Burnwell

 

Imperial Colliery Co.

1901—Present

Carbon

 

The Carbon Fuel Co.

Carbon, West Virginia

Coalburgh

 

Coalburgh-Kanawha Mining Co.

Coalburgh, West Virginia

Crown Hill

 

Riverton Coal Co.

Crown Hill, West Virginia

Dry Branch

 

Dry Branch Coal Co.

Dry Branch, West Virginia

1902—1986

The Dry Branch Coal Company incorporated in 1902 (WV Sec. State, n.d.), with J.Q. Dickinson—of the Malden salines, another industry with a past in forced labor—as president. In 1909, the company issued a demand to striking miners—vacate their company-owned houses, or be evicted (“Lawless Methods,” 1909). The miners refused and, consequently, the company sent armed “special officers” which included “guards” for the mine and Kanawha deputy sheriffs to evict the miners and their families. They busted down doors and forcefully removed anyone inside the residences—women, children, and babies alike.

In 1986, the company merged with the Dickinson Fuel Company, with the latter retaining its name (WV Sec. State, n.d.).

Eskdale

 

Kanawha Coal Corporation

Eskdale, West Virginia

Kayford

 

Cabin Creek Consolidated Coal Co.

Kayford, West Virginia

Oglebay Norton Co.

Kayford, West Virginia

Laing

 

Wyatt Coal Company

Laing, West Virginia

1906—1956

The Wyatt Coal Company incorporated in 1906 (WV Sec. State, n.d.). Its president and founder was John Laing, for whom Laing is named (The National City Bank of Charleston, 1908). He, as the citation suggests, was also a director for the National City Bank of Charleston. The company dissolved in 1956. In 1942, five miners died when the hoist up the mountainside in Laing to the No. 1 mine broke, plummeting 1,620 feet back to the floor of the hollow (United States Mine Rescue Association, n.d.).

Lico

 

W.F. Griffith

Lico, West Virginia

Mammoth

 

Mammoth Collieries Co.

19??—19??

Reed

Hatfield-Campbell Creek Coal Company

Reed, West Virginia

Ronda

 

Coalburg Colliery Corporation

1925—1931

Spring Hill

 

Black Band Coal & Coke Co.

1882—19??

The Black Band Coal & Coke Company existed in Spring Hill under various names since 1882, beginning as the Black Band Iron & Coal Co. (Mercantile Agency, 1882). By 1890, newspapers refer to them as the Black Band Coal & Coke Co. (“Republican Tactics,” 1890). The same article mentions that the superintendent was A.M. Wooldridge. Their mines were on Davis Creek in Kanawha County (Black Band Coal & Coke Co., 1906; see also the image below).

Ward

 

The Valley Camp Stores Company

References

Black Band Coal & Coke Co. (1906, November 22). Miners wanted [advertisement]. The Labor Argus, 3.

Lawless methods. (1909, July 15). The Labor Argus, 1.

Republican tactics. (1890, February 12). The Weekly Register, 2.

The National City Bank of Charleston. (1908, February 27). Strength, reliability [advertisement]. The Labor Argus, 6.

United States Mine Rescue Association. (n.d.). Wyatt Coal Company Laing No. 1 surface haulage disaster. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/laing.htm