Pocahontas Fuel Company facts for kids
| Shareholder | |
| Industry | Coal, and shipping |
| Fate | Sold 1956 |
| Successor |
|
| Founded | 1882 |
|
Key people
|
James Ellwood Jones |
The Pocahontas Fuel Company was a big company that mined coal. It had mines in Virginia at Boissevain and Amonate. It also had mines in West Virginia at Jenkinjones, Bishop, and Itmann.
In 1907, Pocahontas Fuel Company started another company called the Pocahontas Consolidated Collieries Company. Later, in 1956, a company called Consolidation Coal Company bought Pocahontas Fuel. Consolidation Coal Company changed its name to Consol Energy in 1991. Today, Consol Energy still mines coal in Amonate. The Pocahontas Fuel Company used the Norfolk & Western Railway to move its coal to ports for shipping.
Contents
Exploring the Pocahontas Coalfield
The Pocahontas Coalfield is a huge area with lots of high-quality coal. It is found in Mercer County and McDowell County, West Virginia, and also in Tazewell County, Virginia.
Mining in this area began in 1883 in Pocahontas, Virginia. The first mine was called Pocahontas Mine No. 1. This mine is now a special historic place. The coal found here, especially from seams like Pocahontas No. 3, No. 4, No. 6, and No. 11, is known as some of the best coal in the world. It produces a lot of energy when burned.
Visiting the Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine
The Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine is a very important historic site in the U.S. It was the very first mine to dig for a type of coal called sub-bituminous coal in the Pocahontas Coalfield.
In 1938, this mine opened its doors to the public. This made it the first exhibition coal mine in the entire United States. Visitors could go inside and learn about coal mining.
The Pocahontas Fuel Company Store
The Pocahontas Fuel Company also had a special store and office buildings. These historic buildings are located in Jenkinjones, McDowell County, West Virginia. They were like a general store for the mining community.
Both buildings were designed by an architect named Alex B. Mahood and were built in 1917. Because of their history, they were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
The Pocahontas Steamship Company
The Pocahontas Steamship Company was a shipping company that started in 1915 in New York City. This company mostly used steamships to carry coal. These ships were called collier ships.
The coal ships would load up in Norfolk, Virginia, and then deliver the coal to ports in New England. The Pocahontas Steamship Company played a role in helping with the World War II efforts. The company stopped operating in 1961.
How the Steamship Company Helped in World War II
The ships of the Pocahontas Steamship Company were used to support the World War II effort. During the war, the company operated ships for the U.S. Merchant Navy. These ships helped carry supplies and goods.
The company worked with the Maritime Commission and the War Shipping Administration to charter ships. This meant they rented out their ships to help with the war. The ships were run by their regular Pocahontas Steamship Company crews. The US Navy also provided United States Navy Armed Guards to operate the deck guns and radios on these ships, keeping them safe.
Ships of the Pocahontas Steamship Company
Here are some of the ships that the Pocahontas Steamship Company owned:
- Isaac T. Mann: This was a coal ship named after a banker who was on the company's board.
- Freeman
- Joe Nancy
- Oakley L. Alexander (I): The front part of this ship sank on March 3, 1947, during very rough seas.
- Oakley L. Alexander II: This was a Victory ship that was originally named SS Laconia Victory.
- Lynchburg Victory: Built in 1945, this ship was bought in 1952 and renamed Pocahontas Fuel. It was changed into a large coal carrier.
- Consolidation Coal: This was a Type T2 tanker ship that was originally named Redstone. It was built in 1945 and bought in 1958.
- SS William H. Machen: This ship sank on July 7, 1942, off the coast of New Hampshire. It crashed into another ship called Maid of Stirling.
- SS Bylayl: This ship was built in 1916.
See also
- Pocahontas Historic District
- Pocahontas Fuel Company Store (Maybeury, West Virginia)
- Pocahontas Fuel Company Store (Switchback, West Virginia)
- World War II United States Merchant Navy
