Coalwood (West Virginia)

McDowell County

54-16756

Coalwood is an embossed by coal mining settlement on municipal Wi area ( Unincorporated community ) in McDowell County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The 1990 census identified a population of 900 inhabitants. Coal production in Coalwood reached its peak in the 1960s and ended with the setting on 1 October 1982. The city is the scene of the book Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam, which was filmed under the name October Sky.

History

Coalwood was founded in 1905 by George Lafayette Carter. He found large coal reserves and bought 80 km ² of land. He founded the mining company Carter Coal Company and built business premises, houses, a school, shops and a church. Carter put his workers a doctor and a dentist available.

In 1922, Carter sold the mine to the Consolidation Coal Company. This led through renovations and new crews in the coal one. 1933 was Carter society after a default of the Consolidation Coal Company to recover. After his death in 1936 his son James took over the business. He sold the mine in 1945 at the Olga Coal Company. In 1956, the mine of Coalwoof was connected to the adjacent Caretta, where also a mine was operated by Olga. 1959 finally halted Olga coal production over Coalwood what the Norfolk and Western Railway prompting to abandon the connection of Coalwood to the railway network.

The Coalwood - Caretta mine produced until its closure average of one million tons of coal annually.

In the peak of their development, the city had a population of 2000 inhabitants.

The end of coal production

Although mining was easier, he was dangerous. Because the work was now dusty and so also more workers suffered from pneumoconiosis, as well as the later shaft and plant manager, Homer Hickam, Sr., father of Homer Hickam, Jr.. , It went downhill, as the steel company all Coalwoodhäuser except the house of Hickhams sold.

In 1980, the Olga Coal Company was acquired by the LTV Corporation, which in 1986 finally closed down the mine in Coalwood. The remaining in Coalwood people are now dependent on other jobs. In the city there are still the old workshops and clubhouses. Nevertheless, there are many abandoned houses and closed to the public areas. The department store of the city was on 29 March 2008, demolished by the current owners of historical assets, Alawest.

October Sky Festival

In October of each year Coalwood houses the October Sky Festival to honor the achievements of the Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam. The event is considered by many scientists and astronauts, as well as by Homer Hickam visited. In 2007, particularly the 50th anniversary of the first artificial satellite Sputnik was celebrated.