Coal House (Williamson, West Virginia)

The Coal House in Williamson, West Virginia is a unique building built of coal masonry. The bituminous coal was quarried as blocks and dressed as stone using 65 tons of coal from the nearby Winifrede Seam. At the time of its construction it was the only coal building in West Virginia. The house was designed by architect Hassel T. Hicks[2] of Welch, West Virginia and supervised by David M. Goode. The coal masonry was varnished for weather-resistance. Located adjacent to the Mingo County Courthouse, it houses the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce.[3]

Coal House
Location2nd Ave. and Court St., Williamson, West Virginia
Coordinates37°40′19″N 82°16′40″W
Built1933
Built byDavid M. Goode
ArchitectHassel T. Hicks
NRHP reference No.80004297[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 6, 1980

The building's construction in 1933 was organized as a publicity stunt by O. W. Evans of the Norfolk and Western Railway, who wished to create a symbol of the "Billion Dollar Coalfield" centered on Williamson. While it is known as the "Coal House", it has never been a residence.

West Virginia's second coal house was built in 1959 in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

On October 11, 2010 the Coal House caught fire. There was extensive damage to the inside of the building and minimal damage to the outside structure.[4] Following $200,000 of restoration work the Coal House was reopened in September 2011.[5]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. Stacy Stone (December 18, 1992), National Register of Historic Places Nomination: World War Memorial (pdf), National Park Service
  3. Michael J. Pauley (December 10, 1979), National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Coal House (pdf), National Park Service
  4. Goad, Julia Roberts (October 12, 2010). "Fire sparks in Coal House". Williamson Daily News. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  5. Bryan, Brenda; Moxley, Cathleen (September 26, 2011). "Williamson's Coal House Reopens Following Fire". Gray Television/WSAZ. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
Plaque on the Coal House


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