Mullens West Virginia: Coal, Immigrants & Babe Ruth

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks so much for watching this episode! Love hearing your feedback & stories in the comments!!

[@WhitetopFarm]

My mother graduated from Mullens High School ('52? '53?). Betty Meadows, married name Miller (Sam). She lived in Pax. I have her high school yearbook somewhere.

[@amandazangari9636]

My mother Lisha Mayse graduated from Mullens High School in 78! That whole side of the family is from Mullens.

[@jackmullens-t1c]

A.J. Mullens was one of my great grandfathers who founded Mullens West VA. I went there not too long ago. I got to see a memorial that had some relatives of mine that served in WW2 there. It’s not the nicest now. But, i’m very proud of the history there. Thank you so much for making this video 🙏

[@gcanaday1]

My dad was born there. My grandfather worked the trains - he worked one whole day in the mines and refused to go back down again. The turnpike bisected my great grandfather's farm down in Ghent.

[@johnmeadows5645]

I was born three miles from Mullens, my family on both sides were pioneers in Wyoming county. My dad learned to play pool at Bud Hypes pool room downtown. I enjoyed getting a hamburger and ice cold Pepsi in a bottle at the hotel.

[@minivanman007]

I was there at the best time. Trick or treating on Moran Ave, Summers at the pool, Star wars at the Wyoming Theater. My Grandfather owned Union furniture company beside the theater. Life was good there.

[@sandydeel-xw4fn]

This video hits you right in the heart. It is so sad for folks then and now that had such great opportunities and just fell through the cracks from so many unfortunate happenings. I hope and pray a miracle will happen for this town. I love the old buildings and the history of this town that you shared. I wish it had not fallen through the cracks the way it did. It could have been an awesome town, and I hope and pray blessings and a miracle for its revival. Thanks for a great video. Keep them coming!

[@MountainRoots]

Absolutely!! Thanks for watching 👍

[@bhager1945]

I remember playing basketball against Mullen. They had strong tradition there.. Great inside story thank you!! Might have to checkout your Airbnb sometime.

[@petermusser5457]

remember driving (with dad) through Pineville, anticipating with joy, knowing i got to see my Grandfather and Grandmother, who lived at 713 Circle Drive. Grandparents are absolutely essential for family love and development. Appalachians are among best for that.

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Nice tribute to a town that deserves to be remembered. Hopefully, it can at least be partially restored in the near future. Nice old buildings. Thanks!

[@MountainRoots]

Agreed, it has lovely architecture! I know as another commented, there is some outdoor atv tourism in the area but that's only really a piece to this whole puzzle. Thanks for watching!

[@robertcarter6963]

Highly professional! Enjoyed watching this!

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you so much for the feedback, it means a lot to me that my viewers enjoy the films I produce- thanks again for watching!!

[@bretparker8533]

Both my parents were born and raised in mullens, so were my grandparents. Its said how far down it is today. Is a quiet town

[@nascarvintage17]

I absolutely love those small American towns in the Appalachians, shrouded in mist, with their brick buildings surrounded by hills. It’s like a real movie set-I just adore it greetings from south of france god bless you

[@roseownby4759]

I lived in McDowell county wva Jenkin Jones wva

[@waltobringer2928]

Thanks yet again!

[@terryw.milburn8565]

Morning Josh, Another Great Episode Enjoyed Here In The Maritimes In Canada Loved The Interview With The 91 Yr. Young Lady ! ATB T God Bless

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much for watching!

[@charliehenderson38]

Great video, gotta love West Virginia

[@ianbabcock5951]

Great, I appreciate the work that went into creating this video. I go to Mullens every December to check out the vintage city Christmas lights, get there at dusk right after a snow squall it takes you back in time!

[@MountainRoots]

Sounds wonderful, may have to make the trip for that myself!

[@drummersagainstitk]

Great editing. The music is perfect for this subject matter. Thanks for what your doing. IT IS IMPORTANT.

[@MountainRoots]

I appreciate the feedback! With each short film I produce I try my best to increase the value offered- both from the editing to the research and narration. Thanks so much for watching!

[@mabyewest]

I really enjoyed this video. And by the way, your show on PBS is awesome as well. You're doing a great job brother! Greetings from the Netherlands

[@MountainRoots]

Many many thanks! I truly appreciate the feedback, thanks so much for watching!!!

[@dalegooch4616]

Josh excellent as always interesting and very well done.

[@JohnnyBravo5674]

Something I have enjoyed myself since moving to WV is looking at the old signs on the sides of buildings. Something I never really noticed or saw out west other than old mining towns. I flew my drone up in Clarksburg scouting out faded signs of old and other places around wv. Love your series Josh 😎🤙🏼

[@Roadtripmik]

Me and my father went to beckley, mullens, pineville, welch, iaeger, and bradshaw WV (from Philadelphia)

[@Nerdsonearth]

I was Mullens High School class of ‘92. My mom and I lived in an apartment diagonally adjacent to the hotel.

[@klwthe3rd]

Is that apartment still operating? Still tenants there?

[@hippy8213]

Grew up there and just went last night and played music...

[@kendeel7474]

I feel that for Mullens and similar small, one-industry dominant communities of this region, it will take creative imagination and massive investment commitment to ever approach the level of success formerly enjoyed in a bygone era. It is highly unlikely that outside interests and considerations would ever be attracted to the requisite effort for significant revitalization. Only through organic and innovative energy from residents could progress occur and likely on a much smaller scale than in the heydays. Thanks for your efforts in highlighting these communities and bringing them to public consciousness.

[@MountainRoots]

It's a tough reality, isn't it?

[@kendeel7474]

Challenging to be sure; hopefully the will to change lies dormant within the only folks who can do it…the Appalachians themselves.

[@GreatAussieDrives]

Loved this episode like all the others. Definitely a town with a great story!

[@MountainRoots]

It really does, and there are so many like it throughout Appalachia. Thanks for watching!!

[@meglange3595]

Well done Josh. One could hope that your video might spark a regeneration. Take care. 🍁🌾♥️🌾🍁

[@MountainRoots]

One could hope!... thanks for watching 😊

[@JBowman-ps2ri]

Shout Out From Oceana WV 🤘😎 Good Video Thanks! U earned 1 more subscriber doing this!!! You wouldnt believe the difference in The whole county, but Mullens has changed more this 1st Qtr. Of the Century, than the only other little 2 towns in our county!

[@judyingram-kh1vm]

Great video. I absolutely love it. Thank you for sharing this with us

[@gregdelaney119]

This is a really nice episode, Josh, with a tribute to the past and the (often) inevitable question about what the future holds. I wonder if communities in the region or elsewhere will one day consult this series and the others in which you are involved for ideas about revitalization and how to evolve beyond their original resources and interests. We know that financial resources are always needed but I wonder if part of the unknown future challenge is whether or not a given community has the collective energy and will to convert to a different economy.

[@MountainRoots]

Collective will and creative foresight to reimagine what's possible. It's tough, and I don't mean to play the sentimental angle, I'm just asking questions and sharing my observations. Thanks for watching Greg!!

[@gregdelaney119]

@@MountainRoots And you do an excellent job at that. I'm kind of a sentimental old fool and I'd love to see videos like these inspire some renewal and growth! :)

[@RogerHedrick-l1r]

My family is from Mcgraws in Wyoming County

[@mickeyhead9770]

Had family that lived in Mullens. People were the salt of the earth.

[@kathrynralli4557]

WOW! Good job!

[@mizdink]

I love this little town. Visited there many, many times. The ATV trails bring in some revenue. Hopefully the state will continue to help build tourism to this underrated part of our country. Truly God's country.

[@MountainRoots]

I think that's certainly a component! Appreciate you watching!!

[@lilhook5534]

I was just up there in Pineville to put my Papaw to rest. He was a coal miner for 38 yrs. at the Colsan mine. He resided in Pineville in the lil white trailer in the curve down the rd from DG. He grew up in the turkey creek hollow and was proud of where he came from so much that he made an agreement with the landowners so he could have access to his old home place. He would visit it often and even take a weed eater back there and clean it up. He only was able to take me back there one time and said it’s not a good place to be bc the cottonmouths were thick back there. This area and many other areas alike in WV is home to me. I’m Ga born and raised but my roots keep me highly intrigued about WV and the coal miners life. The people up there are the best on earth. Despite the drugs and violence all this country. There are still good people on this earth and most of them you will find in these WV small towns. RIP Arlis Cook

[@klwthe3rd]

Was he Arlis B, Arlis D or Arlis V Cook??? I tried to research that area as i love to learn more about that area and that name there seems to be several different middle names for your grandfather. Sounds like he was an honorable man.

[@lilhook5534]

@@klwthe3rd Arlis V. Cook

[@hikerx9366]

Great channel always lived videos on the State of Virginia. 🙏

[@MountainRoots]

I appreciate you following along!

[@Lkv26]

Great video. Thank you.

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome!

[@michaelhager2846]

Love w.v. thank you

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome!

[@ScannerJunkie]

Your videos make me want to take road trips.

[@JacobRiley1999]

Great episode as always Josh! If you ever find the time to make it to Estill County Kentucky I think the twin cities of Irvine / Ravenna would make an interesting episode!

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you very much! Really appreciate the suggestions too, it's on my radar 👍

[@kristopherdaniels8008]

My Dad was born there in ‘51 and lived there until he was 18 yrs old.

[@zxtenn]

I looked at a house in Pineville that was really nice inside and out but the road to get there was 1 lane and CURVY with blind drives and dropoffs so i decided against it finally. It was listed for a long time, Pineville is a nice town and not so neglected as other areas, at least some parts of it.

[@Corker2211]

Outstanding as always, Sir. How to you get all the information you need? How do you get that music?

[@The.Real.Timmii]

Dollar General is everywhere

[@robertsova71189]

If you ever get towards Ohio check out Bainbridge Ohio in rural Ross county.

[@mohawkduda8554]

Ohio is filled with people from W.V., , I can't tell you how many older people tell me they were from WV or they got family there still. ❤❤

[@tonywestvirginia]

I sure hope they can save the hotel.

[@momo-fq2bt]

古い建物がたくさんあって素晴らしいです

[@MountainRoots]

Yes, lots of old buildings and architecture!

[@perryradford6403]

I was born here; in Mullens, that is. I was born in Mullens Hospital in 1953. Please accept my constructive ciriticism. You can research it if you want, but you make reference to the Town of Mullens. I remember Mullens as a city. I always referred to it as “The City of Mullens.” I remember in the late 50s adn early 60s that the shopping district of Mullens was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. I remember my mother and father taking us there probably in early winter. I believe Mullens was more beautiful than Beckley, but Beckley had more money flowing through it, as you indicated in this video and Mullens has become an almost nonexistent shadow of what it used to be to be. Despite my constructive criticism, I think it is s a very good video that you have created for the state I have so many memories of.

[@gcanaday1]

My dad was born there in 52. Granddad moved the family to Detroit for work a few years later.

[@perryradford6403]

@@gcanaday1 Your last name appears to be Canaday. Do you have a Rev. Samuel Canaday in your family?

[@klwthe3rd]

@@perryradford6403 I love how people that comment on these videos that actually were born and live in these towns know everyone just from their last name. That's so awesome.

[@9252LIFE]

sure is a cool old town. Hopefully they get the grants to fix up that old hotel

[@Orange_DNA]

I find it depressing to watch these little towns fade into obscurity.

[@David-sk9vv]

Where is the accompanying music from? Would be good to have it 👍

[@zxtenn]

Any opinions on Coal City, contemplating a few houses there?

[@Traci_S_Aaron]

Is your PBS program available outside Virginia? If it is, can you place a link in your description or put the name of the program in the description so people can find it? Thanks, Josh love your program

[@MountainRoots]

Yes, it sure is! You can find it on the PBS app by searching the show name 'Hometowns'. You can also Google 'PBS Hometowns'and it'll be the first result. 😊

[@robertbaldwin298]

Mullins Kentucky is spelled correctly.

[@ogamhunter]

At least people have heard of Mullens WV. and know where it is at! (Glen).WV.

[@robertbaldwin298]

@@ogamhunter just having a little fun not trying to start a feud but it's not often that we Kentuckians can claim to spell better than others:{

[@thesilentgeneration]

My parents left southern Virginia, Atkins, due to the depression. Otherwise, I would have been born there instead of Michigan.

[@rjcarter2904]

As a native West Virginian (Wyoming and then Raleigh Counties), I appreciated your video. I had relatives in Mullens and often visited there as a young child. Coal is dead--or agonal, at least. West Virginians need to rethink their future. I think most know that. Technology is an opportunity but only if the sad, sad legislature changes and improves education--at all levels. I wish the best, but with the Trumpism there, I am very, very pessimistic. I fear WV is agonal.

[@MountainRoots]

Much of this happened decades before the current political situation in the United States. In fact, WV was largely a single party Democrat state during the time these declines took place...which to my point, politicians as a whole have largely viewed this entire region as a sacrificial zone for extraction industry (regardless of so called party). Thanks for watching!

[@rjcarter2904]

@@MountainRoots I can't argue with you about your conclusion, though a conversation would be interesting. Best wishes.

[@MountainRoots]

@@rjcarter2904 agreed! Conversation and dialogue are much preferred!!

[@briancanada4850]

I am sure my kin is still there😮

[@John-uv7zp]

To be totally honest people will come just to vacation to get away from populated areas it’s sucks to go to places that are packed and big cities forget about it

[@MountainRoots]

That's a valid point!

[@djt8518]

WHAT HAPPENED?? REAGAN HAPPENED same as all the rest

[@rogerbrendabowman4808]

Was just in Mullins in Oct. I was born in Pineville but we shopped in Mullins and Welch. But that is long gone so sad for those who still live there. These towns were the back bones for neighboring states that inherited West Virginians to build their states Again so sad❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹😧

[@rjhall5277]

Love w.v.thank you