nearly 600 years, the ancient oak tree had stood watch near the present Logan-Mingo county line. It was reportedly the largest white oak in the world, standing 145 feet tall and just over eight feet in diameter at breast height, with a limb spread of 96 feet.

For its last 100 years, the Mingo Oak was one of West Virginia’s best-known shrines. Locals referred to it as ‘‘the church in the wild woods.’’ Early settlers had erected a pulpit surrounded by rustic benches beside the oak’s massive trunk. Almost every Sabbath day during the summer and early fall, rural ministers led services underneath the oak’s glorious green canopy. More than 500 sermons were supposed to have been preached there.

After being severely damaged by the coal fire, the landmark tree was cut down by a crew from Webster County. Some 2,000 people watched the felling of the giant oak.

A cross-section of the Mingo Oak may be seen on display at the West Virginia State Museum.

Credit to Jay Clark.

05/02/2021

Modern history being made in our state.

In West Virginia we will figure out how to engineer magic. The Wellsburg Bridge in Wellsburg, WV made history this week! This 10 million pound structure was successfully floated to its permeant location. The bridge traveled just less than one mile an hour, on four barges, steered by towboats but propelled mostly by the force of the river. It is crazy what we West Virginian's can do!

03/06/2021

In 1907, America celebrated the landing in Virginia and the construction of the Jamestown Colony. An exposition was held at the site of the colony. This tall column made entirely from blocks of coal was West Virginia's contribution to the celebration.

Credit: Vicki Thomas & WVRHC

12/31/2020

This is one of the most historic and prominent photos I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing. This photo taken at The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.V.A. in August of 1869 shows former enemies, former soldiers; now civilians, and friends relaxing together for a group photo at the famed resort. Notably Robert E. Lee, and P.G.T. Beauregard. This is perhaps the only photograph of these men together after the war between the states. I hope you all enjoy seeing this as much as I did finding it.