Near Mt. Lookout in Nicholas County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Hawks Nest Workers Memorial and Grave Site

Photographed by Forest McDermott, October 29, 2014

1. Hawks Nest Workers Memorial and Grave Site Marker

Inscription. This Memorial honors an estimated 764 tunnel workers who died from mining a 3.8 mile tunnel through Gauley Mountain to divert water from the New River to a hydroelectric plant near Gauley Bridge in 1930-31. The tunnel cut through almost pure silica in some areas and exposed the unprotected workers to silica dust that quickly caused acute silicosis, a fatal lung disease.

This disaster is considered America's worst industrial accient. Workers in the tunnel were primarily migrant workers, mostly black, who were paid a few dollars a day. When they became sick, many were driven out of the camps to die elsewhere. Those African Americans who died in the camps could not be buried in local “white” cemeteries. A few were sent by rail back to their families. More were taken at night under the cover of darkness to Summersville and buried unceremoniously on a farm. Later these graves had to be moved to widen US Route 19. The remains were disinterred in 1972 and transported several miles to the present site. The decomposed remains were placed in child size coffins and reburied here, resulting in about 48 small grave depression

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Disasters. A significant historical year for this entry is 1972.

Location. 38° 14.072′ N, 80° 51.156′ W. Marker is near Mt. Lookout, West Virginia, in Nicholas County. It is on Hilltop Drive 0.1 miles west of Mountaineer Expressway (U.S. 19), on the right when traveling north. Monument is located at the end of the dead end road called Hilltop Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mount Lookout WV 26678, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New River Gorge

and in Greater Charleston Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hughes Ferry / Bridge

Photographed by Forest McDermott, October 29, 2014

2. Hawks Nest Workers Memorial and Grave Site Marker

(approx. 0.2 miles away); Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster Workers Grave Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); Summersville Reservoir (approx. 2 miles away); Running the River (approx. 2 miles away); Flood Control (approx. 2 miles away); Raid on Summersville (approx. 3 miles away); Honorable War Dead Of Nicholas County (approx. 3.2 miles away); In Memory of (approx. 3.2 miles away).

Hawks Nest Workers Memorial and Grave Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Forest McDermott, October 29, 2014

3. Hawks Nest Workers Memorial and Grave Site

Hawks Nest Workers Grave Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Forest McDermott, October 29, 2014

4. Hawks Nest Workers Grave Site

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2014, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,853 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 30, 2014, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.