National Register of Historic Places listings in McDowell County, West Virginia facts for kids

Where McDowell County is located in West Virginia

Have you ever wondered about the old buildings and places that tell stories from the past? In McDowell County, West Virginia, there are many special spots that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important parts of history that should be protected and remembered. Most of these places are old company stores from when coal mining was a huge part of life in this area.

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is like a special list of places in the United States that are really important to our country's history. When a building or area is added to this list, it means it has a unique story to tell. It could be a place where important events happened, or a building that shows how people lived a long time ago. Being on this list helps make sure these places are kept safe for future generations to learn from and enjoy.

Company Stores: A Look Back in Time

Many of the historic places in McDowell County are old company stores. Imagine a time when coal mining was the main job in many towns. Coal companies often built entire towns for their workers, including homes, schools, and even stores. These "company stores" were usually the only place in town where miners and their families could buy food, clothes, and other things they needed.

Life in these coal towns was very different from today. Miners were often paid in "scrip," which was like special money that could only be used at the company store. This meant they had to buy everything from the company that also employed them. These stores were often big and important buildings in the community.

Famous Company Stores in McDowell County

McDowell County has many company stores on the National Register. Here are a few examples:

• The Algoma Coal and Coke Company Store in Algoma was listed in 1992.
• The Ashland Company Store in Ashland became historic in 2005.
• There were two Carter Coal Company Stores, one in Caretta and another in Coalwood. The Coalwood store was sadly taken down in 2008.
• The Empire Coal Company Store in Landgraff is no longer standing today.
• The Houston Coal Company Store in Carswell is another important site.
• The Page Coal and Coke Company Store in Pageton also tells a story of the past.
• The Peerless Coal Company Store in Vivian was added to the list in 1992.
• Two Pocahontas Fuel Company Stores were in Maybeury and Switchback. The Maybeury store was demolished after 2005.
• The Pocahontas Fuel Company Store and Office Buildings in Jenkinjones show how these companies operated.
• The U.S. Coal and Coke Company Store in Ream was also taken down between 2004 and 2006.

These stores, even if some are gone, remind us of the unique history of coal mining communities.

Other Historic Places in McDowell County

Besides the company stores, McDowell County has other important historical sites:

Important Homes

• The James Ellwood Jones House in Switchback is a historic home. It was listed in 1992.
• The John J. Lincoln House in Elkhorn is another important house. It was added to the list in 1992.

Government and Community Buildings

• The McDowell County Courthouse in Welch is a very important building. It's where many local laws and decisions were made. It became historic in 1979.
• The Welch Commercial Historic District is an area in Welch that includes many historic buildings. It was listed in 1992. This district shows how the town grew and changed over time.

Memorials

• The World War Memorial in Kimball is a special place that honors people who served in wars. It was listed in 1993.

Images for kids

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  The Algoma Coal and Coke Company Store.

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  The Ashland Company Store.

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  The Carter Coal Company Store in Caretta.

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  The Carter Coal Company Store in Coalwood (now demolished).

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  The site of the Empire Coal Company Store in Landgraff (no longer standing).

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  The Houston Coal Company Store.

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  The James Ellwood Jones House.

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  The John J. Lincoln House.

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  The McDowell County Courthouse in Welch.

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  The Page Coal and Coke Company Store.

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  The Peerless Coal Company Store.

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  The site of the Pocahontas Fuel Company Store in Maybeury (now demolished).

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  The Pocahontas Fuel Company Store and Office Buildings in Jenkinjones.

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  Inside a U.S. Coal and Coke Company Store (this one was in Gary, WV, similar to the one in Ream).

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  The McDowell County Courthouse, part of the Welch Commercial Historic District.

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  The World War Memorial in Kimball.