Legends and Landmarks

Legends and Landmarks. Bluefield, West Virginia , National Coal Heritage Area. , In many ways, Bluefield has been the social, cultural, and political capital of the southern West Virginia coalfields., Thanks in part to renowned architect Alex Mahood, Bluefield has been home to some of West Virginia's most distinctive and historic buildings., The People's Bank of Bluefield was constructed about 1895 on the site where you stand. It served as First National Bank, Pedigo's Store, and White's Pharmacy., The Law and Commerce Building (built in 1913) was the headquarters for many coal companies, 14 in 1922 alone., The federal building is shown here shortly before its completion in 1909. It later was named for Bluefield's Elizabeth Kee, the first woman to represent West Virginia in Congress., When it was completed in 1923, the 13-story West Virginian Hotel was southern West Virginia's tallest building., Bluefield Baseball , Baseball in the coalfields was not just a pastime; it was a way of life. Baseball games were major social events that attracted thousands of fans. , ,br> Professional baseball in Bluefield dates to 1924. The Bluefield Blue-Grays played originally in the coalfield League and, in 1938, won the Class D Mountain State League championship. Oer the next two decades, the Blue-Grays variously were minor league affiliates of the Boston Braves, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, and Brookyn Dodgers. In 2009, the Bluefield Orioles celebrated its 50th anniversary as an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, the longest continuous affiliation in the nation., History Highlights , Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, Jr., began their professional careers with the Bluefield Orioles., News and Notes , Bluefield was a source of news for all of southern West Virginia. In 1896, only seven years after the city's founding, Hugh Shot bought out an existing newspaper and published the first edition of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph (the newspaper office, on the right, as build in 1916). Shott later served West Virginia in the U.S. Hosue of Representatives and Senate., Bluefield has been a popular tour stop for entertainers ranging from country-and-western singers to jazz legend Duke Ellington, shown here performing at Bluefield State College in 1967.