W. VA. COAL DISASTERS ~ LUCY CHURCH Lucy "Beckner" Church has provided this listing of West Virginia Coal Mine Disasters. You may ask, "what is so special about another listing of West Virginia Coal Mine Disasters?" Well, this one is special. You not only see it, you feel it! Click, look and listen, I know you will agree. Lucy is married to a retired coal miner. His name is Raymond Church. Lucy is a McDowell County gal. They make their home in IAEGER, McDowell County. Lucy has a VICTIMS LIST for many of the listed disasters and will do a look-up if requested. Music ~ " Pocket Full Of Gold " ~ Vince Gill LUCY'S HEART IS SWEETER THAN COUNTRY HONEY

AMONATE # 31 WV DISASTER ~ DEC. 27, 1957 On Dec. 27, 1957 a gas explosion occurred at the Pocahontas Fuel Company # 31 Mine located in McDowell County, West Virginia. ELEVEN LIVES WERE LOST Archie R. Alicie William Amos James Childs Howard Fields M. B. Harris Gilmer E. Monk John E. Nunley Harman B. Perry James R. Rutherford Lloyd E. Vest Arnold W. Young NOW IN THE CARE OF GOD

In photo above the first man from the right, second row, is Bob Little. Can you help identify the others? Perhaps some of these men perished in the 1957 explosion. Photo was provided by Todd Little, grandson of Bob Little.

BISHOP, WEST VIRGINIA DISASTER ~ OCT. 27, 1958 Bishop is located in McDowell County and borders Tazewell County, Virginia. Bishop, West Virginia and Bishop, Virginia are separated by the state border and the Bishop mining complex had entries from each side. On February 4, 1957 a gas explosion rocked the Bishop, West Virginia mine, owned by the Pocahontas Fuel Company, and resulted in the loss of thirty-seven lives. On October 27, 1958 this same mine suffered another gas explosion with the loss of twenty-two lives. OCTOBER 27, 1958 VICTIMS Calvin Blankenship Arthur Hill Jack Garland James Neely Ulysses D. Spradlin Holliday Sutherland Tony Vilacha Albert Wilfong Neel Rutherford Alex Addington Fred Earl Bandy Bandy Beavers Harold Dangerfield Louis A. Ferguson John Gates Sam Gillespie William D. Johnson M. D. McKinney Kenneth G. Sexton Norris Stiltner Colosso Willson Robert Winningham AT HOME WITH GOD

NOTE - The Feb. 4, 1957 victims link above listing Walter Chafin is in error. There was no Walter Chafin. It should read Wallace J. Chafin. Sherry Chafin Thompson, granddaughter of Wallace J. Chafin, pointed out this error. THANK YOU SHERRY ALSO Richard Smith writes that his father's name appearing on the same list is incorrect. It should be Jesse Ray Smith, Jr. and not Jette Ray Smith, Jr. THANK YOU RICHARD

BISHOP, VA PHOTOS These Bishop photos are brought to you courtesy the Library of Virginia and are part of the Tazewell County, VA Collection. Bishop was once known as SHRADERS.

1886 NEWBURG, WV COAL DISASTER On January 21, 1886 39 coal miners lost their lives at the ORREL COAL COMPANY in Newburg, Preston County, West Virginia. ROBERT M. MOORE of North Royal Palm Beach, Florida has provided this description and LIST OF VICTIMS. Also included is EXTRA INFORMATION on many of the victims. GOD CALLED THEM HOME FOR A GOOD REASON

ECCLES, WV MINE DISASTER ~ APRIL 28, 1914 RALEIGH COUNTY ~ DENNIS CHADRA Dennis is putting together this page on the Eccles Disaster and is off to a good start.

DizHarris3@webtv.net E. L. Harris 1718 Hamilton St. Warren, OH 44485

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