Beckley in Raleigh County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Bachelor’s Shanty
Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, June 27, 2015
1. Bachelor’s Shanty Marker
Room for one
From the coal camp in Helen, WV, this one room dwelling dates back to the early 1920s. It was built for and occupied by a single miner or a married miner living away from home while working in the coal mines during a work week. The married miner would return home to his family on the weekends.
This simple space is a good example of getting by with the bare necessities. It is warm and dry with just enough space for a chair, stove, bed, and a few essentials. Compare this dwelling with the Miner’s House and the relatively lavish Superintendent’s House located nearby.
Picture caption:
Typical Coal Company housing showing a mix of homes and shantys. Photo courtesy of Mary Stevenson, Coal Towns of West Virginia, Vol. II.
Erected by Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Labor Unions.
Location. 37° 47.057′ N, 81° 11.801′ W. Marker is in Beckley, West Virginia, in Raleigh County. It can be reached from Ewart Avenue half a mile Robert C. Byrd Drive (West Virginia Route 16), on the left when traveling west. Located on the walking path of the Beckley Exposition Coal Mine. Touch for map
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s New River Gorge. 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 walking distance of this marker: Coal Camp Church (here, next to this marker); Miner's House (a few steps from this marker); Raleigh County Coal Mines (within shouting distance of this marker); Dinky Locomotive (within shouting distance of this marker); The Phillips-Sprague Mine (within shouting distance of this marker); The Coal Camp (within shouting distance of this marker); The Slab Fork Coal Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Superintendent's House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beckley.
Additional keywords. Coal Mining
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 7, 2025
2. Bachelor’s Shanty and Marker
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 7, 2025
3. Additional Marker Right of the Door
This was a single dwelling where a single man or married man would make his home away from home. He would stay at the mining camp during a hard working week and return to his home on the week-ends. And then back to the coal camp for another work week. His rent would have been about $2.00 a month. As you can see, he had embroidered curtains. Well his grandmother made these for him and a towel too!!
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 7, 2025
4. Interior of the Bachelor’s Shanty
Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2015, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 674 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 28, 2015, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. 2. submitted on August 12, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on August 14, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
