Mount Hope in Fayette County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Mount Hope Landmarks
The stone bank building that survived the fire of 1910 and the New River Coal Company office are good examples. New River Coal Company also built Hotel Mount Hope. After employees started moving into their own homes, the company hired a manager to attract customers and renamed it the "New River Hotel". The hotel could not meet the demand from the number of travelers, so in 1931 it expanded and was renamed "The Mountainair Hotel".
By the end of the 1920s, most of the business district was rebuilt complete with electricity including the Masonic Building built in 1928 which housed the Princess Playhouse and was used for Civil Defense during WWII. It was the first fireproof building in the state built completely of metal and concrete.
Structures built by Italian masons following the Great Depression also remain including Municipal Stadium, built in 1938 as home to both Mount Hope and Dubois High School sporting events and other activities, a WWI Monument, the water fountain, a coal seam exhibit, and the stone walls throughout town.
The graves of William Blake, Sr. and C. C. Brown, first settlers in the area, are buried at the Blake-Brown cemetery, the only cemetery within city limits. Three other cemeteries are located in the area including the MacDonald and Rose Hill Cemeteries established by the MacDonald Coal Company and separated by race, and the Kilsyth Cemetery established by the McKell Coal Company.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 37° 53.947′ N, 81° 9.452′ W. Marker is in Mount Hope, West Virginia, in Fayette County. Marker is on Main Street (West Virginia Route 211) 0.2 miles west of West Virginia Route 16, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mount Hope WV 25880, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mount Hope Early Town History (here, next to this marker); Mount Hope Coal History (here, next to this marker); Dubois School History (here, next to this marker); Mount Hope School History (here, next to this marker); DuBois High School (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Commercial Center (approx. ¾ mile away); Bailey Row (approx. ¾ mile away); World War I Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mount Hope.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2020, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 105 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 1, 2020, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.