General Articles.
By Dwight Williamson The closing of so many Sears’s stores across the nation, including the one at Aracoma near Logan and the Charleston Town Center Mall location, is sad to see in these turbulent economic times. And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Logan County is suffering badly. Vacant buildings in the […]
The journey of Logan’s Woman’s Club Read More »
By Dwight Williamson Nearly every single one of us, whether it is people at Amherstdale of Buffalo Creek near Man; Crawley Creek of Chapmanville; Buck Fork of Harts Creek; Hewett Creek in Boone County; Gilbert Creek in Mingo County, or any of the many coal mining company towns spread throughout the region, all have one
The old custom of ‘funeralizing’ Read More »
By Dwight Williamson It once was a thriving community which even included a bowling alley and a movie theater. Gone with the coal dust wind is the community of Sharples, which no longer has a school of any kind in the Logan County territory that includes the areas of Clothier, Kelly Hollow, Dobra, Mifflin, Blair,
Remembering some of the coal camp communities Read More »
By Dwight Williamson Imagine this: It is a hot sultry day in late August of 1921 in bustling downtown Logan as you await the afternoon edition of the only real source of local news for Logan County -The Logan Banner. Paperboys with their canvas bags strapped across their shoulders full of newspapers fresh off the
Don Chafin and the Battle of Blair Mountain Read More »
By Dwight Williamson It’s Christmastime in good old Logan County and somehow Santa’s reindeer have nearly always successfully navigated our hills and mountains to visit one holler after another bringing Christmas joy. It wasn’t that long ago, though, that the “bearded wonder” had one heck of a time trying to get the local kids their
Holiday Memories from the Shegon Inn Read More »
Courthouse photo taken in 1903 Logan Banner, Moments in History by Bob Spence. Shown at the right of today’s column is the courthouse built in Logan in the 1870s and torn down in 1905. This photograph is on loan from Ronna McClure and many thanks and appreciations are extended to her. It is remarkable for
Logan County Courthouse 1875-1905 Read More »
This article was originally published in the Fall 1991 edition of the Goldenseal Magazine. It is published here with their permission and our special thanks. Grandma and Grandpa Zekany Growing Up Hungarian in Logan County By Donna Jean Rittenhouse Donna Jean Rittenhouse grew up largely in the Logan County household of her Hungarian-born grandparents, Alexander
The Zekanys of Logan County Read More »
by Melvin Triola Published in 1952 The United Mine Workers of America attempted to organize the Logan field in 1921. Their organizing campaign was halted on Blair Mountain at that time by the organized effort of the coal operators in Logan County, with which everyone is familiar. After being unsuccessful in this campaign, they did
U. M. W. of A. in Logan County Read More »
By Dwight Williamson Some readers may recall the story of Logan Police Chief Roy Knotts being gunned down in 1930 at the Smokehouse restaurant in Logan by Enoch Scaggs, who put five bullets into the man who was on his first day of work. Despite several eyewitnesses to the killing, the plan was for Scaggs
The murderous ’30s Read More »
By Dwight Williamson There certainly was no Walmart, but there once were many stores in Logan County, some of which even doubled as what was known as “filling stations.” On a smaller scale, I suppose one could compare those stations to today’s Speedways or 7-11 stores; the difference being a mechanic usually available. Younger folks
Recollections of old stores and “filling” stations Read More »