WVU Basketball Player Jerry West Receives Congratulations, Beckley, W. Va.
Date:
1959
Description:
The photograph was taken while West was driven through the streets of Beckley by a very proud fan following West Virginia University's amazing run in the 1959 NCAA Basketball Tournament. The Mountaineers make it to the National Championship game, losing to California by one point. West was named the MVP of the tournament. The others in the photograph are not identified.
Buffalo Creek Flood Disaster Victims at Man, Logan County, W. Va.
Date:
1972/02/29
Description:
James Chapman sits with his dog in front of his demolished home three days after the Pittston Coal Company's coal slurry impoundment dam broke, killing 125 people and leaving thousands homeless. Four days before the disaster, the dam had been declared "satisfactory" by federal inspectors.
Miners Chained Together for Murder Trial, Cliftonville, Brooke County, W. Va.
Date:
1922
Description:
Union miners, involved in a riot at the Cliftonville Mine against non-union miners, were charged and tried for murder. An estimated nine men were killed including Sheriff Harding Duval during the northern panhandle "mine war".
Caption under the photograph reads, "One of the first signs of Spring in Wheeling was the Organ Grinder with a monkey. There were German bands that played on the street and passed the hat. Then there were performing bears, gypsies telling fortunes, and fakirs selling trinkets."
Marshall Football Players Mourn the Death of Teammates; Huntington, W. Va.
Date:
1970/11/17
Description:
Two Marshall football players, who were injured and didn't fly with the team on a plane which crashed and killed all 75 aboard, visit a symbolic wreath of flowers on Marshall's football field with the father of one of the victims. From left: Felix Jordan, Cincinnati, OH.; Nat Ruffin, Quincy, Fla.; and Lucian Sanders, Tuscaloosa, Ala., father of football player Larry Sanders.
The Monongah Mine disaster occurred on December 6, 1907 and has been described as the worst mining disaster in American history. An explosion thought to have been caused by the ignition of methane ignited the coal dust in mines number 6 and 8, killing hundreds of workers.
Philippi has a history of suffering from flooding due to its close proximity to the river and relatively low elevation of most of the town. The most damaging occurred in November of 1985.
Silver Bridge Before Collapse; Point Pleasant, W. Va.
Description:
On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge collapsed while it was full rush hour traffic, resulting in the deaths of 46 people. Two of the victims were never found. Investigation of the wreckage pointed to the cause of the collapse being the failure of a single eyebar in a suspension chain, due to a small defect 0.1 inches deep. Analysis showed the bridge was carrying much heavier loads than it had originally been designed for and was also poorly maintained.
The caption describes the scene as "Market Street on a typical Saturday morning. The present Market House stands on the same site. Note the man coming down the street carrying two barrels also the beer wagon in the center."
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War During Lincoln Administration 1862-1865
Date:
ca. 1862
Description:
Stanton stayed in close contact with Governors Pierpont and Boreman of the Restored Government of Virginia and West Virginia respectively, during the Civil War. Stanton supported West Virginia statehood and was aware of the need for a strong Union military presence in the region.
Postcard photograph of a dirt paved road to the bridge over Cheat River. A house and a structure with a storefront fascade is situation at the near side of the bridge. Also inscribed on the image, "Published by Dawson and Co. Morgantown, West Virginia".