Coal companies often paid miners in scrip, a form of private money, each coal company issuing their own scrip. So that it would not be confused with American currency, most of the coins had some sort of hole in the middle. Company allowed miners . . . — — Map (db m238103) HM
“Say a prayer for those who died in darkness so we may enjoy the sunlight.” —Inscription on the miners’ memorial in Whipple erected by the Knights of Columbus.
The most dreaded sound in the coal
camp was when the . . . — — Map (db m140365) HM
The United Mine Workers of America sought to protect coal
miners and began to agitate for better working conditions
throughout the nation. But, it was difficult to organize the West
Virginia miners’ union because of the ultimate control . . . — — Map (db m140168) HM
In the late 1800s, speculators, mining companies and investors were attracted to the vast,
untapped seams of coal lying under the West
Virginia mountains. The first coal operators
created company towns, or coal camps, where
everything was . . . — — Map (db m140429) HM
Pioneers settled the White Oak Valley in the 1800s. In 1892 the mineral rights were sold and the White Oak Fuel Company and the Whipple Colliery Company sunk five mine shafts at Whipple, Carlisle, Oakwood, Scarbro and Wingrove. Each of the five coal . . . — — Map (db m140403) HM