Near Beckley in Raleigh County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Mortality

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 21, 2014

1. Mortality Marker

Inscription.
This bronze, titled "Mortality," is the work of West Virginia sculptor Bill Hopen. His study of a dying tunnel worker eulogizes the many men lying in unmarked graves near Hawk's Tunnel about 30 miles from here. There was no memorial for nearly a thousand workers who died from breathing silica dust during tunnel construction. The tunnel was constructed to divert the New River three miles through a mountain to supply hydro-electricity to a private power plant at Gauley Junction, a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation. It was begun in 1930, completed in 1935, and is still in use today. The dam for the tunnel can be seen from Hawk's Nest State Park.

"I think it important that we remember these men as individual souls whose lives were needlessly cut short."
Bill Hopen

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Disasters • Environment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 37° 48.114′ N, 81° 13.018′ W. Marker is near Beckley, West Virginia, in Raleigh County. Marker and sculpture are at Tamarack, the West Virginia cultural heritage and artisan center. Tamarack is accessed from I-77 Exit 45. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: One Tamarack Park, Beckley WV 25801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. From Agriculture to Mining (within shouting distance of this marker); The Indian Path (within shouting distance of this marker); Dinky Locomotive (approx. 1.6 miles away); Raleigh County Coal Mines (approx. 1.6 miles away); Bachelor’s Shanty (approx. 1.6 miles away); Superintendent's House (approx. 1.7 miles away); Samuel B. Antonio (approx. 1.9 miles away); Cleared for Takeoff (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beckley.

Also see . . .
1. Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster. West Virginia Encyclopedia website entry (Submitted on July 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. Tamarack Marketplace. Website homepage (Submitted on July 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Additional keywords. Mortality

<i>Mortality</i> Sculpture and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 21, 2014

2. Mortality Sculpture and Marker

<i>Mortality</i> Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 21, 2014

3. Mortality Sculpture

From back, looking toward Tamarack

Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 840 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.