The Winding Gulf: Stories from West Virginia's Coalfields

[@perryradford6403]

I was born in Mullens in 1953, raised in Rhodell and I am one of the last surviving alumni of Byrd Prillerman High School in Amigo, West virginia. My father mined coal in the Winding Gulf region for 21 years. I would not have traded my early years growing up in West Virginia for anything. I noted that some of the pictures that appeared in this documentary were all too familiar to me. The Church that amy father and many other towns people built in the 50s, the Gulf Supermarket which in early years was simply called, Mrs Farrugia’s store. I enjoyed growing up there.

[@shadowstar9019]

That was a wonderful documentary,so informative,thanks for the story 💗

[@lorie1357]

I knew Major Tams in the 1970's. My mother Alfreda D. Hyde, was his nurse and I enjoyed visiting with him as my mother took care of him. And I also had the wonderful opportunity to read his vast library. He also loved horse racing. My mother and I would watch with him. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Precious memories. My mother was born and raised in Tamroy a coal mining town that no longer exists was absorbed by the larger community surrounding it.❤

[@rusty383]

Coal Miners were Patriots. God Bless Them All. Thank You.

[@rusty383]

I Grew up in a Steel Town that used that Coal.My Dad Was A Millrite for John A Roebling Steel. We had a Black, Irish, Polish, German and Romanian! Community. People liked it that way. I was A Paper Boy who Delivered all of it. It was a awesome Town to Grew up in .

[@randy5766]

Excellent, as always. Please keep these documentaries coming and thank you.

[@Heavy_Distortion]

These people are beautiful. Rich culture. Empty pockets.

[@teaberrywmn]

Before moving to Beckley my mother and father lived in Tams. My father was a mining engineer there and new Major Tams well. I remember many stories told by my sisters, who grew up, and went to school there. I'm sure some of the images of the town show my families' home. My fathers name was Ivan C. Thompson. My mother was Dorothy (Long) Thompson. My sisters, Jeanne and Ferne Thompson have many stories to tell of those times.

[@husshhhussh]

W U

[@Margaretv-x8l]

I was born in Amigo, W. Va., but my family moved to Southwest Virginia when I was 4yrs. old. I remember my mother talking about a lady named Mrs. Farrugia .

[@rusty383]

Black Racism I believe was very as prevalent as White was . I Loved my Black Nabiors they were always Good to me. But they never ever tip you! Never! But I was all the time Bringing Home Baked cookies, Bread, the best fried fish ,Chicken. Greens and Corn Bread . It was awesome at Christmas time. They Help Feed our Family in Democrat hard times.

[@TheCfrazier]

What kind a tipping are you speaking of and what county was this in ?

[@walterlangston4253]

I live in west virginia been to the winding gaulf field not much left of the coal mines theses days

[@rusty383]

I Love American History. Hearing the true Storys of men and Women who lived it.

[@rusty383]

Cheryl and I have been to the Pocahontas mine a twice and it hasn't been open.

[@stevelester8048]

Winding Gulf off roads in West Virginia, a town called Fireco, and others are being blocked by a company worth over 2.2 billion dollars. We need help keeping the old dirt roads that go through these old coal towns open. The land companies are leasing lands that have not been leased in over a hundred years to others and having them gate the roads. The land companies do not own the roads, the public does, however, if they gate them long enough the right of ways become owned by them. They are blocking dirt roads to insure they get the right of ways. Thousands of acres all over West Virginia are being blocked. Just one more way to insure land companies take West Virginia. Soon you will not be able to visit the history that this video shows. Old dirt roads are vanishing from maps. If anyone can find old maps of the Winding Gulf off roads located in what used to be called Slabtown, Bacontown, and other old names (in what is now Fireco West Virginia), please supply these, West Virginia needs help. We are being overtaken by big companies. All of West Virginia is experiencing this, they have just started in Raleigh County West Virginia. Please submit maps to Save Our Dirt Roads, sign the petition, on the West Virginia facebook page. This is not a promotion by a company, this page was made by Loretta Stowers, and the petition was started by her sister Lucy Lester of Fireco West Virginia. Please help, we need to save our old coal towns and dirt roads.

[@Roadtripmik]

The new coalfields expressway bypasses tams, amigo and helen WV

[@ВасяВасильев-н8ш8п]

Repent the sins of Virginia State.