History of the Coal River

*About the group *Goals and Objectives *History Committee *Recreation Committee *Tourism Committee *Preservation/Development *Sponsors *Contact us *Links *Home

History of the Coal Rivers

THE COAL RIVERS INCLUDE THE BIG, THE LITTLE AND THE LOWER COAL RIVER WATERSHED. TOGETHER THEY ARE THE PRIMARY DRAINAGE AREA FOR OVER 800 SQUARE MILES OF LAND IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

THE COAL RIVERS ORIGINATE AT A HEIGHT OF OVER 3000 FT. AND FLOW DOWNHILL TO THE KANAWHA RIVER AT ST. ALBANS WEST VIRGINIA. (620FT. ELEVATION) THE TWO UPPER RIVERS ARE EACH ABOUT 30 MILES LONG. WHEN THEY GET TO ALUM CREEK WEST VIRGINIA THEY MERGE AND CREATE THE LOWER COAL RIVER. THE LOWER COAL RIVER FOLLOWS A CIRCUITOUS ROUTE THROUGH THE LINCOLN AND KANAWHA COUNTIES FOR APPROXIMATELY 18 MILES. ULTIMATELY THE COAL RIVERS EMPTY INTO THE GREAT KANAWHA RIVER AT ST. ALBANS, WV.

THE WATERSHED IS RICH IN HISTORY AND SERVED AS THE SOURCE OF COAL AND TIMBER THAT MADE THE KANAWHA VALLEY A GREAT INDUSTRIAL CENTER FOR OVER A CENTURY.

The seldom seen or recognized archeological sites along the River are abundant and offer history buffs many sites worth identifying and interpreting.

Specific sites on the Big Coal River from Racine to the Kanawha River include:

8 foundations of Locks and Dams built in the mid 1850s

Three pedestrian Bridges spanning the river (built in the early 1900s
26 Log boom foundations (still visible) built in the late 1800s
3 foundations for early (1860s) Gristmills,grist, flax, &carding mills.
Two potential sites (underwater) for sunken river boats or barges circa (1850s)
15 historic structures located on the banks that were built prior to 1870s

Many Railroad related sites dating back to the early 1870s

August 29, 2004 News Article

CAPTAIN

BILL GRIFFITH

FIRST COAL RIVER STERNWHEEL

BOAT CAPTAIN

One of three original Captains on the Coal

All three Captains named Bill and nicknamed

FIGHTING,

DRINKING,

LYING CAPTAIN BILL

Captain Bill Griffith was born at Meadow Fork on Big Briar Creek in what was then Western Virginia. He was Captain of the first Coal River Sternwheeler named the PEYTONA. He was the first to take a sternwheeler up the coal through the new locks and dams (1855) Captain Bill worked the Coal until the Civil War started and served in the Confederate Army. He lived to be 91.

The First working inland waterway in the United States was built on the Coal River in 1855. Cannel Coal was the primary cargo along with basic necessities required by people living in the isolated regions of what is now Boone and Lincoln Counties. The first three Sternwheel Captains on the Coal all had the same first name " Bill". All were rather notorious thus earning the nicknames, lying, fighting and drinking Captain Bill.

Captain Bill Griffith is buried on a steep hillside in what is now named Brounland in Boone County.

OLD-COAL RIVER PICTURES WANTED

Coal River Tow Boats at Tornado

THE COAL RIVER GROUP IS SEARCHING FOR OLD PICTURES OF LIFE ON THE COAL RIVERS.

WE ARE WORKING ON DEVELOPING A PICTURE BOOK THAT WILL FEATURE HISTORIC PICTURES OF LIFE ON THE COAL.

FISHING, PARTYING, BEACH PICTURES, BOATING, BARS, CAMPING, LOCKS AND DAMS, FLOODS, BAPTISMS, OLD HOMES, LOWER FALLS BEACH, UPPER FALLS BEACH, ANY SUBJECT AS LONG AS IT RELATES TO THE RIVER.

HELP US WITH THIS PROJECT - DONATE YOUR PICTURES. WE HOPE TO KEEP THE COLLECTION ON DISPLAY AND PRESERVE OUR WONDERFUL COAL RIVER HERITAGE.

Drop off pictures at McGee’s Office Supply –1104 Kanawha Terrace-St. Albans, WV – For more information contact-Bill Currey-727-0660

Dated 1874 Coal River Tow Boats at Indian Head

Members of CRG learning history at Lower Falls

Exploring the old Lock Chamber at Lower Falls

Lower Falls Dam Foundation Spikes

*About the group *Goals and Objectives *History Committee *Recreation Committee *Tourism Committee *Preservation/Development *Sponsors *Contact us *Links *Home