Stories of the Past
The Bramwell Train Depot Visitors Center houses a coal mining museum and gift shop.
Photos provided by Rampage student photographer Rachel Hendrick
To some, the phrase “local history” is synonymous with antiquated buildings and dull insignificance. But history is not just facts – it’s a collection of stories.
“A lot of times, it’s not the building,” said Wayne Pelts, assistant director of the Academic Center for Excellence and Careers (ACEC). “It’s the people, it’s the stories, it’s those movers and shakers.”
A former history teacher and lifelong resident of Bluefield, WV, Pelts understands the tendency to overlook local history. However, he encourages people to be curious and ask questions about the past.
“Just ask any question,” Pelts said. “Because a lot of times once the stories start, then another story emerges, or another question emerges.”
When the older generation passes away without sharing their stories, “it’s like you lose a library,” Pelts said. He described those stories as a “wealth of knowledge” just waiting for someone to ask the right questions.
Every person has a hometown, said Pelts, so why not learn more about it? Pelts encourages students to honor people who can “flesh out what you can find on your phone.”
The Corner Shop Diner in Bramwell, WV, offers old-fashioned sodas, homemade ice cream, and specialty burgers.
Sometimes that research can turn up surprising facts. For instance, in 1924, Bluefield, VA, – formerly called Graham – celebrated its name change by holding a mock marriage ceremony with its West Virginian sister city. Furthermore, Bluefield, WV, was the hometown of John Forbes Nash, Jr., a Nobel Prize winning mathematician and subject of the book and film “A Beautiful Mind.”
Although the two Bluefields began as small settlements nestled in the remote hills of Appalachia, the discovery of coal in the 1880s changed everything. Before long, Norfolk & Western Railroad was transporting thousands of tons of coal from the Pocahontas coalfields each day. Miners and their families flooded into the area to extract the valuable bituminous coal that became world standard, even fueling the United States and British Royal Navies.
“It’s hard to put into words the jobs that were connected with the railroad and coal,” Pelts said. “And they were good jobs.”
Guided by retired coal miners, visitors can tour the underground tunnels of the Pocahontas Exhibition Mine.
The influx of workers transformed the Bluefields into booming cities. In addition to transporting coal out, the railroad brought people in. Small shops flourished as the population skyrocketed.
“Think about everything you can buy in Walmart,” Pelts explained. “Back then, you had different stores, which meant you had an owner who had a good job. You had a manager who had a good job, and then you had the workers.”
From the 1920s to the late 1950s, Bluefield, WV, experienced what Pelts described as a “golden age,” a time when the city’s jobs, economy, culture, and entertainment blossomed. But innovations in coal mining technology and an increased use of petroleum-based fuels prompted a decline in Bluefield’s population.
Despite this, remnants from its flourishing past remain. The restored Granada Theater offers movies and live events. The Princeton Railroad Museum, Mercer County War Museum, and others capture aspects of the area’s past.
“There are a lot of places in Bluefield that are on the National Historic Register,” said Lois Miller, president of the Mercer County Historical Society. “There’s lots of history all over the county.”
Miller said people can learn more about local history by visiting libraries, which usually have archived newspapers and books about the county. Like Pelts, she also recommends talking to older adults. She said it’s important to “teach history, learn history, and preserve history” for the next generation.
Whether by searching the internet, eating at a local restaurant, or buying a magnet for your fridge, Pelts encourages people to learn about the place they live.
“Listen to people’s stories,” Pelts said. “Let them live their story for you. Let them tell it.”