Powhatan Point in Belmont County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Coal Industry at Powhatan Point / Powhatan Disaster, 1944
The Coal Industry at Powhatan Point
The Pittsburgh No. 8 coal seam, located 100 feet below river level at Powhatan Point, extends across much of eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. The Cleveland and Western Coal Company, founded by Cleveland industrialist Frank E. Taplin, opened the Powhatan No. 1 mine here in 1922 to take advantage of both river and rail transportation. It became the largest deep mine in Ohio and was the first mine in the state to be completely mechanized. Reorganized as the North American Coal Corporation in 1925, the company operated seven shaft mines in this area during the twentieth century. Four of these mines closed between 1980 and 1984 as clean air standards made locally mined high-sulfur coal difficult to market.
Side 2
Powhatan Disaster, 1944
World War II held hazards for both soldiers and miners as coal mines maximized output for the war effort. On July 5, 1944, a section of roof fell in No. 3 entry at C North face of Powhatan No. 1, a mine with a dangerous reputation. A trolley wire shorted and ignited the coal seam, trapping sixty-six miners deep in the mine. Rescue and firefighting efforts failed, and officials sealed the mine to extinguish the blaze-also sealing the fate of the miners. This tragedy, which compounded two 1940 disasters at the Hanna Coal Company's Willow Grove mine (72 dead) and Y&O Coal's Nelms mine (31 dead), deeply affected the close-knit community. The Powhatan fire was this area's last mining disaster of the twentieth century.
Erected 2001 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Powhatan Improvement Committee, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 6-7.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1794.
Location. 39° 51.845′ N, 80° 48.045′ W. Marker is in Powhatan Point, Ohio, in Belmont County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Allen Avenue and Philip Street. Located across from the end of Philip Street in the town park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Powhatan Point OH 43942, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Powhatan Point (approx. ¼ mile away); George Washington (approx. ¼ mile away); Washington's Land (approx. 2.2 miles away in West Virginia); a different marker also named Washington's Land (approx. 2½ miles away in West Virginia); Thomas H. Trainer (approx. 4.2 miles away in West Virginia); Baker's Station (approx. 4.3 miles away in West Virginia); Zachary Taylor (approx. 4.3 miles away in West Virginia); Rosby’s Rock (approx. 4.4 miles away in West Virginia). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Powhatan Point.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,964 times since then and 254 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 2, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.