Kimball in McDowell County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
African Americans
— National Coal Heritage Trail —
Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 24, 2021
1. African Americans Marker
cDowell County had the largest concentration of African Americans in the West Virginia coal fields. Between the 1870s and 1900s, African Americans came to West Virginia to construct the Norfolk & Western, Chesapeake & Ohio, and the Virginian railroads. After the railroads were completed many decided to stay, finding work in the developing coal industry. Coal operators sent labor agents to the deep south to recruit African Americans. These agents described the job opportunities available in the coalfields and promised higher wages, education opportunities, and less discrimination.
African Americans traveled to McDowell County by train and found work in the coal mines. They lived in company towns and worked with native whites and immigrants. Even though they faced less discrimination here than in other regions, African Americans still had separate schools, churches, restaurants, recreational facilities, hospitals, and drug stores. Others worked outside the coal industry as lawyers, preachers, businessmen, police officers, doctors, and news reporters for the McDowell Times, a black newspaper.
Erected by National Coal Highway Authority and America’s Byways.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
this page online
Location. 37° 25.589′ N, 81° 30.435′ W. Marker is in Kimball, West Virginia, in McDowell County. Marker is on Main Street (U.S. 52) 0.1 miles south of Lavania Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kimball WV 24853, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Kimball War Memorial (here, next to this marker); 2991–2992 Floods (here, next to this marker); Frederick Kimball (here, next to this marker); Houston Company Store (here, next to this marker); Coal Company Town (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Heartland Corridor Project (about 600 feet away); World War I Memorial (about 600 feet away); Carswell Mining Complex (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kimball.
More about this marker. This interpretive panel has five photographs captioned as follows, clockwise from top:
- Children attend Sunday school in Welch.
- An African American baseball team warming up before the game in Welch.
- Coal miners returned their head lamps after a shift, undated.
- Two coal miners eating lunch in the Algona
mine, circa 1930s.Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 24, 20212. African Americans Marker
- Early coal miners stand above the coke ovens.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 24, 2021
3. Kimball National Coal Trail Interpretive Site
This marker is the rightmost of the three standing panels.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 124 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on August 4, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
