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McDowell County

County Facts

Date of Formation: 1858
Named: In honor of James McDowell, Governor of Virginia, 1843-46.
County Seat: Welch

Sources

Books

Evans, Norma Pontiff. First Families of McDowell County, West Virginia. s.l. Author, 1981.
929.1 M138.

Friedl, Joseph. A History of Education in McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1976. Parsons, West Virginia, McClain Printing Company, 1975.
370.9754 F911h.

Goodykoontz, Wells. Address Delivered by Wells Goodykoontz, Tuesday, June 14, 1927, at the Unveiling of Tablet of Black Wolf, McDowell County, West Virginia . s.l., n.p., 1927.
929.2 H287 Pam.

Grisby, Louise Carter. Come Back With Me to Gary, West Virginia. s.l., n.p., n.d.
975.449 G857.

Lad, Virginia. Sodom and Gomorrah of Today; or the History of Keystone, West Virginia. s.l., n.p., 1912.
975.449 L153.

McDowell County Centennial, 1858-1958. s.l., n.p., 1958.
975.449 M138c.

McDowell County, West Virginia, The Nations Coal Bin. s.l., n.p., n.d.
917.5449 M138.

Solins, Mrs. Samuel and Jones, Mrs. Paul. McDowell County History; A Pictorial History of McDowell County, West Virginia. Fort Worth, Texas, University Supply and Equipment Company, 1959.
975.449 M138.

Sowers, Auburn Daniel. Facts About McDowell County, West Virginia. s.l., n.p., 1912.
975.449 S731 Pam.

Welch West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia. s.l., n.p., n.d.
917.5449 W439 Pam.

Newspaper Clippings

" First Seventeen Mayors of Welch," Welch Daily News, 6-8-1983.
"1924 Gary Yule Party," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 12-17-1989.
"A Clean Start, Welch...New Sewage Plant," Charleston Gazette, 6-1-1997.
"Almost Heaven Starting to Resemble Depression," Charleston Gazette, 6-26-1983.
"Angelo Roncella, Hemphill Barber Shop," Welch Daily News, 3-1-1991.
"Ashes, Memories Have Settled Keystone's Cinder Bottom," Bluefield Telegraph, 5- 26-1975.
"Author's [Hickam] Fans Won's Get Chance to Gather in McDowell," Gazette, 2-11- 1999.
"Barbershop Duet, Rush and Riley Justice," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 4-26-1998.
"Billie Rose, Rocket Boy," Dominion Post, 5-3-1999.
"Black's Contribute Early Success Small WV Town, Kimball," Welch Daily News, 3- 30-1990.
"Bouvier Tract," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 8-13-1995.
"Bradshaw, New Town Has Old Problem," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 3-1-1981.
"Bralley Building is Historic Landmark," Welch Daily News, 6-7-1991.
"Caretta, WV Old System Inflicting Water Torture," Charleston Gazette, 3-18- 1992.
"Carter Coal Company," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 2-28-1998.
"Centennial Celebration Starts Sunday, Co. 100Years Old," Industrial News, 5-8-1958.
"Commissioners to Sell War Memorial Suing," Welch Daily News, 2-21-1986.
"Committee Formed to Restore Kimball Memorial Building," Welch Daily News, 3-6- 1986.
"Company Store Souls May Live on in Register," Charleston Gazette, 2-11-1992.
"Crozer Coal & Coke Photo @1924" Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 9-24-1989.
"Davy, Jackson Hotel Favorite Meeting Place Many Coalfield Officials," Welch News, 6-8-1983.
"Davy, WV," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 11-13-1977.
"Davy, McDowell Co. in Heday Pocahontas Coal Field," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 2- 18-1990.
"Distillery Could Bring History, County to Life," Elkins Inter-Mountain, 1-17- 1996.
"Don Harman Was Pioneer and Political Boss," Welch Daily News, 6-8-1983.
"Dredging Up the Past Fuels Company's Future at Gary in McDowell Co.," Gazette, 2- 22-1998.
"Elkhorn in 1915 Photo," Welch Daily News, 8-19-1988.
"Elkhorn's Post Office Celebrates 100 Year of Service," Welch Daily News, 11-18- 1988.
"Family Rides Herd on Town, Boss Hale and Her Boys, Davy, WV," Dominion Post, 2- 12-1984.
"Felts Brothers, Hatfield In Later Feud," Beckley Post-Herald, 3-4-1965.
"First National Bank of Keystone, Money in the Bank," Charleston Gazette, 6-23- 1996.
"Folk-Songs in the Making," Huntington Advertiser, 4-29-n.d.
"Free State of McDowell Still Wealthy," Beckley Post-Herald, 2-12-1965.
"Gary Railroad Station & Restaurant, 1928; Mr. O'Tools, 1926," Welch Daily News, 6- 8-1983.
"Gary More Than a Place Where U. S. Steel Mines Coal," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 7- 27-1977.
"Gary, Going, Going, Gone...," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 5-6-1990.
"Gary an Appalachian Town on its Deathbed Since Last July," Clarksburg Exponent, 1- 11-1987.
"George Mitros, Sterling Service," Charleston Gazette, 4-17-1995.
"Great Maybeury Train Wreck," Welch Daily News, 3-29-1991.
"Hard Times Gary's a Coal Town on Its Death Bed," Charleston Gazette, 1-11- 1987.
"Historical Photos...Library of Congress, Depression..," Charleston Daily Mail, 4-21- 1983.
"How Does Your Garden Grow? Mule Still Plow..in Isaban," n.p. n.d.
"Iaeger, Town for Sale," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 12-31-1997.
"Iaeger Named for Early Resident," Welch Daily News, 7-28-1983.
"Iaeger's Plans for a Caboose Museum are Rolling Along," Welch Daily News, 5-21- 1991.
"Joe Davis, Elevator Still Quick on the Uptake," Charleston Gazette, 101-15-1991.
"Keystone Store is Among Oldest Kelvinator Dealers in Country," Welch Daily News, 2-6-1985.
"Kimball War Memorial Fire Picture," Welch Daily News, 4-12-1991.
"Kimball Memorial Target of Vandals," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 12-26-1986.
"Lake Superior Coal Company Tipple Workers, 1927," Welch Daily News, 3-30- 1990.
"Matheny Woman Recalls Jed Mine Blast," Beckley Post-Herald, 3-12-1965.
"McDowell Group Working to Save Memorial to Veterans," Charleston Gazette, 4-6- 1986.
"McDowell Revitalization Lies in Trash," Charleston Gazette, 2-17-1991.
"McDowell County Courthouse Photo," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 1-19-1997.
"McDowell Co. One of State Most Progressive Community," Huntington Advertiser, 1- 29-1922.
"McDowell Progress Was First County Paper," Welch Daily News, 12-3-1984.
"Miner City Hotel, The Last Hotel at War," Charleston Gazette, 4-9-1984.
"North Fork and Town of Clark WV 1911," WV Hillbilly, 1-10-1970.
"Old Iaeger Station Photo," Industrial News, 1-7-1976.
"Pageton, Help's On Way-Or Is It?," Charleston Gazette, 7-15-1996.
"Portrait of Life: From Bradshaw to English Route 83...," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 6- 13-1976.
"Postcard of Welch," Welch Daily News, 3-29-1991.
"Premier, Early Picture of," Welch Daily News, 6-8-1983.
"Real Rocket Boys," Herald Dispatch, 2-28-1999.
"Rocket Boys are Welcomed Home," Welch Daily News, 6-10-1999.
"Roderfield Residents in McDowell Co. Centennial 1958," Welch Daily News, 5-31- 1991.
"Salute to Century-Old McDowell" Part I, II," Beckley Post-Herald, 5-8; 5-9-1958.
"Second Printing of McDowell History Being Considered," Welch Daily News, 3-12- 1968.
"Skygusty, Community Feels Getting Raw Deal Over Post Off.," Welch Daily News, 3- 23-1990.
"State History Collections Still Swelling," Beckley Post-Herald, 3-24-1964.
"Summer 1963 in Welch," Welch Daily News, 2-23-1990.
"Termites Unlock Door to McDowell History," Charleston Gazette, 6-3-1990.
"The Two Johns" Hardy and Henry," WV Hillbilly, 10-12-1963.
"Town of Iaeger Rich in Early History of This Section," Welch Daily News, 11-18- 1949.
"Up in Smoke, Landgraff Coal Company Store," Charleston Gazette, 11-25-1996.
"War, WV It's Still Alive and Well, Too," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 9-4-1977.
"War McDowell Co., Southernmost City Folksy Flavor," Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 3- 12-1989.
"We Had Some Good Days, Suzanne Slaughter," Charleston Gazette, 2-16-1999.
"Welch Made Room and History With Parking Garage," Charleston Gazette, 1-16- 1995.
"Welch Daily News Satisfies Need in Counties, Welch Daily News, 12-3-1984.
"Welch Street Scene," WV Hillbilly, 2-9-1989; 3-30-1990.

McDowell County Records on Microfilm

County History Resources

History Center

West Virginia Archives and History