CULTURE - HISTORY

Coal River History
Coal, Steamboats, Timber and Trains
Coal River Group Preserves History
Coal River Group Research

COAL RIVER HISTORY

The history of the Coal Rivers (Big, Little and Coal) has been captured in a recently published hardback book. Bill Dean a PHD Professor of History spent 7 years researching the rivers colorful history. The final work is now considered a textbook for those who want to learn more about the river and the entire watershed.

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COAL,STEAMBOATS,TIMBER AND TRAINS

The Industrial History of St. Ablans, West Virginia, and the Coal River Valley 1850-1925

The Book can be purchased at McGees Office supplies and The Curiousity Shop in St. Albans or Tamarak. Call Bill Dean at 304-610-0069 to order direct. The retail price of of the book is $40.

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COAL RIVER GROUP PRESERVES HISTORY

Connie Mosteller has served as the Chairman of the History Committee for the CRG since 2004. She has worked hard to help identify each of the 9 original Lock and Dam sites. Her work to preserve these important sites has helped the CRG to generate strong community support for preservation along the entire 88 miles of the Rivers. Her committee has been very active in helping to identify significant sites through roadside signage programs.

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COAL RIVER GROUP RIVER REASEARCH

Members of the Coal River Group recently conducted a field trip to reasearch a sunken wooden Barge. The barge was first identified by a Steve Marshall while on a Canoe trip along the Big Coal. Steve contacted members of the CRG and asked if we would help identify the craft and attempt to find more about its history.

The members of CRG fully explored the sunken barge and recorded the structural details in pictures and with field notes.

The river explorers pose for a photo shoot.

The size of the barge is 20' x 60' . The barge was used at one time as a floating base for a sand plant. It is the opinion of the team that the barge was one of a number of barges that were used to haul coal and other goods during the time the lock and dam systems were in use. The Locks were washed out for the final time in the 1880's.

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