Raines Tavern, Virginia facts for kids
Raines Tavern is a small community located in Cumberland County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. It's found on Virginia State Route 45, just north of a town called Farmville, Virginia. This place was once an important stop for trains.
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What is Raines Tavern?
Raines Tavern is a community that isn't an official town. It's a quiet spot in Cumberland County, Virginia. For many years, it played a role in the history of railroads and coal mining in the area.
A Hub for Railroads
From 1884 to 1905, Raines Tavern was a stop on the Farmville and Powhatan Railroad. This railroad helped people and goods travel across Virginia. Later, from 1905 to 1917, it became a stop on the Tidewater and Western Railroad. These train lines were very important for moving things like coal from mines to other places.
The Story of Coal Mining
Coal is a type of rock that can be burned for energy. It was a very important resource a long time ago. The story of Raines Tavern is connected to coal mining.
The Farmville Coal and Iron Company
In 1860, a company called the Piedmont Coal Company was officially started by John Dalby. However, the coal mines didn't do much for a while. Then, in 1891, a new company stepped in. This was the Farmville Coal and Iron Company. They started renting land, selling parts of their company (called stock), and reopened the old Piedmont mines.
| Private | |
| Industry | Coal |
| Founded | (1881) |
| Headquarters | Farmville, Virginia |
|
Area served
|
Farmville |
Connecting Mines to Markets
To get the coal from the mines to other places, the Farmville Coal and Iron Company built a special, short railroad track. This track was about one and a half miles long. It connected their mine at Raines Tavern to the main Farmville and Powhatan Railroad. From there, the coal could travel all the way to docks in a place called Bermuda Hundred. This area is near the coast, and from there, the coal could be shipped even further away.
