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A photograph of Dr. A. Watson of Modest Town, Aromac Co. Va.

1. Watson, Dr. A.

Home where Mrs. Watson moved in Monongalia County; woman and child in front of house.

2. Home of Mrs. Watson, Monongalia County

Caption on back reads, 'Fire in the ventilation system or fan house of the Gaston Mine, 1912.  This mine was opened by James Otis Watson in 1874. Located at Watson and closed in 1925. It was located in what is now the present boundary of the friendly city of Fairmont.'

3. Fan House Fire at Gaston Mine in Fairmont, W. Va.

Caption on back reads, 'Picture of Perry Vernon with his lard oil miner's lamp in the Monongah mine previous to that mine's explosion in 1907. Mr. Vernon resided in South Side Fairmont, hastily gathered a group of rescuers a few minutes after the Monongah explosion occured and was the first party to reach the scene of the explosion. The group traveled by a special street car which was operated by James O. Watson, II.'

4. Vernon, Perry and Horse in the Monongah Mine

Group portrait of men who participated in the Coroner's Inquest after the Monongah Mine Disaster.  1. to 6. Coroner's Jury, 7. R.S. Larue, 8. J.W. Paul, 9. Chas. Powell, 10. J.C. Gaskill, 11. S.C. Lowe, Prosecuting Attorney, 12. Interpreter, 13. J.G. Smyth, 14. G.M. Alexander, 15. E.B. Moore, 16., C.W. Watson, 17. L.L. Malone, 18. Frank Haas, 19. H.V. Hesse, 20. J.W. Stevens, 21. C.E. Scott, 22. A.J. Ruckman, 23. W.H. Bailey, 24. E.S. Amos (coroner), 25. Stenographer, 26. D. Victor, 27. J.H. Wheelwright.

5. Coroner's Inquest After the Monongah Mine Disaster

Group portrait of men who participated in the Coroner's Inquest after the Monongah Mine Disaster.  1. to 6. Coroner's Jury, 7. R.S. Larue, 8. J.W. Paul, 9. Chas. Powell, 10. J.C. Gaskill, 11. S.C. Lowe, Prosecuting Attorney, 12. Interpreter, 13. J.G. Smyth, 14. G.M. Alexander, 15. E.B. Moore, 16., C.W. Watson, 17. L.L. Malone, 18. Frank Haas, 19. H.V. Hesse, 20. J.W. Stevens, 21. C.E. Scott, 22. A.J. Ruckman, 23. W.H. Bailey, 24. E.S. Amos (coroner), 25. Stenographer, 26. D. Victor, 27. J.H. Wheelwright.

6. Coroner's Inquest After the Monongah Mine Disaster

'American Coal Company formed in 1852, James Otis Watson, President. First bituminous coal mine to ship commercial coal west of the Alleghany Mountains. Gabled home in the background was the Ogden home.'

7. American Coal Company Buildings

'Eckhart mine located between Cumberland and Frostburg, Maryland. This was the first railroad shipping mine in America. it was opened in 1842 when the B&O railroad reached Cumberland, Maryland's George's Creek Coal field. This mine and James Otis Watson's mine opened at Fairmont, Virginia in 1852 were the nucleuses of the Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Company. This was the first mine in America to be located on a railway.'

8. Eckhart Mine Between Cumberland and Frostburg, Md.

'The Gaston Gas Coal Company, Gaston Mine Plant. Located one half mile South of Hunsaker Bridge on West Fork River. Owned by James Otis Watson and successor to American Coal Company's mining plant, built in 1852 at the Baltimore  and Ohio Railroad Depot. This mine founded in 1875, closed in 1925. Picture shows 15 drop-bottom railroad cars called 'Hoppers.' These cars average 55 ton coal carrying capacity.'

9. Miners at Gaston Mine Plant

Mine was 1/2 mile south of Hunsaker bridge on West Fork River. Owned by James Otis Watson, the mine was founded in 1875 and closed in 1925.

10. Gaston Mine Plant, Gaston Gas Coal Company

'Located one half mile south of the Hunsaker Bridge on the West Fork River, which joins the Tygarts Valley River and forms the Monongahela River two miles north of this mining plant. James Otis Watson was the president of this company. This little engine hauled the mine output to Gaston Junction, two miles north, to the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and at the point where the Jones Raid attacked that bridge during the Civil War. Gaston Mine opened at Watson in 1874. This is the fourth rail shipping mine west of the Allegheny Mountains. All of them located in the present city of Fairmont Boundary Lines. James Otis Watson was a Superintendent. Picture taken in 1991. James O. Watson II went to work at this mine in 1885 during school vacation. Mine closed in 1924. (My earliest recollection of this mine was in 1887 when I rode this engine with Wash Wilt the engineer.  In 1894 I began working at this plant during school vacations. James O. Watson, II)

11. Gaston Gas and Coal Company Mine

'Front Row: Mary Behner(Christopher) and Dave French, Second Row: Anna Santore(Delaney), Jeanine Watson, Mary Low Flesher(Frantz), Margaret French (Clink), Margaret Brooks(Wright), and Bates Butler.

12. First Group of Sunday School Teachers at Scott's Run