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 »
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 Dwight Williamson Christmastime brings back many memories for me. The smell of a fresh cut pine tree standing in the living room and the crackling of a fire built to keep us warm while sleigh riding off the schoolhouse hill at Verdunville is what comes to mind as I wander back to the days
Coal camp Christmas memories 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 »
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 With Halloween just around the corner, I am reminded of times past when danger lurked on nearly every roadway in Logan County during this time of year. Thank goodness, everybody now seems to have their cell phones and other gadgets to keep themselves occupied, and perhaps that helps to keep people out
Halloween escapades of the “Porch Sitters” Read More »