Glen Rogers Hotel
Mother Nature wasn’t kind in some respects on the drive down into Wyoming County to visit Glen Rogers, West Virginia. After having explored Surveyor, West Virginia’s Trap Hill High School, noted in this earlier entry, I made the best of the wintry precipitation and climbed over several snow covered mountain passes and dived into the heart of coal country. You can’t get any deeper than Glen Rogers.
I drove down into the Trough Fork valley, snaking down a narrow two-lane blacktopped road and came across my first sight of the coal camp. The remains of a relatively modern tipple and the sight of a small inactive strip mine at Big Branch along the abandoned ex-Virginian rail line made me perk up, but it was not until the junction with County Route 3/Glen Rogers Road that I saw my first taste of the coal camp town: an abandoned high school.
But what made Glen Rogers notable in the grand scheme of coal mining in the state?
The company store.
Glen Rogers was constructed by the Raleigh-Wyoming Mining Company in 1918, with the #1 mine opening three years later. Served by the Virginian Railway, the coal camp was named after Henry Huttleston Rogers who founded the railroad using $30 million of his own fortune. The Virginian was the combination of two railroads, and the newly formed company was able to reach the Atlantic Ocean in 1909. The railroad competed against two Class-I carriers: the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Norfolk & Western, and coal produced at Glen Rogers was sent along the Virginian, through the hills of West Virginia, to the power plants of the United States and the ocean vessels at Newport News, Virginia for export.
The railroad from Glen Rogers followed the Laurel, Milan and Marsh Fork valleys, and featured a tunnel at Polk Gap. At its height, the town was served by two schools, a hotel, a large two-level company store, an amusement hall and a fueling station. The mine, Wyoming County’s largest, employed over 1,000 by 1930, and produced over 867,000 tons of coal by 1933, which earned it the distinction of being West Virginia’s second largest mine.
The amusement hall and fueling station.
But it was not rosy. Mining accidents were quite common in the early history of the coal producing counties, but the most notable at Glen Rogers was an incident that occurred on November 6, 1923 that killed 27 men and trapped another 30 at the #1 mine. The cause of the explosion was likely the ignition of methane gas from the back fire of a shot, or a spark set from short-circuiting wires.
In 1960, the Glen Rogers mine closed and the company, then the Old Ben Coal Corporation of Chicago, went bankrupt. By the time of its closure, a total of 160 employees were killed at Glen Rogers, making it one of the most dangerous places to work in the state.
Glen Rogers is notable in that much of the town still exists. While the multitude of company houses have been mostly demolished, the hotel still exists many years after its abandonment. Inside, the remains of crude toilets, marked with the crescent shaped carved into aged wood, call back to an earlier time. The reinforced-concrete building is still structurally sound, and the brickwork has held up remarkably well, but it won’t be long before it will become just another ruin in the coalfields. The company store is a partially collapsed mess, with only the shell remaining, and the amusement hall and fueling station is in a state of disrepair.
Crude toilets, marked with the crescent shape, remain a well preserved feature of this coal camp town.
The elementary school, now an assisted living center, is still in use and in good condition. Adjoining it is the high school, constructed in 1951 to replace and earlier structure, although it is in poor condition for having been abandoned for nearly twenty years. Inside, some of its history remains: desks and schools are piled up in some of the rooms, while others are used for storage for the assisted living center. Water leaks throughout the building, and the second floor is all but sealed off due to a weak roof.
Glen Rogers High School
A typical classroom.
Stacked chairs at the high school provide no escape.
Glen Rogers is one of the more preserved coal camp communities in West Virginia, and was once one of the largest. It is notable also for its contribution to the Virginian Railway’s initial success and for the disasters that plagued the mines that gave the area such a poor reputation. But it’s not the last that will be covered.
There are more photographs and history of Glen Rogers, West Virginia and the Glen Rogers, West Virginia High School after the jump!
Great find and wonderful write-up, Sherman!
I was born in Glen Rogers Wva. My dad worken in the coal mines for 28 years. My pictures were ruined in a flooded basement/. I would love to have some pictures of the coal miners houses that I grew up in.
or maybe someone knows where I might be able to find them,
thank you
find llyond north he has a great selection, jim trosky taraczkozy
I lived in Glen Rogers from 1942 through 1949. I have pictures of what you call the Glen Rogers Hotel. At that time it was called the boarding house. Single miners lived here. One had to have a family in order to get a house. I have a picture of the country store taken from the front porch of the boarding house.I have a picture of the amusement hall and fueling station taken from the front porch of the boarding house. It was called the pool hall. Inside, in the center was the long "u" shaped bar. One side was for the blacks and the other side was for the whites. Attached to the back of the pool hall was a theater. The old theater was to the left of the country store. The theater burned down on a Christmas evening. I don't remember the year. I have a picture of the school house built as a WPA project. I was two weeks into the sixth grade (1949) when I was moved to Tennessee. I have several pictures of one room shacks that housed miner families. Underneath the left part of the boarding house was the doctor's office. I have never been back but I am going to visit Glen Rogers at the end of this month. (April, 2011)
This comment is for Etta Taylor (Dillard) or anyone who would like to contact me that lived there between 1942 and 1949. My name was Danny Jones. I took the name of the foster family that took me in. My real name is Danny Stanton. My email is oncearound@hotmail.com. My address is Daniel Stanton, 629 La Melodia Drive, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88011. I would like to swap memories, stories, photgraphs, or just conversation.
I was Betty Tackett back in GR days and we were neighbors. Mrs. Jones sewed doll clothes for me and made me a majorette outfit one year for Christmas. I remember you. We visited the Jones family in Chattanooga, Tenn. once. I have very fond memories of Mom and Pop Jones and also remember Madge. I also have some pictures.
Hi Danny,
I saw your comment on the internet site about Glen Rogers. I was born in a coal camp at Gary in 1944 in McDowell County near Welch. I graduated from Gary High School in 1962. I visited Glen Rogers about seven or eight years ago and even have a few old pictures of it in the early days. It had been a large coal camp at one time and reminded me a lot of my years growing up in Gary. I also have lots of old pictures, probably totaling close to a thousand now of Gary Hollow and McDowell county. Times were pretty hard in some ways back then compared to today but I still have many wonderful memories of growing up there too.
Buddy
Daniel,
Just one comment: What you refer to as the Glen Rogers Hotel we called the Club House. Does that ring a bell with you? I'll expect to see you at the Glen Rogers Reunion in May. I hope that you get to attend, but I'll let you know that the number of people who are still alive have dewindled a great deal.
Laymond North
I lived in Glen Rogers from 1947 until the mine closed in 1960. My dad worked mostly around the outside of the mine (crane operator, etc.). My brother Mike and I have great memories of growing up there and all the kids we knew. I have often wondered how the other families made out after the mine closed, but there doesn't seem to be a good way to find out. We (my wife and 2 kids) have made two trips back and it was both interesting and sad. Our house was still there but looked much smaller than I remember. Back then we didn't buy much from the company store because my uncle(Louie Daraban) and grandparents had a small store and beer joint down the road about a mile from the co. store.I have several boxes of photos from my parents that I haven't been through yet that might be worth sharing?? My email is twoalleykats@yahoo.com
i knew your mom and dad my name my mom and dad was shoe bill trosky they were good friends with your family, jim trosky pa
Jim, I was twelve when we left Glen Rogers in 1960 but I remember our families being good friends. Hopefully all is well with you. My email is twoalleykats@yahoo.com
Ron Kuklish
Ron, either you or your brother was a friend of my brother, Curtis, and I have a great picture of a "gang" including John Sizemore, Jerry Wolfe, and a couple of others including you or your brother. Did you know we have a Glen Rogers Reunion every two years and 2013 is the year. Would love to have you come. Email me at: wva_lady@verizon.net.
I LEFT GLEN ROGERS WHEN I WAS 14 YEARS OLD WITH MY MOM AND DAD AND MY SISTERS AND BRO. MY DAD WORKED IN THE COAL MINES FOR ABOUT 28 YEARS. WHEN OUR BASEMENT FLOODED IN COLUMBUS WHERE WE MOVED TO ALL OF OUR MEMERIES WERE DESTROYED.WE LEFT GLEN ROGERS BECAUSE OF THE MINES CLOSING.IT WOULD MEAN SO MUCH IF THERE ARE PICTURES OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY. I REMEMBER OUR HOUSE NUMBER WAS 57. WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES, IF YOU CAN HELP OR KNOW SOMEONE THAT CAN IT WILL BE A BLESSING.
THANK YOU
Etta (Dillard) Taylor
THANK ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS, I GUESS I FORGOT TO MENTION WHILE EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT NOW, BACK THEN WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO LIVE IN THE SAME AREA TOGETHER. I AM AFRICAN AMERICAN AND IM GLAD FOR THE CHANGE.MY FAMILY AND I LEFT GLEN ROGER IN 1959.
To Mr Stanton
Thank you for your comment, I was born in 46 and my family and left in 59, I've only been back once and GlenRoger in the black camp (where i grew up) was very sad.
Ron sounds like you and I are about the same age but I'm sure we passed ways at school games or maybe at the company store with our parents(smile) Ihave 2 kids and 1 grand baby and I would love to show them how different it was when I was growing up.
To Etta Taylor,
We had to be there at the same time. I haven't been through the old pictures yet because we recently moved and all of the old stuff is still in boxes. We probably don't have many pics of the black community because, as you said, things were different then. As I go through the pics I'll let you know if I have some that you might be interested in. Send me your email address so I can contact you at that time. My email address is in my previous posting. Take care.
THANK YOU RON
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU CAN FIND. MY EMIAL IS etaylor2864@sbcglobal.net
LIKE I SAID IT WOULD MEAN SO MUCH TO ME.
THANK YOU
My Father-in-Law grew up in Glen Rogers back in the '20's. His father, Charles Perdue, was killed in a mine accident in 1929. I have searched for information about that accident and have not found anything articles about it. Any suggestions of where to look?
i went to school with a drema perdue that was killed in a car wreck at medow bridge around 1959 -1960
she was in my class , jim trosky
Elizabeth: I just tried to look a place for you to find out about Charles Perdue. At: http://www.wvgenweb.org/wvcoal/find.htm I found a place that should be able to give you some information.
Enclose $5 in some fashion and a long self addressed and stamped envelope to
Archives and History Library,
The Curtural Center,
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East,
Charleston, WV 25305-0300
Give the name of Charles Perdue(included m. initial and nick name)
Name of mine and county as well as the date he was killed
I am looking for information on my grandfather, Raleigh Iveno Wright, Sr., who died in Glen Rogers in 1953 in a mining accident, but I do not know the name of the mine. Was this the only mine there? He was only 46 when he died there. If anyone knows that name or other info my email is whisper43947@yahoo.com. Thank you.
For specifics on mining disasters or fatalities, your best bet would be the local papers.
If you know of a specific date, try Welch Daily News or the Beckley Register-Herald.
West Virginia's Office of Miners' Health Safety &Training may have more at 304-558-1425.
As for a 1953 death at Glen Rogers, Mine Disasters in the United States may have more, but it lists none for 1953 at Glen Rogers.
I have a copy of the paperback book "REOPENING GLEN ROGERS" (156 pages) written by Bud Perry and Karl C. Lilly III. It does not have a publish date. I received my copy in 1997. The book covers the history of the mine and town from about 1920 until the mine closed in 1960. In those 40 years 160 miners died. For 1929 there were 7 fatalities. Four of them, including electrician Charles Perdue (age 34) were killed in an explosion on June 9. On Sept. 29, 1953 Raleigh Wright, 45, face foreman for 13 years, was killed when an errant Cardox shell came a distance of 144 feet and hit him in the arm and chest. This was considered a blasting accident. Additional books were available (???) from Bud Perry, P.O. Box 256, Tad, WV 25201 OR Karl C. Lilly, 1809 Oakwood Dr., Sissonville, WV 25320
Hopes this helps a bit. I don't know if books are still available.
TO RON KUKLISH
IM NOT SURE IF IT THE SAME STORE BUT IS YOUR UNCLE THAT RAN THE STORE AND HIS NICK NAME WAS PAPA LOUI. AND HE HAD A SON OR NEPHEW EVERYBODY CALLED HI COOK?
Etta,
My grandfather and grandmother had the store and "beer joint" across the road near the creek. There was a gas pump at the store and a couple of rental houses on the hill behind the store. Grandpa died in 1956, I believe, when he suffered a heart attack after a confrontation with one of the borders renting from him. His son, my uncle Louie, ran the store during and after that and the woman who helped him was Ruby Cook. He and Ruby later married and remained together until he died about 8 years ago. Ruby had a nephew that they pretty much raised from his early years until he got out on his own. Since I was fairly young and we had moved away I don't know much about him. Aunt Ruby passed away earlier this year. Uncle Louie always liked to cut up with people and have fun. I remember him having a big Packard and a motorcycle. He got in trouble one year for selling fireworks to kids for the 4th of July.
I sent you an email about Aunt Mary. We are relatives and I would love to talk to you. Please contact me. My email in texasblueslady@yaoo.com
@ Ron Kuklish-I sent you an email after I read your blog on here. We are relatives. Your Aunt Mary is my Aunt Mary and was married to my Dad's brother Buck Simpson. Aunt Mary was living here in Victoria, Tx when she passed away and her children still live here. I lived in Bolt, WV with my Mom's parents when I was about 5 yrs old and used to stay in Glen Rogers a lot also at Ma's house (Dad's mother). I never received a reply from the email I sent. I hope you see this message and contact me.
My name is David Goodwin, my family moved to Glen Rogers in 1968 when i was 2 years old. I graduated from Glen Rogers High in 1985. I moved to Va in 1987. I go back pretty often. Its sure has run down sense I lived there. It really is sad to see it now.
when was last u where there
At this point, two years ago in early January.
My name is Amy Welch. My grandfather Charlie Welch lived in Glen Rogers with his wife Alice and their sons Patrick and Charles. Patrick was my father. Dad was born in 1922, Uncle Charles a few years earlier. I believe my dad went to the high school. He took me back to look at Glen Rogers before he died. Does anyone know anything about my family?
I have been searching for information about a mine explosion that occurred in Glen Rogers on June 9, 1929. My husband's grandfather was killed in it. His name was Charles Perdue. If anyone knows how I can find out information regarding this, I would appreciate it. I can be reached at perdue_beth@yahoo.com. Thank you very much.
Beth,
Ron Kuklish answered you above, I hope you saw that.
"I have a copy of the paperback book "REOPENING GLEN ROGERS" (156 pages) written by Bud Perry and Karl C. Lilly III. It does not have a publish date. I received my copy in 1997. The book covers the history of the mine and town from about 1920 until the mine closed in 1960. In those 40 years 160 miners died. For 1929 there were 7 fatalities. Four of them, including electrician Charles Perdue (age 34) were killed in an explosion on June 9. On Sept. 29, 1953 "
Karen, is the book still available for purchase?
Hello Perde,
My name is Kenner Fortner, I was raised in Glen Rogers and Graduated from Glen Rogers High School in 1964. I have a couple of books that was written by Mr.Lacy Dillon. It has been years since I have read them, however I think they might have good informatio also, Two men wrote a book called Reopening Glen Rogers. They are Bud erry and Karl lilly III. The first book by Mr. Dillon is (They Died For King Coal the Library of Congress # 85-071199. Mr. Dillon was an Engilish Teacher in the Glen Rogers High School. My favorite book was Reopening Glen Rogers, these boys did not leave out much about Glen Rogers. My e-Mail is kennyssdd@aol.com if you need more information.
i have lived in glen rogers my whole life. its amazing the history is has.
i also ewas born in glen rogers in 1962 my father and whole family lived there my father passed in 67 and my mom moved i went back for many years , miss the place alot been thinking about taking my wife up to the holler to see what hell really was any body no what shape its in now , my family had alot of ken back then last name is allen any no anything please contact me johnny196226@yahoo.com , i am very interested
i also was born in glen rogers in 1962 my father was born there also all my brothers and sisters , my father passed in 67 in west virginia and we moved i went back foer many a years but not for some time now miss the place and been looking to take my family to see where i wass born, any one no what kind of shape its in or how its doing back then my family name is allen you can contact me a tjohnny5196226@yahoo.com i am very interested to no any thing
my Mom talked of a "weedy" allen an I remember us visiting Charlotte Allen were they kin to you?
Do any of you remember any Richardson's? My dad was from there his name was Nelson…….son of Lundy and Jenny Richardson. he had brothers Henry & Melvin, sister Jenny. Cousins John, Pate, Lucian, Woodrow,John also Richardsons. Dad was born in 1917 and his whole family worked the mines. I would treasure any pictures you coul email me. Judy Brewer
Judy I just happened up on this site, I knew a lot of the Richardson's. The names you have mentioned sound familiar. I knew John Richardson (a preacher) don't know if it's the same one you are talking about? I also was good friends with Sue Richardson and Becky Richardson. Are you related to them. Kathy Lafferty Whitlock.
I am Woodrow’s daughter. I suppose we would be cousins. My mother, Mary (Tootsie) still lives in Glen Rogers. You can email me @ donnartilley@yahoo.com
Hi Judy, I am married to one of Henry's grandsons. My husband's mom (Henry's daughter) is Alice Ellis. She lives beside Uncle Melvin's house and we live on the hill above it. Uncle Melvin and Aunt Ann's house is now empty. If you want to contact me, you can through Facebook.
I was born at Glen Rogers in 1945 my only sister was born there in 1948. My dad Jake Graham worked in the mines there for around 30 years. He contracted the "Black Lung" disease and we moved from the coal camp in 1950. However my Uncle and Aunt Alex and Pauline Taraczkozy lived there until the mine closed in 1960. We visited there often during those years. My grandfather Elbert Herron worked there and retired around 1950 as well would like to see a lot more pictures of my birthplace.
Hi my name is Kathy Lafferty Whitlock, I went to grade school and high school in Glen Rogers. My dad and mom were Harry and Onva Lafferty. I have relatives who live there now. My grand parents also lived there for a few years, Anthony and Inas Lafferty. All of us lived in the areas surrounding Glen Rogers, Trough Fork, Ravencliff. We lived about half mile below Glen Roger's High School. I loved going to school there and had many many friends there. I can remember when I started to school we all went to the grade school that was in the upper part of the community across from the slate dump while I was attending that school they decided to move us to the school up on the hill in the lower part of the community we had to attend the high school for a short while so they could finish getting the school fixed for us to attend at the time I can remember they called the school (the old colored school) it was built for the African American community. I attended that school until I went to the high school. There's a lot of people I would love to know where they live and how their lives are these days. I also used to see the Dentist Dr. Cottrill who practiced in the big brick building up on the hill from the post office. Loved him he was a very nice man. There were so many names of people that I remember Ellis, Hall, Cozort, McMillion, Lafferty, Burgess, Wolf, Sizemore, and Shumate just to name a few. And also does anyone remember the little strip that had the store/beer joint called Mike and Ann's? I was in there once. There was also a lot of people who migrated to Glen Rogers to work in the mines. I think that's how Mike and Ann came to be there I am not sure where they came from but they were Italian or Polish not really sure. Kathy Lafferty Whitlock.
I went to grade school there as well…maybe 1955 or so…only went there 3 yrs when we moved to Va. My Aunt Lois Bailey still lives there..my parents are Rheda and Arthur Kincaid. Mom was Bailey, plenty of them in Glen Rogers for many years. I do remember Dr. Cottrill and a few others you mentioned.
I was born in Glen Rogers, 1948. My parents are Rheda and Arthur Kincaid. My moms parents are Speed and Gertrude Bailey. My aunts and uncles are Kermit, Eugene, Junior, Estle, and Nila. I was 10 yrs old when dad moved up to Va. For the past 30 yrs have lived in Charlestown, Eastern Panhandle.