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 »
By Clarence H. Frey Published in 1952 The City of Logan was 36 years of age when Henry Clay Ragland published his first issue of The Logan Banner. Mr. Ragland was a prolific writer and copies of his newspaper record much current news and feature poems and history of the county most of which he
Newspaper and Radio Read More »
By Dwight Williamson Fires have always taken their tolls on historical sites in Logan County, including two Logan County courthouses. However, two significant fires of interest which some people will remember occurred at very historical sites: the Aracoma Hotel in November of 2010, and the Chafin Building (formerly known as the Guyan Valley Bank) also
Fires change course of Logan’s history Read More »
Scrip – Coal Miners Money In the early days of coal mining, the miner became indebted to the company for everything from food and housing to the tools necessary to perform his job. He could draw scrip as an advance against his wages. The Company built houses which were rented to their employees and general
Coal Company Scrip Read More »
By Dwight Williamson When you are talking about the history of Logan County, West Virginia, in reality you may also be speaking of the history of Cabell County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. So, when one is describing the events prior to 1823, such as the first white settlers in the Guyandotte Valley, or the
The Creation of Logan County Read More »
By Dwight Williamson “It is my land and my corn—why can’t I do with my crop whatever I please?” For years— before, during and after Prohibition— mountain people asked that question of its government, virtually to no avail. With the Appalachian mountain region always lending itself admirably to the making of moonshine, and Devil Anse
Death of the Hatfield brothers Read More »
By Dwight Williamson The years from 1920 through 1932 should be of great historical significance to Logan Countians and the names of Chafin and Hatfield figure prominently during this time period when political control of the county meant everything to its leaders. The Prohibition era, which lasted from 1920 until 1933, caused more problems than
The end of the Hatfield political dominance Read More »
By Dwight Williamson A stringent look into the history of Logan County will reveal that from 1924 until 1932 two of Devil Anse Hatfield’s sons pretty much ruled the county, but it should be pointed out that the “dynamic duo” really was just following up on the practices of their predecessor, Sheriff Don Chafin, who
A stringent look into the history of Logan County Read More »