Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship (1940-2010) was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. The following excerpt is reprinted, with his permission, from “From Cabins To Coal Mines, Volume II.”

Editor’s note: The Rev. Green Pendleton “G.P.” Goode (1868-1957) was the foremost authority on Wyoming County history, serving as the official county historian for more than five decades. While he did not publish a book, Goode wrote countless articles for a multitude of publications about th…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965. This is part three of the series.

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965.

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965.

Editor’s note: Jack Feller (1922-2013) was a well-known historian who wrote a series of books, “Memories and Photos of Mullens, West Virginia,” featuring the years from 1894 through 1946, detailing the history of Mullens. Unfortunately, Feller’s books are out of print. Feller was active in n…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965.

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965.

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Jack Feller (1922-2013) was a well-known historian who wrote a series of books “Memories and Photos of Mullens, West Virginia,” featuring the years from 1894 through 1946, detailing the history of Mullens. Unfortunately, Feller’s books are out of print. Feller was active in nu…

Editor’s note: Jack Feller (1922-2013) was a well-known historian who wrote a series of books “Memories and Photos of Mullens, West Virginia,” featuring the years from 1894 through 1946, detailing the history of Mullens. Unfortunately, Feller’s books are out of print. Feller was active in nu…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965. This is part three of the series.

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965. This is part two of the series.

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965. This is part one of the series.

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Jack Feller (1922-2013) was a well-known historian who wrote a series of books “Memories and Photos of Mullens, West Virginia,” featuring the years from 1894 through 1946, detailing the history of Mullens. Unfortunately, Feller’s books are out of print. Feller was active in nu…

Editor’s note: Jack Feller (1922-2013) was a well-known historian who wrote a series of books “Memories and Photos of Mullens, West Virginia,” featuring the years from 1894 through 1946, detailing the history of Mullens. Unfortunately, Feller’s books are out of print. Feller was active in nu…

Editor’s note: Jack Feller (1922-2013) was a well-known historian who wrote a series of books “Memories and Photos of Mullens, West Virginia,” featuring the years from 1894 through 1946, detailing the history of Mullens. Unfortunately, Feller’s books are out of print. Feller was active in nu…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965.

In 1904, the Tidewater Railway Company was incorporated in the State of Virginia to build a railroad from Giles County to Sewell’s Point, Va. Wasn’t it strange that the president of the Tidewater Railway Company was named William N. Page and the president of the Deepwater Railway was also a …

Schools were established early on using some stores and churches or in private homes. The first accredited high school in Wyoming County was at Mullens in 1914. The Ben Dunman School building was at first the Slab Fork District High School and later Mullens High School. A new Mullens High Sc…

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965.

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

One of the tragic events in the history of Wyoming County was the murder of County Clerk Alonzo Marion Stewart (1866-1910), the son of George W. and Chloe Ann Walker Stewart. George W. Stewart was the son of Charles and Nancy Cooke Stewart, making A. M. Stewart a great grandson of Capt. Ralp…

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965.

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Rev. Green Pendleton “G.P.” Goode (1868-1957) was the foremost authority on Wyoming County history, serving as the official county historian for more than five decades. While he did not publish a book, Goode wrote countless articles for a multitude of publications about the ea…

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Mary Keller Bowman’s “Reference Book of Wyoming County History,” published in 1965.

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas.

Editor’s note: Paul Ray Blankenship passed away Sept. 30, 2010 after a long illness. He was a retired teacher and college professor, who wrote several books about the history of Oceana and surrounding areas. As a tribute to his achievements, his columns will continue in this newspaper. The f…