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“We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.” — Abraham Lincoln
I love this website! My family immigrated and ended up in Omar at the turn of the 20th century, so I love any history about the area I can find. Bob, you are right about my Grandfather flying P-51′s in WWII. I was actually trying to find anything I could about the bridge in Logan that was dedicated to him (William J) back in the late 90′s; to see if it was still bearing his name but I can find nothing. I am currently living in Charleston, the rest of my immediate family has moved away from WV to Kansas and as far as Hawaii, but I can’t bring myself to leave the area. I was surprised to see Bob’s and Raamie’s posts on here; it’s great to see good people that care about their roots. My father spoke very highly of both of you; I know he still looks over all of us and may he rest in peace. I really wish I had continued the tradition of flying but instead became an accountant… I do see a private pilot’s license in my future though
Hello..my mother is Ruby Saunders, daughter of Ernest and Ada Saunders of Coal Branch. Her brothers and sisters are Albert (deceased), Mary Madeline (Peg), James, Frank, G.C. (deceased), Elizabeth, and Virginia. My grandpa built one of the first roads up into Coal Branch, probably in the 30′s. He was a miner, and also a preacher. I’m just wondering if anyone remembers them? My mother is 84 now. Thanks for this wonderful site. I’m trying to show her the photos, but her vision is nearly gone, and its hard for her to see them. She’s enjoying the memories though, as i describe the pictures to her.
I saw a 6½ oz Logan WV coke bottle sell for over $100 on eBay. I can remember when I was a kid I only got 2 cents a bottle at Kroger. I sure wish we had eBay back then.
The week in Logan was wonderful. I went to the library several times and to the genealogy club meeting one evening. It was like coming home. We drove a lot to places I heard Grannie talk about and a few I had visited many years ago as a child. A second cousin is buried in Mitchell cemetery at Mitchell Heights (up the hill). We drove up several roads but did not get out to explore. A lady at the cemetery at Man told us it was there. Oh well, another day and another time. Went to Henlawson and found the house my great aunt lived in. Island Creek flooded while we were there and that was sad, but I understand there are plans for dredging. We met so many wonderful people that my husband said he would like to stay awhile but there is not many places to park the RV except at Chief Logan. I have some old postcards of Logan from the 1940′s that I will share when I get home in October.
Vera, it was nice to hear that you enjoyed your trip. Thanks for sharing. I am looking forward to seeing the postcards. Have a safe trip home.
We are now in Logan. A week in Monroe Co. was wonderful. We did climb Worf Creek Mt. An hour and a half up. The other day we went up the mountain at Peach Creek. What a huge cemetery and grossly neglected. I found a lot of McNeely graves and two Lawson. We are staying at Chief Logan and will leave here Wed for Ky. Did drive up Island Creek to the end where Grannie Wilsie Ellis was born.
Doug,
We moved to Peach Creek in 1952, so I didn’t know the folks you mentioned, except the Harrisons. In which house did you live at top of hill? We moved there in 1941 or early 1942 and if memory serves, I believe we bought our house from the Bias family.
There were no houses between the end of the paved road and the top of the hill, other than Rasnick’s Goat Farm when we moved there. The Rasnick farm was on the hill at the last curve before the top of hill. Later the Hunters lived there and built a second house on the property. I remember rumors about “prehistoric” animals being seen at the big rocks on top of the mountain, but everyone living on City View laughed at the stories because they knew that it was the Rasnick family’s goats that had climbed to the “Big Rocks” to graze. I believe there was even an article about those “prehistoric” animals in the Logan Banner.
The Harrisons lived in the row of houses where the pavement ended. The name Rainwater sounds a little bit familiar. Seems like that might be the family that built after we moved there. Didn’t they live on the right hand side on the dirt road, going up the hill? Didn’t you have to climb a bunch of steps to get to their house?
When we moved there, there was a family next door to us that moved to Middleburg. I’m having a “Sr. Moment” and can’t remember their names. Dr. Haydue (dentist) lived two doors from us. They had a little boy named “Frankie”. The Jones family lived in the next house, had a daughter named “Bobbie”. The Dean family lived in the next house; had two children, Barbara, a redhead with freckles and I forget the little boy’s name. In the last house (next to the cemetery) was the Staton family; had a teen aged son named Roy. When you topped the hill, our house was the one in the curve, with the pillars on the front porch (2nd house on top of the hill). The first house was a duplex and Norman & Audrey Conley bought that one. They sold it to the owners of Peerless Cleaners. I can’t remember the names of that couple, but I used to baby sit for them. The Oxleys lived in the smaller house down under the main road when we moved there and they sold their house to the Parsons family- Parsons had a daughter “inky” and a little boy, Roy. August & Mamie Gertz bought that house from the Parsons, then rented it out and moved next door to us. The Hefners lived in the large two-story house down under the road. They later sold to Monnie & Hobert Young.
About 1948 or so, Mose Ferguson built a Snake handler/ “free love church down under the hill between where the paved road ended and before the last curve. That was when Mother started talking about moving, because of the “free love” church and because people started building what she called “shotgun houses” all over the hillside. She was afraid it would destroy property values. After I was married she later moved back to City View (where the pavement ended). She lived on the hill in last house where the Harrisons lived. Goldie Napier then built a snake handler church in front of Mother’s house. Wonder if that church is still there? We used to sit on Mother’s front porch and really “jam” to the music from Goldie’s church; piano, guitars, drums, symbols and tambourines. I love that kind of Gospel music to this day!
To: Dodie (Smith) Browing
I read one of your posting where you wrote that you once lived at the top of City View. As a child we lived at the very top of City View until we moved to California in April, 1963. I was 10 years old when we left West Virginia. However, I have been returning to visit Logan on a regular basis since 1974. Sometimes I’ll visit more than once-a-year. Anyway, I remember a lot of our neighbors on City View: The Rainwaters, Harrison’s, Bowman’s, Belchers, Kirk’s, Ferguson’s, Frey’s, Blankenships, etc…. I’m wondering if you lived there when we lived there, around 1958-1963? We moved into my granfathers house on City View, sometime after he passed away. His name was John Bokosky. Do you remember the Bokosky family of City View? I couldn’t find your e-mail address anywhere on this web site, this is why I’m posting this here. You can contact me at FVCAL@yahoo.com
No documentation is given, but the WV State Archives has this same information on their website under the History of Omar:
http://www.wvculture.org/museum/omar/index.html
I have been searching for info on Omar, WV which I believe is in Logan County. In the 1800′s, Cole Porter’s (famous song writer) grandfather, James Omar Cole, went to WV and purchased land. He sold the lumber and then discovered coal and/or oil. He returned to Peru, IN, which is my home town. I was told the town of Omar was named after him. Can anyone offer some insight on this? I am the docent at the Cole Porter birthplace in Peru and trying to verify information to relate to tourists. Thanks.
@Vera Sengstock
Vera, I have researched in all of the places you are going this summer. All have excellent records, but last time I was in Russell Co (Lebanon) they wouldn’t let us photocopy some of the old records because of damage to the books. All of their records are on microfilm though and can be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan.
Logan County (my place of birth) is naturally my favorite place to research and IMHO, has the most beautiful campground.
Chief Logan State Park fills up fast so best to make reservations NOW (It may already be too late to get a spot for July).
http://www.chiefloganstatepark.com/
Application For Reservations
http://www.chiefloganstatepark.com/CHIE_online_camp.pdf
Hope you enjoy your trip and have
HAPPY HUNTING!
Dodie (Smith) Browning
We are on a genealogy road trip this summer. We will be in Russell and Scott Counties in Va. Then Monroe and Logan W. Va. Does anyone know of a campground near Logan? We are traveling in a notor home and have a tow car to get around in. Plans are to be there about mid July. I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments and history of Logan. Vera
We are searching for anyone who lived at Slagle Wv in the mid 40.s to early 50,s
Frank and Vi Copley Johnson
frankandvi37@embarqmail.com
Growing up in Logan I soon found out that not everyone was honest. When buying meat at the local grocery store nothing was prepackaged or preweighed. The butcher would tear off a long piece of white paper, place it on the scale, and then throw a cut piece of meat on to it. Now the paper was extra long and what the customer could not see was the paper extended down to the butcher’s waist. When he threw the meat on the scale it would bounce up and down. The butcher would apply traction to the paper at the proper time and he could increase the weight of the cut of meat and add to his profit. Filing stations did something called short sticking. Stations were full service them and they would gladly check you oil. The attendant would pull the dip stick out, wipe it off, and reinsert. Only problem was he put his thumb between the cap on the dipstick and the neck of the pipe. The was just about a quart of oil on the stick that would show as low. They would bring the dipstick to your door and show you that you were a quart low and did you want him to add it. Sure, one would say. Now the oil at Pure Oil Stations was green and kept in a wire rack of six bottles. The scam was one of the bottles was just painted green and this is the bottle that was upended into your filler pipe. The attendant would once again check the oil level with your dipstick without his thumb in the way and gladly show you the level was now up to the full mark. Station attendants would also wear a string cutter’s ring and nick your fanbelt or drop a piece of Alka Seltzer into your battery which would kill it instantly.
We have a scam going on in the Charlotte area where a young lady will pull into a convenience store station and buy some gas. When she goes into pay she will tell the person at the counter that she lost her wedding band around the pump. They go out and look for it and, of course, they cannot find it. The young lady then tells the attendant that it has great sentimental value and if anyone finds it she will offer a 500 dollar reward. She says she is staying at a local motel for a few days and leaves her phone number. Well, later that afternoon her cohort pulls in and produces a dime store wedding band. He offers to sell it to the attendant inside for 100 bucks. Now the attendant sees a quick 400 dollar profit and buys the wring. When he calls the number: no one home. I guess we will always have crooks and con men amongst us.
LHS Grad. Class of 1951. Love this new site. Would love to hear from any old friends from Dingess Run. Grew up in Ethel . To list all my wonderful memories would take a book. My parents were Earl and Marie Williams.
I still have a brother and sister in the area and I try to get back at least once a year.
Re reocities sites.
Thanks Frank for the warning below.
I hope all who would check into their web page to be careful and use their own best judgement.
I personally haven’t seen any warning windows but Franks virus program may well be better than mine.
There is also another place who has saved some of these sites. If anyone wants to have that site name I can provide it as well.
Just a bit gun shy now though. Even though I didn’t get a window doesn’t mean that they aren’t trying to down load goodness knows what.
Careful everyone
@Sandy Gallion Hays
Sandy, to submit a picture for posting on this site, just email it to me. Also, check out the posting guidelines on the Home page. I am looking forward to seeing your pictures.
Here is my email address: webmaster@loganwv.us
Can anyone post a picture of the Blue Goose Saloon?
So, how are we able to get photos posted?
does any one have an old pic of the old east end elementry school in williamson
@Joanna (McDonnell) Newman
Warning! I visited Joanna’s (West) Virginia Genealogy Page (reocities.com/Heartland/prairie/5225/) and Norton reported that the site is unsafe. “Norton Safe Web has analyzed this page and determined that the site is unsafe to visit. This Web site may attempt to install malicious software on your computer.”
I am very sorry, Joanna.
TO ALL WHO HAD WVA WEB PAGES ON GEOCITIES
Geocities was discontinued in October 2009 so many of us lost our web pages full of genealogy information and photos!
Great News!
Thanks to a great guy, named Jacques Mattheij, we can now access our web pages (for read only for now.)!
When he found out they were going down he raced to copy them before they disapeared forever.
I believe he hopes at some point to find a way for us to access our pages.
All you have to do to access you pages is to replace the “G” in geocities with and “R” to make it reocities plus the rest of your webpage address.
For instance
my old web page was
http://geocities.com/Heartland/prairie/5225/
Now it is
http://reocities.com/Heartland/prairie/5225/
Once you access your page again, take the time to read all he went through to save all the pages…and you also might want to send him a big thank you at his email j@ww.com
Hope this makes you as happy as it did me!
Joanna
Some casual observations about Logan County, WV. As I drive from Charleston to Logan along Appalachian Corridor G I notice a strange site off to the right of the highway. About 100 55 gallon drums with the end cut out and a rooster tethered to a “T” shaped perch. I was not raised on a farm but I don’t think you need that many roosters to produce eggs. They are fighting cocks which I thought was illegal in WV. The handlers attach blades to their spurs and they will fight to the death. A good handler is much like a cut man in a human prize fight. He will have substances to stop the flow of blood as well as an assortment of different blades or spurs to attach to his rooster. I think that there is big bucks in betting on cock fights. Now the other activity that takes place in Logan County is marijuana production. It is reported to be the biggest cash crop in the state.The locals call it “wachy tobacchy”. The WV State Police, locally called the round hats, will try to spot the fields from the air as they turn a particular shade of green at a certain time of the year. From reading The Logan Banner I see where they manage to catch a few from time to time, but I would imagine that there are bigger fish to fry and some serious crime in Logan County. McDowell County led the state in murders at one time and I would imagine that Logan County is not far behind. A common defense during a murder trial is as follows, “Judge, I killed him because he needed killed” and many times the judge and jury agree and the defendant gets off relatively easy. Now in Logan County, if one does not get along with a neighbor, a favorite method of getting rid of the neighbor is to burn him out. I think it is very effective. I do know that the locals can spot an outsider without any problems. I think they suspect that you are a ATF agent looking for stills or a surface miner. I can remember the copper “worms” hanging on an auto parts yard in Deskins Addition. So much for some of my observations about Logan County.
When I was a kid in 1950s White’s Addition we referred to the rocks on that mountain as “Big Rocks” also.
Logan had several “big rocks” on top of the surrounding mountains. Ward Rock was up where WLOG and WVOW had placed their towers. There were large rock formations above Deskins Additions and I remember at one time the paper rumored that there were prehistoric animals up there. It turned out to be goats. The large rock formation above Midleburg Addition was known as Devil’s Hole and you could get on top but it was difficult. The rock was noted for a large hole in the middle. I think the proposed new road to man has cut into this hillside and it certainly is not the same. We spent a good bit of time on the hillside looking for grapevines to cut and then swing on. We would test them with the weight of two or three boys to insure that they were strong enough. All went well until the vine died about the third day and then it would break while you were over the great abyss. In the 50′s the Guyandotte was polluted with the washings from coal cleaning plants. It was jet black and in times of drought, almost ran like syrup. Untreated sewerage also was dumped into the river and gamefish were non existent. The annual floods did serve a purpose of giving the river a good flush.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjhZGG_U9Hk
I do remember Perunie and if you copy and paste the link above I think you can hear her theme song, Turn Your Radio On
I GREW UP IN LOGAN,CITY VIEW,MY ? DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO BIG ROCK ON TOP OF CITY VIEW,I WAS BACK IN 2000,DID NOT SEE IT,THANKS-50S-EARLY 60S
MY E-MAIL b.richards69@yahoo.com
Herbert,
What a lovely memory! Thanks for sharing it.
Dodie: When I was student at the Coal Branch grade school in 1949 or 1950, the white kids were invited to the black school for a May Day celebration. They had a May Pole with red and white streamers or ribbons attached to the top of the pole. All the kids danced around the pole, each holding a streamer, half were going clockwise and half going counter clockwise. When the pole was finished it had been woven top to bottom with red and white. Lunch of hot dogs and Kool Aid was served inside the school. I can’t remember if there were two or four rooms but it seems to me like there were two large rooms. I was most impressed with the hot lunch. I don’t know if they always served hot lunches or this was just a special occasion.
I want give my special thanks to Dodie (Smith) Browning for identifying the name of hill from where the Logan WV photo was taken. I also want to thank Sandy Gallion Hays and Kenny Collins who confirmed Dodie’s opinion. I’ve change the title of the photo to “Logan WV from the top of Buskirk Hill”. Again, thanks to all of you for your help.
Frank, Unless my bearings are off, If you look to the far left, about a quarter of the way from the bottom of the picture, you will see some yellow oblong “thingys”. If I am not mistaken those are school buses and directly in back of the buses is the Aracoma High School at Coal Branch. That is Coal Branch Hollow running in back of the school. Schools were still segregated when I went to school and Aracoma High was the High School for black students. The grade school for black students was a nice white clapboard building on the hill above the High School (to the left), but doubtful that it is still standing. Does anyone know? I was never inside, but believe it was a 4 room building. The little 2 room school where I went to school for 4 years was farther up the hollow. The small hill that separates the community of Aracoma (Route 10, shown in the picture)from Coal Branch was called the “Backbone”.
Dodie, no I cannot see the old Aracoma High School in the picture. Give me a hint where to look.
Thank you so much for making this website. It really brings back old memories, it’s great! I also really like the old pictures of logan. I would also like to say hello to Bob Marslender, I played football with your older brother Danny, at Omar Jr. High. (The old school, not the new one)
Sandy, I think the picture you are talking about is from the Logan Banner. If that’s the case, the Library should have it on microfiche and the article may tell you the names of the individuals in the picture. However, since he’s in the background, it’s probably not likely but good luck anyway.
Also, if the triangle picture is from the Banner, then you should be able to buy a large print of the picture and if the print is from the negative (not from a scanned copy), you will be able to do high resolution scan of the picture and maybe determine if it’s your grandfather.
a one in a million question for someone…the standard picture of the triangle, in 1936. I am sure most of you have seen it. Has anyone ever noticed the man walking in the background? I am almost sure that is a picture of my grand father, Lewis Gallion. He used to operate the horseback riding stables on Middleburg island and would walk from the island to where he lived on City View every day. I can only remember him wearing work pants with a long sleeved white shirt and a hat. For those who may not remember me, my mom was Lucille Gallion, “Perunie” on WLOG for more than 32 years.
my email address: sjghays@hotmail.com
Buskirk hill above the old power plant and Buskirk Addition.
Can anyone (beside me) see the school buses and the old Aracoma High School (Coal Branch) in the 1999 picture of Logan?
Dodie
it looks like this picture could have been taken up behind Jimmy Buskirks (way up)…you can see the turn off to the hospital, as well as Rt 10 on your left and entire Middleburg island (which my grandfather was offered to buy in the early 50′s since he operated the riding stables there and didn’t think it would be a good business decision…he wasn’t a very forward thinking kind of guy but he was really good with stock. hahhaha) with the middle school closer just as you would see it driving across water street bridge going into town from the triangle. you also notice the power lines, so yep I think it’s up on the hill behind Buskirks
My email address is sjghays@hotmail.com
I am thinking that picture was taken from Draper Hill or High Street. I really like this web page. Fuzzy I too so love Logan WV. The only place I call home. Barbara
Thanks Terry, I enjoyed the pictures on your site. I won’t copy any of them but I would like to add a link to your site so anyone visiting this site will have the opportunity to enjoy them too. I totally agree with you about the way life is now. I think all of us that grew up in the 50s and 60s long for that simple life again.
GREAT SITE, AND I LOVE THE OLD PHOTOS. IN MY MIND ITS STILL JUST LIKE IT WAS BACK WHEN. I HATE THE WAY THING ARE TODAY, TOO FAST AND TOO FURIOUS FOR MY LIKING. IF YOU NEED ANY OLD PHOTOS YOUR WELCOME TO ANY THAT I HAVE POSTED, PLEASE TAKE ALL YOU WANT. TERRY FUZZY MULLINS http://www.members.tripod.com/~TerryLeeMullins/TerryLMullins.html
I remember Morrison’s very well. My brother Doug and friend Odell M were there one night and some boys wanted to fight. We broke bad on them and the police were called. Sally, then a young lady, (we were young also) warned us that they were on the way. We made a hasty retreat laughing all the way. There was only three of us and about 10 of them from Man or somewhere. At any rate it was fun.
I remember the admission being 15 cents for a child and 25 cents for an adult. I think popcorn was a dime. We would sag our knees at the boxoffice to appear smaller. The theaters were all owned by a prominent Jewish family, the Talheimers. They had the only swimming pool in Midleburg Addition but were very kind to allow all of the neighberhood kids to swim there from time to time. The island was not very well developed in the 50′s and there was only one bridge near the old Kroger store. I understand that the old Logan High School at East End is only used for Board of Ed. storage. It is full of asbestos and it would be expensive and create more of a hazard to remove. Morrison’s Drive Inn is still in business and I think they have the best chicken livers in a box that I have ever eaten.
I have a Bertha Mitchell born 1892. Her parents were John N. Mitchell and Malinda Hall. John was the son of Archelaus Mitchell b. 1825 in Logan Co.,WV and Harriet Cline b. in Logan as well. Does anything
ring a bell??
Bob Mitchell
my mother in law was Bertha Mitchell, married John Miller of Logan,WVa.sons and daughters still live in Logan…
To the Wilson’s; thanks; after my initial post I actually remembered that Jack was the Basketball star; but I got the state location wrong on his college career.
Bill Abraham, I believe flew the old P-51 (? could be wrong on the AC model, but I am reasonably sure he was a fighter pilot. His son Billy Dale and I were good friends. He passed away just a few years ago. He flew C-130′s. We were in Viet Nam at the same time. He graduated the USAF Academy in 1967; my son Chris grad. there in 2004; he is an F-16 pilot with two tours in Iraq and newly assigned in AZ as an F-16 instructor pilot. At 6’4″ Chris is almost as tall as one of the Wilson brothers. So, a descendent of an Omarian carries on the fighter pilot tradition.
Mobile, AL
Your website was recommended to me by Sheridan Hill and just got my first look at it today. Hope you get more stuff than you possibly could dream of and I especially enjoyed the mountainside photo of Logan and the Logan County WWII bomber—that one is a first. I was born at the old Mercy Hospital in Logan, schooled in Chapmanville, graduated from MU and worked as a public school teacher in every high school in Logan County except Man (post integration) and also worked as editor of The Banner now working the past 14 years as an assistant to Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin. There is little recorded Logan history so I hope your website becomes a valuable tool for students and teachers as well as researchers. Anything I can do to help, just whistle a tune. Raamie Barker, 304-357-7887 Charleston, 855-3032 in Chapmanville.
My dad, Edward Bowling was born in Logan Co.WV…father was Cloid Bowling mother was Pearl…any relatives out there???
March 8, 2010
Houston, TX
Bob Marslender–remember him well from Omar. Nice of him to recall my mother’s smile. Brother, Jack, died of aortic aneurysm, in Florida, in 1988.
I think the third Wilson brother was Jack; is that correct Lyle and Vern; I still remember your mother’s happy smile
I am researching the Mitchell Families of Logan,Mingo,McDowell and Wyoming counties. would love to talk to anyone about Logan County and Coal mines, Lizard Creek State Park, etc. I went to a family reunion
up in that park.
Bob Mitchell