Lundale, Logan County, WV
Miner Saved; Five Die in Logan County
Morgantown Post, West Virginia
February 13, 1958
Logan, W. Va. (UP) — Coal miner Glenn Burchett was recovering in a hospital today from injuries suffered when he was trapped six hours Wednesday night under a huge roof fall that killed five of his fellow workers.
Almost miraculously, Burchett suffered only a broken leg and other apparently superficial injuries when a section of roof measuring about 100 by 20 feet and averaging four feet thick came crashing down without warning.
Rescue workers using hydraulic jacks slowly and methodically lifted the fallen slate to a point where Burchett, 39-year-old father of four children, could be extricated.
He had been in contact with the rescuers for hours before he was freed at 12:15 this morning and rushed to a hospital. About 10 p.m. one of the workers crawled some 30 feet under the debris and reported the trapped man was in good spirits after drinking some coffee the man brought him.
The five men killed when the roof gave way in the Lundale mine of Amherst Coal Co. were identified as Elmer Broady, a machine helper; Earl Johnson and James E. Rogers, roof bolt machine operators; William Collins, a machine man; and Jack Pennington, the foreman.
A seventh man, Estes Woods, a joy operator, who was working with them jumped clear of the falling roof and escaped injury. He crawled away from the scene and walked out of the mine.
The fall occurred with such suddenness that a group of men working 175 feet away had to be told of the cave in. Rescue workers estimated the weight of the single piece of rock at about 500 tons.
Federal and State mine inspectors began a probe into the disaster early this morning.
The mine was shut down shortly after the accident occurred at 6:30 p.m. at an intersection of two passageways about 2 miles from the main mouth of the mine, which was opened only last year. The mine employees 215 men, about half of whom were at work on the second shift when the accident occurred.
Lundale, Logan County, WV Photos
This is a collection of Lundale photos. You can help preserve our Logan County history and memories by sharing your vintage photos with us. To share a photo, please email it to the admin at loganwv.us@gmail.com. Please note that you must own the photo you are submitting or ensure that no one has a copyright claim on it. If a photo owned by you appears on this website and you do not want it here, please notify the admin for its immediate removal.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Below the panorama is an enlargement of the Lundale Coal Co. Store section of the photo. Note the WWI period Buy WSS (War Savings Stamps) sign to the left of the store. Image 19172.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Below the panorama is an enlargement of the Lundale Coal Co. Store section of the photo. Note the WWI period Buy WSS (War Savings Stamps) sign to the left of the store. Image 19172.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (1 of 6). Courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 19171
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (1 of 6). Courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 19171
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (2 of 6) courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 19172b.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (2 of 6) courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 19172b.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (3 of 6)courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 191733.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (3 of 6)courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 191733.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (4 of 6) courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Note the Buy WSS (War Savings Stamps) sign to the left of the store. Image 19174.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (4 of 6) courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Note the Buy WSS (War Savings Stamps) sign to the left of the store. Image 19174.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (5 of 6). Courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 19175.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (5 of 6). Courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 19175.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (6 of 6). Courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 19176.
Lundale, WV c1917 panorama photo section (6 of 6). Courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 19176.
Two miners watching a photographer take a panorama photo of Lundale, c1917. Courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 1917201.
Two miners watching a photographer take a panorama photo of Lundale, c1917. Courtesy of John Craig. He bought the picture at an antique store in 1979 for his father, Charles Craig. Image 1917201.
1938 Monaville, WV. Image 14231. If you know his name, please leave a comment.
1938 Monaville, WV. Image 14231. If you know his name, please leave a comment.
1943 Lundale, Logan County, WV courtesy of Mae Maynus. Image 1794.
1943 Lundale, Logan County, WV courtesy of Mae Maynus. Image 1794.
Lundale Mine circa 1919. Corby Walls writes. Kohinoor opened it in 1912. Lundale Coal Company an affiliate of Amherst Coal Company purchased it in 1915. Lundale #1 Mine closed September 7, 1978. 114681
Lundale Mine circa 1919. Corby Walls writes. Kohinoor opened it in 1912. Lundale Coal Company an affiliate of Amherst Coal Company purchased it in 1915. Lundale #1 Mine closed September 7, 1978. 114681
Lundale, WV - Aug. 6, 1922 courtesy of Corby Walls. Image 1569.
Lundale, WV - Aug. 6, 1922 courtesy of Corby Walls. Image 1569.
Bosses Houses Lundale, WV courtesy of Danny Kennedy. Image 46868.
Bosses Houses Lundale, WV courtesy of Danny Kennedy. Image 46868.
Lundale circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. Image 91674.
Lundale circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. Image 91674.
Lundale circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. Image 91622.
Lundale circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. Image 91622.
Lundale, WV circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. image 30134.
Lundale, WV circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. image 30134.
Lundale Grade School, Lundale, Logan County, WV, circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref image 4692.
Lundale Grade School, Lundale, Logan County, WV, circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref image 4692.
Vicinity of Lundale, Logan County, WV, circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. image 4691.
Vicinity of Lundale, Logan County, WV, circa 1930 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. image 4691.
Lundale Church, Lundale, Logan County, WV, circa 1930. Courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. image 761.
Lundale Church, Lundale, Logan County, WV, circa 1930. Courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. Ref. image 761.
Church at Lundale, WV. Photo 8155 courtesy of Danny Kennedy.
Church at Lundale, WV. Photo 8155 courtesy of Danny Kennedy.
Second church at Lundale built from the same blueprints as the church in Photo 8155. Photo 8156 courtesy of Danny Kennedy.
Second church at Lundale built from the same blueprints as the church in Photo 8155. Photo 8156 courtesy of Danny Kennedy.
Boarding house at Lundale, 1919 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. 136489
Boarding house at Lundale, 1919 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. 136489
Lower Lundale, after the flood, 1972 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. 456911
Lower Lundale, after the flood, 1972 courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. 456911
1920, hospital (left) at Lundale courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. 813646
1920, hospital (left) at Lundale courtesy of Brandon Ray Kirk. 813646
Old Amherst Coal Company Store at Lundale? Courtesy of Danny Kennedy. (11678)
Old Amherst Coal Company Store at Lundale? Courtesy of Danny Kennedy. (11678)
Lundale Post Office courtesy of Corby Walls. This picture was taken in 1978 during the renovation of the Lundale Post Office. The post office was in the back of the building and shows Ethel Mae Yanko Preston, postmaster for many years. Newman Merritt preceded her and also there for many years. (91568)
Lundale Post Office courtesy of Corby Walls. This picture was taken in 1978 during the renovation of the Lundale Post Office. The post office was in the back of the building and shows Ethel Mae Yanko Preston, postmaster for many years. Newman Merritt preceded her and also there for many years. (91568)
Power House, Lundale Coal Company, Lundale, WV courtesy of Danny Kennedy.
Power House, Lundale Coal Company, Lundale, WV courtesy of Danny Kennedy.
Courtesy of Danny Kennedy. He writes: “Electric power generating units for Lundale Coal Co., Lundale Logan County West Virginia. These were Coal-Steam units which supplied power to the mines and also the coal camp. I recently found out that some coal camp power plants are 40 cycle power and not the 60 cycle that we have now. When the area was absorbed into an electric utility they had to replace some appliances with 60 cycle units.”
Courtesy of Danny Kennedy. He writes: “Electric power generating units for Lundale Coal Co., Lundale Logan County West Virginia. These were Coal-Steam units which supplied power to the mines and also the coal camp. I recently found out that some coal camp power plants are 40 cycle power and not the 60 cycle that we have now. When the area was absorbed into an electric utility they had to replace some appliances with 60 cycle units.”
Lundale Hospital (date unknown) courtesy Donna Leigh Boulter. 34697
Lundale Hospital (date unknown) courtesy Donna Leigh Boulter. 34697
Paul Perry, Sr. c1920 courtesy of his son, Paul Perry.
Paul Perry, Sr. c1920 courtesy of his son, Paul Perry.
Jesus Statue in from of the Freewill Baptist Church at Lundale courtesy of Bob Piros.
Jesus Statue in from of the Freewill Baptist Church at Lundale courtesy of Bob Piros.
Lundale, Logan County, West Virginia is located along Buffalo Creek about 8.5 miles northeast of Man.
Lundale, Logan County, West Virginia is located along Buffalo Creek about 8.5 miles northeast of Man.
Lundale Grade School (back view) from the 1953 School Yearbook courtesy of Jim Rorrer. 891345
Lundale Grade School (back view) from the 1953 School Yearbook courtesy of Jim Rorrer. 891345
Lundale, Buffalo Creek Disaster courtesy of Paula Wells.
Lundale, Buffalo Creek Disaster courtesy of Paula Wells.
Lundale, West Virginia. The red car belonged to Grant and Betty (Ellis) Lawrence. Buffalo Creek Disaster courtesy of Paula Wells.
Lundale, West Virginia. The red car belonged to Grant and Betty (Ellis) Lawrence. Buffalo Creek Disaster courtesy of Paula Wells.
Lundale Store in the upper left, Buffalo Creek Disaster courtesy of Paula Wells.
Lundale Store in the upper left, Buffalo Creek Disaster courtesy of Paula Wells.
Lower Lundale, Buffalo Creek Disaster courtesy of Paula Wells.
Lower Lundale, Buffalo Creek Disaster courtesy of Paula Wells.
Lundale Hospital and Children of Foreign Laborer
1922 Man High School Yearbook.
1922 Man High School Yearbook.
Lundale Hospital and Children of Foreign Laborer
1922 Man High School Yearbook.
1922 Man High School Yearbook.
School Building and Student Body and Teachers at Lundale
1922 Man High School Yearbook Courtesy of Corby Walls.
1922 Man High School Yearbook Courtesy of Corby Walls.
School Building and Student Body and Teachers at Lundale
1922 Man High School Yearbook Courtesy of Corby Walls.
1922 Man High School Yearbook Courtesy of Corby Walls.
Lundale Ball Team, July 5th, 1920 courtesy of Corby Walls. The writing is from the back of the photo.
Lundale Ball Team, July 5th, 1920 courtesy of Corby Walls. The writing is from the back of the photo.
The Pick and Shovel, Lundale, WV. The pub was named by Rick Blankenship, mine clerk at Amherst No. 4 in a contest sponsored by the Amherst Communicator. Courtesy of Corby Walls.
The Pick and Shovel, Lundale, WV. The pub was named by Rick Blankenship, mine clerk at Amherst No. 4 in a contest sponsored by the Amherst Communicator. Courtesy of Corby Walls.
Pick and Shovel- A Pub for the Miners. A friend sent this to me but he doesn't recall its source or who originally shared it to give credit. If it is yours, please email the admin so proper credit can be given.
Pick and Shovel- A Pub for the Miners. A friend sent this to me but he doesn't recall its source or who originally shared it to give credit. If it is yours, please email the admin so proper credit can be given.
Lundale Tipple, June, 4, 1917 courtesy of Corby Walls.
Lundale Tipple, June, 4, 1917 courtesy of Corby Walls.
Lundale, July 5th, 1920 courtesy of Corby Walls. The writing is from the back of the photo.
Lundale, July 5th, 1920 courtesy of Corby Walls. The writing is from the back of the photo.
Lundale Tipple Head House, June, 4, 1917 courtesy of Corby Walls.
Lundale Tipple Head House, June, 4, 1917 courtesy of Corby Walls.
My Grandfather Henry Hampton Sias worked as a janitor at the School in Landale. I was wondering if anyone knew him or anything about him. Also if there is any pictures of him.
Ann, put in his obit and do a online search for him.
Can anyone still find the Lundale Mine? If so please contact me.
Driving up the straight stretch of Highway 16 at Lundale there is a large red-roofed church on the right. About 500 feet past the church there is a street to the right with a street sign that says “Gardenia Lane”. Turn to the right onto this Gardenia Lane. This street points directly to where the opening of the Lundale Mine #1 was up on the mountain about 190feet in elevation above the highway.
At about 200ft on Gardenia Lane it makes a left turn and about 100 ft along it is where the Lundale tipple was. About 350ft more along Gardenia Lane a small road turns off to the right at the mouth of a small hollow. Up in that hollow about 600ft is where some other openings were.
Tax records indicate that Mr. Terry Lee Albright owns and lives in the house at the mouth of the hollow.
I suggest you look at Google maps to see more details.
Note that Gardenia Lane goes on through the community and comes back out to the highway about 1200 feet above where you turned onto it.
It is worth noting that there was not a mine opening at the tipple itself. The coal was hauled on tracks on tramroads from the openings to the tipple head house.
Good luck!
Thanks Mr. Dempsey I look forward to going to Lundale, do you know if that was the only mine associated with Lundale? Was there a Lundale No. 2 mine?
Thank you Mr. Dempsey, I am figuring out google maps and looking at Lundale. Can you tell me, is the picture of the Lundale mine entrance (1st pic above) is that the entrance to the Lundale mine which you describe being at Gardenia Lane? Also do you know if there were two mines in Lundale operated by Amherst? Maybe a No. 1 and a Lundale No. 2? I see you call the one at Gardenia Lane Lundale No. 1. Thanks for any help, just trying to learn more about coal mines at Lundale.
Sincerely,
Randall Davidson
Randall,
I think that there was only one “Lundale” mine operated as a Logan County Coal Corp operation. It was opened in November-1912 as a Kohinoor Coal & Coke Co. mine. In 1915, it was sold to Logan County Coal Corp, an Amherst affiliate.
The mine was in the Cedar Grove (aka “Island Creek”) coal seam but it was erroneously listed as being in the 2 Gas seam. In the early days of Logan County mining, geologists made an error and misnamed the coal seam.
Island Creek Coal Company began its Holden-centered mining in the Cedar Grove seam in 1904, some 8- years before the railroad was extended upriver from Logan to Lundale in 1912. The “Cedar Grove” seam is actually 3 close-together splits, the Upper, the Middle and the Lower. These splits often come together. I think the Lundale Mine was where the middle and lower splits came together.
I note that the western area of the Lundale Mine went under the head of Cartright Hollow and had an opening there on the east side of the hollow. There was a separate mine on the west side in that area. It appears that the coal from the west-side mine was transported to the Lundale tipple through the Lundale mine. This west-side mine may have been known as “Lundale 2”.
You can review a listing of the Lundale mine maps at the below listed internet site.
https://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/mids/main.php
Fascinating stuff Mr. Dempsey and good information. Thanks for all you have shared about Lundale and the area.
Thank you for keeping this history of Lundale. My grandpa worked for amherst coal company in Lundale mine I believe and I hope to one day get there and pay respects and find the place if I can.
The question about “bosses houses” in photo #2 in the LUNDALE topic photo gallery of this Logan WV History and Nostalgia website is not: Were the houses at Lundale or at Amherstdale? The question is: Where in Lundale were they located?
It has been suggested that the houses in photo #2 are at Amherstdale. Although there is a line of “bosses houses” at Amherstdale, it appears that they are not the houses in photo #2.
In the Main Gallery photos of this website, there is (currently) a photo #342 of a row of similarly looking “bosses houses” at Amherstdale. It is obvious that photo #342 was taken at or about the front of the Amherstdale Theater looking up the creek and shows a display of movie posters across from the theater as seen in the photo.
In the vicinity of the “boss houses” at Amherstdale, the highway going up Buffalo Creek was between the creek and the railroad going up Buffalo Creek. Clearly, photo #2 does not show a highway between the creek and the railroad.
Accordingly, the houses in this “Lundale” photo #2 were not located at Amherstdale.
Regarding the “boss houses” in photo #2, does anyone know definitely where these houses were at Lundale? it is likely that they were on the south side of the valley in the lower (west) end of Lundale. That is the only location where, at one time, the geographic layout matched the picture with a view crossing a creek, over a railroad and then the houses. Buffalo Creek flows generally westward. The accumulation of debris against the walkway bridge indicates the creek is flowing westward. The bases of the houses appear to be about 12-15 feet or more above the elevation of the railroad.
Lundale was built in the 1911-1912 period. The 1913 USGS topography map (Logan quadrangle) indicated that the road coming up Buffalo Creek from Stowe into lower Lundale was on the north (left) side of the creek and crossed over to the south side at about where a row of 4 houses were on the south hillside behind the railroad track. The mainline railroad up Buffalo Creek was entirely on the south (right) side of Buffalo Creek. (Later on, there were railroad sidings that crossed over to the north side such as at Kistler and Stowe.)
In 1913, it was basically pre-automobile days. The roads were not paved and there were no bridges. Roads were in creek beds frequently. The 1913 map showed there were 7 houses on the north side of the creek along the road from Stowe to Lundale. It is reasonable to assume that pedestrian traffic from those houses would have had a walkway bridge from the north-to-south side of the creek similar to the view in the photo.
It appears these houses were located about where Fairview Street now is in Lundale.
Regarding the panoramic view header photo (#10 in gallery) I don’t know if it is an optical illusion but the dark structure coming down the hill crossing the rail siding to the mainline track appears to be spanning a deep gulley inasmuch as it has tall support beams where it is crossing the siding area. Of course, it appears that the end of the structure is several feet higher at the mainline railroad suggesting that the mainline and siding rail are at about the same elevation.
I lived at Latrobe and Crites from 1945 to 1953 with my father working at Lundale and at Cartwright Hollow. I was at Crites 1st thru 3rd grade and 4th and 5th at Lundale. I am looking forward to further comments and information coming forth about that area of Buffalo Creek. Thanks to Danny Kennedy for his efforts.
In the photo no. 2 asking where the bosses houses were at Amherstdale, just above the Company Store. They were not at Lundale. I was raised at Lundale and was working at the lundale mine when those men were killed. Denver Merritt.