Pocahontas Virginia: Where the Appalachia Coal Boom Began 

Love hearing from y'all in the comments! Do you have ancestors who were coal miners?

Fantastic storytelling! I delivered Coca Cola in Pocahontas in the early 80s. Stores all over that little town then. It would take two of us half a day to finish there. Sometimes with a quick liquid lunch at The Cricket!lol No cell phones or trackers and young and dumb. Seriously, it breaks my heart to see it all gone. And being a pessimistic optimist, I don't believe the trail system will ever bring massive jobs or these towns back. It lines the pockets of the few. And I personally know that a lot of these lodging and restaurant facilities are owned by people who don't live anywhere near these communities and acquired these properties for next to nothing. Kinda like the coal industry was. So much of the money leaves. But I guess it's something. Thanks Josh.

I remember when my father told us that he was going with another coal yard in our town because they had Pocahontas coal. You got less "clinkers" (rock) with Pocahontas coal. What a great series!

@Mountain Roots, I lost my Grandpa to black lung back in 1988, in 2020 my Uncle became a coal mining statistic when a endloader he was trying to change the rear wheel on fell, in Pikeville, I've got a few friends who mine coal for a living, it's not an easy job but, it put beans and taters on the table !! So very proud of my Appalachian heritage !!

3:36 It’s interesting seeing the half buried doors and windows. I love these vintage buildings. They tell so much. Great channel! Definitely spiked the 👍🏾

Another Appalachian locale that seems time and tragedy have not been particularly kind with. Like life in general, folks must reinvent themselves with resolve and purpose or surrender to despair and hopelessness.❤️

I thought there was a longer film. This one is great, but I would love the full version.

Thank you for this. Awesome. I am from the area. I lived in Abbs Valley. My grandfather and several uncle's worked in the mines. As a teenager bunch friends and I use to go rollerskating, go to Frankies for ice cream, burgers etc. I remember the street dances. The good ole Dr's we had. DR. PORTER, DR. BALLARD. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE , BUT I WOULD BE WRITING A BOOK. LOL. ACTUALLY I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT. SO MUCH HISTORY AND STORIES ABOUT GROWING UP IN THE AREA. LEFT THE AREA WHEN I WAS ALMOST 16.

My grandfather, uncles and father all worked on the mines with the Pocahontas Fuel Company. My grandmother lived there until her death in 1988. We still have land located in Bossisevain. I lived in the holler until I was 5 years old and we moved to Ohio. I spent all my summers with my grandmother and remember going to the Company Store and church in Pocahontas.

Another fascinating and well-photographed look into the history of the region! With the prevailing negative sentiment towards fossil fuels, it is worthwhile to recall what a prominent role coal played in the development of the United States. One can still see the doors to coal chutes on the sides of older homes (my great grandmother's, in Duluth, MN, for example). I think the music that accompanies this video is among the strongest you've chosen, Josh. Thank you so much for all the work you put into these episodes!

Best tv show right now on RU-vid (IMO). I love seeing all the landscapes, the stories, …. Awesome. Keep the nice work!

I live in South Africa, and had some Pocahontas #3 Seam shipped out to me about 15 years ago. I wanted to try it on my live steam loco's. It's very good , but I use it only with my tinier loco's - while the coal was cheap, the airfreight wasn't. Nice to see where it came from. Thanks.

My Grandfather owned the Cricket. Then my Uncle Larry. I went through the mine in a car when I was little. Now pedestrian only. Uncle Ronnie Mills worked the mines till an injury brought him above ground. He looked just like Burt Reynolds when Smokie and the Bandit was big. Miss my family... gonna visit in the next month or two. Haven't seen the site of the Cricket till now. I don't feel good now😢 learned to play pool there. Aunt Anita made the best burgers. The Browns ... Leslie Larry David Gail Ellen Brenda

My daddy lived much of his life there and worked in the mines. Albert Collins

Wow.

A friend, now in NC, grew up in this town, and I'm looking forward to viewing more of your series.

I have lots of family from this area! And I absolutely love visiting Pocahontas! The cemetery is just amazing, I have several family members buried there. I have been here many many times! My grandma grew up in Abbs Valley just outside of Pocahontas, but she tells stories of how “downtown” Pocahontas was the place to be when she was a teenager. They would hang out near the bridge where you can turn onto 644. I have been threw the Pocahontas coal mine. My great grandfather was a coal miner. They had something like 11 kids in a two room house, no indoor plumbing. It’s sad to see they tore down the Cricket, that place was busy no matter what day. I can remember the old coal company store, it was a two story building and sight to be seen. I always heard at one point Pocahontas had more millionaires than anywhere else because of the coal, I don’t know if that’s true or not. I do know it was a diverse place at the height of the coal mine. You can tell by walking around the cemetery, you will see all kinds of grave markers in various languages. Thank you so much for showing the world Pocahontas.

I am enjoying your excellent tour of Appalachian town. I was born in Richlands and grew up in Buchanan County. My relatives on both sides were coal miners and my grandad was superintendent of Keen Mountain mines. A comment: it was 'The Civil War'. "War between the states" is a legacy of the best forgotten Lost Cause nonsense.

Thanks again for another great video ! 👍

Hi Mountain Roots, no, my ancestors weren’t even close to being coal miners, but your vids are awesome and I love American History, so THANKS for these! ❤

Thank you for sharing Josh. The history is so rich and deep in Appalachia.

I live in Alabama , but my mother , aunts and uncle were from that area and on up head of Abbs Valley and into jenkin Jones WV.. They told many stories of the region .

I grew up a few miles from there in the 70s and 80s😊❤

This channel is awesome..my family both sides are from pokahuntis va..war west va..grundy wva..welch wva..among other coal towns..my uncle just passed away last week and he was from horse pen wva..my mother born in 46 didnt even have indoor plumbing for a long time..yes they eventually did lol..but the history in these towns is dynamic..its all home to me..thank you..

My grandfather was a miner in Jenkins Jones WV McDowell county. Fun fact Butt & Coffins was first a cabinet maker first

No coal miners in my history. I did a stint in an open pit coal mine but it was not for me. I’m a retired mechanic. Spent most of my life logging. West coast of Canada. I really like this series you are doing. The country is so pretty. In 2024 or 25 my wife and I are hoping to take the RV across Canada, cross the border into the US and head to Mississippi to visit some friends before turning west and heading home. I was hoping to be able to visit places like these on the trip. Looking forward to more episodes.

my momma was born here, and 6 of her brother and sisters, my grandpa worked the mines.. the martins..ive visited here several times.. thank you for this awesome video...

Another great one Josh! The Old Dominion is home for me and you are making me want to take that road trip west and see these towns. Cheers from VB.

Super well-done video and narration. Thank you for honoring these small towns and their rich history.

Thanks M.R.❤️

I love to see the old buildings in Towns like that

These are all excellent videos! Great content, thank you for sharing!

Thanks again for another great episode of an era gone by but should not be forgotten. It is so sad to hear of the sacrificies the families and their children made for this town that took so many of their lives. It seems in this video and all the other episodes you have shared is they have one thing in common, which is heart. No matter how small the population has dwindled down to the great people still have a big heart to fight and make sacrifices for their families and communities. I pray this town with all the others you have shared will thrive once again in bigger and better ways. Keep these great videos coming.

Some Great & Tragic Events Here, Much Enjoyed ! Thanks For This, Josh ! ATB T God Bless

Thanks!

Thanks from belfast great video

One of my favorites of your videos. Very sad ... but the truth is that way sometimes.

Thanks, I love history on places.

Loved this episode.

My paternal grandmother is buried in that cemetery.

What a channel!!! Thoroughly enjoying these videos. Looking forward to visiting these places...

Both my grandfathers were coal miners in Lee county Virginia. One of them died from black lung. From breathing coal dust.

My grandfather was born there. ❤

Yes mine were miner in , Wise County Virginia. And some were killed in them mines . And my uncle owned some strips mine .

👋 hey 👋 from Dexter,Missouri Super awesome video

What a history

This is where my family is from... well..Boissevain and Abbs Valley and Bluewell and Tazewell. We just visited a few weeks ago. Thanks for sharing! It makes me happy that there's being some new revenue generated by the atv trails. Noticed a couple new restaurants and stores, too. My childhood memories of this place are so wonderful 💖. I remember when The Cricket was open. There was a grocery store and an ice cream stand there, too. Many great memories here! Both my PawPaws were miners. Dad grew up near Tipple Hollow at the Boissevain mine. I remember playing in the slate dumps and running all over these mountains. I appreciate the history of this place. . You really did a great job on your research. I look forward to more videos!

I’ve commented on it before but most all of the men on my moms side were miners in McDowell county WVa

Really enjoying your content. You’re very good at this.

Sad to read that the local fire company was disbanded by the town in 2019

I’ve been binge watching and loving your Appalachian series, and as a native Kentuckian myself, I feel the small towns of Whitesburg, Fleming-Neon and SECO, Kentucky. SECO literally means “Southeast Coal Company,” could be possible prospects. Some of these towns I mentioned were heavily impacted by the flood this past July, but the rich history of Neon, SECO and Whitesburg alone are enough for a great episode or two, all found in Letcher County. Also, in Whitesburg, is the pentacle of mountain heritage and preservation, the Appalshop, a place where I first got my start in news media and broadcast.

Appreciate your efforts and the historic significance! Thank You

Also that No. 3 seam of coal was the best for making steel for it high BTU that coal burnt at

Amo west virginia, he perdido la cuenta de cuantas veces lo he visitado, peace!

I’m originally just across Peeled Chestnut Mtn in Leckie Wv.

ssuperb from england

Lol I live less than half an hour away from Pocahontas (around here some folks call it Pokey for short) and I have some friends from down there as well. Good people… The ones that aren’t cracked out, that is.

The lester family lived in pocahontas

Sad these places and people stuck in the past

Don't have any ancestors that were coal miners but I have a soft spot in my heart for the people of Appalachia that fueled the prosperity of our country. I say let the coal burn, lets bring our heritage back!

My brother and sister in law got married in that little church on the right at 3:13

Absolutely loved the vid and the content. When will they realize they need coal to make ELECTRICITY!!! It can be done to burn coal clean. There is an agenda, by others, beyond our immediate control. Keep up the great work. I love the history and the background music. All the best.

Elevator shaft with a bank vault door?

Just out of curiosity, I’ve noticed you call it the war between the states and not the civil war. Is that common in your neck of the woods?

In the 20's coal went bust a bushel of coal

There was a whole family murdered there😢

Another dollar general

There was over 1500 killed in the coal mines of eastern Oklahoma, a little over 100 in one accident alone. Some were explosions, some were cave ins. One of those men was my great great uncle in about 1930. One of his brothers (my great grandfather) was able to identify him because of his pocket watch.