The Abney Coal Camp
This coal camp is located in western Raleigh County and eastern Wyoming County in southern West Virginia. The community began with 50 houses, but has evolved into a bigger city with many more residents. In 2010, the population was 1,308. The demographics of the residents are that they are 98% white, and 2% other. Before this coal camp was called "Abney," it was reffered to as "Phillips." The town was named after William Phillips, the Pemberton Coal and Coke Company's president. The name was changed to Abney by the post office years later. This is all located in The Winding Gulf Coalfield. In 1921, the coal camp was constructred in Raleigh County on a ledge over the Piney River. Camp Phillips was supposed to be "one of the most attractive coal operations in the coal fields." This quote came from an article written on November 11, 1921, in the Raleigh Register. This article also stated that this coal camp would be supplied with 50 bungalows that would contain the "pursest water, piped from a mountain spring in a three-inch galvanized pipe." This would provide excellent protection against fire. Today, the town is still being lived in, and a one-room school house that once took up an entire field is now a lot for multiple trailer homes, and the once Abney company store is a private residence. 
Original Company Store
Company Store Today
http://www.coalcampusa.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment