Coal camps in WV have a long history. Coal mining was a vital and profitable industry but also came with a high cost of difficult work conditions and risky days on the job. We often hear references to coal camps and company stores, but have you ever wondered what life was actually like back in coal camps during the 1930s? Check out these photos to get a glimpse of what it was like.

1. These miners are waiting on their mail at the post office in Kempton in 1939.
John Vachon/Library of Congress LC-USF34-008972
2. This was a miners’ bath house in Welch 1938. Public bath houses were an essential part of life in a coal camp. They allowed miners to clean up before going home so they wouldn’t return sweaty and track coal dust into their homes.
Marion Post Wolcott/Library of Congress
3. Here, open ditches carry sewage down the street lined with coal camp houses in Kempton, 1939.
John Vachon/Library of Congress LC-USF34-008993
4. Here's a shot of a coal town in 1938.
Marion Post Wolcott/ Library of Congress LC-USF34-050154
5. Here's a portrait of a miner in Freeze Fork in October 1935.
Ben Shahn/Library of congress LC-DIG-fsa-8a16749
6. This is a picture of miners on strike in the Scotts Run area near Morgantown in 1935.
Ben Shahn/ Library of Congress LC-USF33-006124
7. These miners are going home from work in Omar, September 1938.
Ben Shahn/Library of Congress LC-USF33-030113
8. These ladies are attending a Sunday school picnic in Jere in 1938.
Marion Post Wolcott/Library of Congress LC-USF33-030136

Related Stories

Straddling The Virginia-West Virginia Border, The Town Of Bluefield Is One Of The Most Unique Places You'll Ever Visit

Straddling The Virginia-West Virginia Border, The Town Of Bluefield Is One Of The Most Unique Places You'll Ever Visit

 Few People Know West Virginia Was Home To The First Rural Free Delivery Service In America

Few People Know West Virginia Was Home To The First Rural Free Delivery Service In America

 Many People Don't Know The Oldest Oil-Producing Well In The World Is Located In West Virginia

Many People Don't Know The Oldest Oil-Producing Well In The World Is Located In West Virginia
9. These men are sitting around by the railroad tracks in the mining town of Davey in 1938.
Marion Post Wolcott/Library of Congress LC-USF33-030092
10. These miners are hanging around a company store in Kempton during a strike in 1939.
John Vachon/Library of Congress LC-USF34-008976
11. This picture shows company houses in Omar, West Virginia in October 1935.
Ben Shahn/ Library of Congress LC-DIG-fsa-8a16672
12. These miners are standing in a company store in Kempton 1939.
John Vachon/Library of Congress LC-USF34-008982
13. This was the company store in Davey in 1938.
Marion Post Wolcott/ Library of Congress LC-USF34-050197
14. This little boy was sitting on a porch in Omar in 1935.
Ben Shahn/ Library of Congress LC-USF33-006190
15. These miners were waiting on a bus to take them home in Welch in 1938.
Marion Post Wolcott/Library of Congress LC-USF34-050026
16. This picture was taken on a Sunday in Scotts Run.
Ben Shahn/Library of Congress LC-USF3301-006115

Coal camp history in West Virginia is both sad and fascinating. What do you think of these photos? Did you have family members that worked in coal mines or lived in coal camps? Let us know about their experience in the comments below. Do you know of an interesting piece of West Virginia history? Share about it by submitting a nomination form and we may write an article about it in the future.

If you are brave enough to see a coal mine in person, explore an old West Virginia coal mine 1500-feet into the mountain on a train ride.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

West Virginia History

Emily Tieman | April 19, 2023

What historic landmarks should I see in West Virginia?

West Virginia has many historic landmarks that are worth visiting. West Virginia is bursting with early American, Civil War, and coal mining history that will definitely interest history buffs. Here are some of the best historic landmarks in West Virginia that you need to visit:

  • Carnifex Ferry State Park, Summersville
  • West Virginia Independence Hall, Wheeling
  • Matewan Historic District, Matewan
  • B&O Railroad Roundhouse, Martinsburg
  • Campbell Mansion, Bethany

 

What are the best historic tours in West Virginia?

When visiting West Virginia, it’s a good idea to experience one of the historic tours in our state. You can learn some fascinating American history on these tours while also seeing West Virginia’s beautiful architecture and natural landscape. These attractions include underground caverns, a creepy state jail, a coal mine, and a government building. Here are some of the best historic tours in West Virginia:

  • Seneca Caverns
  • West Virginia State Penitentiary
  • Whipple Company Store
  • Beckley Exhibition Mine
  • Greenbrier Bunker
  • The Capitol Building

Related Articles

Explore West Virginia