Bells Mines, Kentucky facts for kids

Bells Mines is a ghost town in Crittenden County, Kentucky, United States. It was located between the towns of Sturgis and Marion, Kentucky, close to the Ohio River. Bells Mines was never an official town; it was an unincorporated area.

History of Bells Mines

Early Settlers and the Name

Bells Mines was first settled in the early 1800s. Farmers and settlers came from states like Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Miners also arrived from England and Germany. The area got its name from the coal mines there. These mines were run by the Bells Mine(s) Coal Company.

The company was owned by John Bell. He was a well-known politician and businessman. He even ran for President of the United States in 1860. Around 1850, John Bell's son, John Bell Jr., managed the mine.

Bells Mines During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, a small battle took place at Bells Mines. This happened on July 13, 1864. About 46 soldiers from the 52nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Mounted Infantry fought against 300 Confederate guerrillas. One soldier was killed, and some others were captured. Many horses also died in the fight.

The Community Church

Churches were a very important part of life in Bells Mines. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was founded in the 1830s. It served the people of the community for over 150 years. After the town was abandoned, fewer people attended services. The church closed in June 1998. Because of damage and lack of use, its last members decided to take down the 111-year-old church building in December 2002.

Next to where the church stood is a cemetery. It holds the graves of many families who lived in Bells Mines. These families include the Adamsons, Dempseys, Hazels, Lambs, Jones, Newcombs, Sarlls, Sheeleys, Travis, and Tudors.

The End of the Community

In the 1950s, a company called Alcoa bought a lot of land in the area. They bought nearly 12,000 acres in Crittenden County, Kentucky and Union County, Kentucky. This land included much of the Bells Mines community. Alcoa likely bought the land to get coal and build a factory.

This land purchase was the main reason the community disappeared. Many families sold their homes, often for less money than they were worth. They thought a new factory would be built nearby. However, Alcoa decided to build its factory across the Ohio River in Newburgh, Indiana. It was reported that Alcoa executives later used the land around Bells Mines for hunting trips.

Bells Mines Today: A Wildlife Area

New Life for the Land

The land around Bells Mines is now full of wildlife. Since people have not lived there for many decades, nature has taken over. Because of this, the United States Forest Service and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) bought the land. Their goal was to create a Wildlife management area. This new area stretches from Caseyville in Union County, Kentucky to the former Bells Mines area. This was the largest land purchase by the state of Kentucky in over twenty years.

Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area

The Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and State Forest in Crittenden County officially opened to the public on November 1, 2013. It is now a place where people can enjoy nature and wildlife.