Thomas in Tucker County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Coketon Colored School

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 17, 2020

1. Coketon Colored School Marker

Inscription. Segregated school located along the North Fork of the Blackwater that served Coketon, center of coal and coke empire of H. G. Davis. In 1892 teacher Carrie Williams, represented by J. R. Clifford, state’s first African Amerian lawyer, sued when county reduced school’s term. She won equal pay and terms for black students in WV. School closed in 1954.

Erected 2011 by Tucker County Historical Society & Friends of Blackwater; West Virginia Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Women. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 39° 8.518′ N, 79° 30.386′ W. Marker is in Thomas, West Virginia, in Tucker County. Marker is on Douglas Road / Front Street (County Route 27) half a mile south of Appalachian Highway (West Virginia Route 32), on the left when traveling south. Marker is just a few feet inside the Thomas city limits. Coketon is two miles further south on Douglas Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Thomas WV 26292, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Engineering Building (here, next to this marker); The Company Store (a few steps

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from this marker); Mine Portal No. 29 (approx. half a mile away); Thomas Underground (approx. 0.6 miles away); "All that Humanity Could Desire…" (approx. 0.6 miles away); Historic Thomas and the Coketon Industrial Complex / News Flash! (approx. 0.6 miles away); Exploring the Coketon Industrial Site / West Virginia Coal (approx. 0.6 miles away); Thomas, Yesterday and Today (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thomas.

More about this marker. This historical marker is in the median of a turning circle in front of the former Buxton and Landstreet store. On the east side of this circle is the Davis Coal and Coke Company (DC&C) Administration Building, The DC&C building, lastly a Western Maryland Railway Office, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. There is more detailed information on the lawsuit on this other marker's page.

Photographed By Tom Bosse, July 7, 2022

2. Coketon Colored School Marker

Buxton and Landstreet Co. Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 30, 2015

3. Buxton and Landstreet Co. Building

Adjacent to the marker. Today the building houses the Buxton and Landstreet Gallery and Studios. It was built around 1900 as a general store for Thomas and the surrounding communities.

Davis Coal and Coke Co. Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 30, 2015

4. Davis Coal and Coke Co. Building

Adjacent to the marker. Owned by the city of Thomas and currently being restored.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 919 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 18, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on September 5, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on April 3, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.