Mid-1930s were a wild time in Logan County

By Dwight Williamson

It was 1936 in Logan County and there was much going on at the local level just as the entire nation was rebounding from what would later be termed “The Great Depression.” The Logan Banner headlines early that year were filled with gruesome murders and dastardly deeds of all kinds, as thousands of Logan Countians – a mixture of various nationalities from across the world – were encased in the hills and hollows in the lands of the Guyandotte. Many of them were toiling, and too many of them were dying, in the coal mines of the mountainous area.

With the Prohibition era over, numerous so-called beer joints had sprung up in just about every part of Logan County. And with liquor then being available at state run liquor stores, there still remained many people who preferred to illegally make their own. Beer joints were constantly being raided for selling liquor, and moonshiners were still being corralled by federal and state forces. Despite all of the negative aspects of the time period, the county somehow continued to grow while the world was slowly moving forward toward a World War that would compel America to rely upon the coal miners to thwart the villainous efforts of Adolph Hitler.

Plans for the opening of a new post office in Logan were in the making and the opening of a brand new G.C. Murphy’s store on Stratton Street had been announced. The location, which would become more commonly called the “Dime Store,” was the most popular location in the county as it helped to liberate residents from the tyranny of coal-company owned stores by providing low-priced quality merchandise. Murphy’s stores, which were scattered throughout the Appalachian coal fields in small towns, also preceded “fast food” chains with their lunch counters that provided quick and inexpensive food. Many older local residents, undoubtedly, still have fond memories of the Logan Dime Store in downtown Logan.

For history’s sake, it should be noted that the G.C. Murphy Company originally leased the 75-foot frontage (that featured three storefronts) from B.L and Katie Holland, whose last name still is displayed on the outside of the second floor of the Holland building on Stratton Street constructed in 1910. This same building was described as the scandalous home of the “Amen” or “Key” Club during the 1932 Mamie Thurman murder trial. The second floor portion of the structure (where the club reportedly operated) was not leased to Murphy’s. However, 60 feet of the back portions of the second and third floors were leased.

Other important developments in 1936 included the opening of the new Logan Theatre in Logan, the Princess Aracoma Memorial being placed at the courthouse; $3,500,000 in improvements to the Appalachian Power Plant; the openings of two new Island Creek Company stores at both Holden and Whitman; the opening of Mecca Drive-In at Stollings, and unfortunately, the worst coal mine disaster ever in the county at the time, which occurred at MacBeth on Rum Creek.

While this was happening, there was other news taking the headlines – such as, a 14-year-old girl poisoning her entire family because she was not allowed to date; a 28-year-old man murdering his 14-year-old wife three days after their wedding, and another man, 29, beating and robbing a 75-year-old gentleman near Rum Creek before running him over with his automobile. Although all of this and much more was going on, it was politics as usual that captivated Logan County citizens. The 1936 election, like so many other local elections before and after, was a brutal affair that wound up in court actions where every illegal activity imaginable was brought forth. This story, as well as stories about the above mentioned murders, shall be told in future editions of this newspaper. However, for now, allow me to set the tone of the times by re-telling the story of one man who was a candidate for sheriff in 1936.

The man’s name was Russell Stollings. A resident of Harts Creek, Stollings, a Democrat, took advantage of the term “New Deal,” which was the description of then President Franklin Roosevelt’s nationwide recovery plan for the Depression. Stollings’ platform was called “A Big and Better Deal.” Here’s the candidate’s announcement in his own words:

“To the citizens, and all other voters of Logan County, I, Russell Stollings, being a member of one of the oldest families in Logan County, rise and extend my honest hand in a good and warm handshake.

“Yes, I am a candidate for SHERIFF on the Democratic ticket in our good county, and all it takes to make me sheriff is an (X) beside my name in the ballot. I am telling this so some well-paid and crooked poll clerk won’t steal the vote you cast for me.

“Where I live out on Harts Creek, it can easily be seen the need of a man like myself in the sheriff’s office. At the present time, all you hear about is the New deal, and the new song “wheels go round and round, hi ho.” I stand for a BIG AND BETTER DEAL. Years ago out our way we could pull big deals often, and many times involving 40 or 50 gallons at a good price. Now, we feel lucky if we can sell a gallon a week.

“If elected to the office of HIGH SHERIFF, I promise that my first official act will be to padlock the Logan liquor store and several other places that sell the vile stuff in the pretty colored bottles. Then there will be a demand for our good old Harts Creek moonshine. (That’s what you call High Finance.)

“As to my education and ability, I am not a college graduate, however, my Uncle George sent me to take a post graduate school out in Ohio for two years. I graduated as a master distiller and majored in fermentation.

“I also promise to all my friends and co-partners that when the government snoopers come into the county looking for stills, I will either head them to a dry hole or to some Republican’s still. As my campaign manager, I have my brother, Harvey Stollings, who is now Constable of Chapmanville District. Harve is feared by all crooks and barked at by all the dogs.

“Now, all that wish to contribute to my campaign, known as a BIG AND BETTER DEAL, get in touch with my brother, Harve. We need cash and lots of moonshine to win this or any other poll.”

Several weeks later, Stollings announced that he had visited Logan and that several “big shot” politicians had induced him to withdraw from the race. Stollings, who was likely paid to withdraw, declared that he was back in the race and even said whom he planned to hire as his chief deputy.

“I know that many will be after me for jobs, which are always dished out by the sheriff,” Stollings said. “I plan on hiring as my Chief Deputy a clean upright well-known man, and unless someone offers me more money for the job, I expect to appoint Leo Mooney, the ‘rattlesnake man.’ Leo won’t have to even carry a gun.”

The candidate also announced that if elected to the office of sheriff, “I plan on organizing what will be known as the ‘Drunkard’s Lodge.’ This fraternal order will be open to mine employees only. The dues in the lodge will be $2.00 a half, which will be deducted by the company where the members are employed,” he further explained. “As Treasurer and President, all dues will be paid directly to me. Each member of the lodge will wear a brass check hung around his neck. On this check will be his number, name and where he works. Should this member get drunk and land in jail, say, on a Saturday night, Sunday morning I will go to the jail, and all members of my Drunkard’s Lodge, if sober, will be taken home by deputies. As you know, in some mines in this field the coal is so low that after a man works all week in one he has to get drunk to stand up straight.

“I am quite sure this will meet the approval of the mine officials and employees of the field. However, I expect many complaints from the Justice of the Peace officials,” Stollings concluded.”

The Harts Creek candidate must have been bought off again because when the final results were tallied in the 1936 Primary Election, his name was not on the ballot. However, two opposing candidates – Everett Workman and Simon Dingess – were, and when all of the dust had cleared following court proceedings that involved numerous people’s testimonies, the winner was counted out, and a man who had just returned from prison was blamed for it all.

The man’s name (you might ask) was none other than the notorious and yet beloved former Logan Sheriff – Don Chafin.

Another Memorial Day holiday has passed and with the annual Hatfield-McCoy Marathon scheduled in Matewan and Williamson on June 9th, I find it interesting that Logan County is still sitting back and watching as other areas, including Pikeville, Kentucky, take advantage of the tourist attracting ideas that are bringing in the people and money from across the world.

I find it downright ridiculous that near Lewisburg, West Virginia, one can purchase micro-brewery beer called “Devil Anse,” and as you enter into Pike County, Kentucky, from Mingo County, a monument welcomes you to Pike County – “Home of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud.” There’s a Hatfield-McCoy Reunion held every year in that area and tons of people come to Mingo and Pike counties for related Hatfield-McCoy events.

In good old Logan County, we do have, like other southern West Virginia counties, the Hatfield-McCoy trails that have helped to stimulate the economy in certain parts of the area. Of course, we still have thousands of people annually, including loaded tour buses that visit the Hatfield Cemetery at Sarah Ann, mainly to view the remarkable statue of Devil Anse himself. Unfortunately, some of those people are physically unable to traverse the dirt road to the cemetery.

I know that there have been plans started to make the Hatfield Cemetery and its surroundings what it deserves to be – a wonderful stopover point for any visitor, including the school children of Logan County – all of whom should at some point in their school lives be allowed to visit the world famous feudal leader’s final resting place, and to discover the true local history surrounding the very county in which they likely were born.

I am not privy to exactly what the plans are for the Hatfield Cemetery, but I have copies of two deeds in which the Logan County Commission has purchased property near the Hatfield Cemetery, including a 4.82 acres tract adjacent to the cemetery that is one of three places in Logan County listed on the National Historic Register. The Don Chafin House in Logan and the steam engine locomotive at Chief Logan State Park being the others.

In addition to the above-mentioned deeds, there is also a lease agreement signed by the Logan County Commission Oct. 5, 2014, with the heirs of the Hatfield family in regards to the upkeep of the cemetery premises. That agreement expires at midnight Dec. 31, 2019.

The following is an e-mail sent by Joe Browning, a resident of North Carolina and the great-grandson of Devil Anse Hatfield, to Debrina Williams, executive director of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce. Now approaching 90 years old, here’s what Joe had to say about his holiday visit.

“Debrina, my wife and I managed another Hatfield cemetery visit Memorial Day. We were pleased to find that the gravesites had been cleared of weeds, but disappointed to find, once again, that the bridge was still blocked and muddy, and nothing yet done to improve the access path up the hill.

“There were 20 or more ATV vehicles and their riders parked on both sides of the road, all who expressed great interest in the ‘Feud Story’ and the memorabilia documents that I had for them to view and take pictures of, etc. I am unable to fathom why the state/county is so reluctant to make the necessary improvements to make the cemetery a ‘welcoming’ place for tourists to visit.

“I hope all is well with you and your family.

“Kind regards, Joe.”

I wish to take the time now to announce the death of a former Logan Countian, athlete and friend. Ronald Belcher, who was a former basketball player with the Logan Junior High School Kittens in the 1970s. Belcher was one of the most talented overall athletes that ever came from Mud Fork. He excelled in basketball, but was talented in all other sports, as well. Ronald, who many years ago was diagnosed with cancer and sent by doctors home from Chicago to his family at Mud Fork to die, shocked the doctors by overcoming the disease.

Ronald Belcher was in the neighborhood of 65 years old. I’m told he died in Chicago as the result of a stroke. For those of us who knew him, we can say we have lost yet another “Porch Sitter.” RIP, my friend.

Dwight Williamson is a retired Logan County magistrate and and formerly wrote a weekly column for HD Media.

Published with permission. This article was originally published in the Logan Banner, June 3, 2018.

Mid-1930s were a wild time in Logan County

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