History of
Toms Creek
By Edison S.
Perry
Toms Creek is located in the
foothills of the Cumberland Plateaus, two miles north of Coeburn, VA. It is
snuggled in a cove of mountains refreshed by a small stream which is called
Thomas Gist. The community was built along both sides of the creek. Under the
beauty of the mountains was one of our greatest treasures, coal. In 1898 George
L. Carter, from Hillsville, VA, started his coal empire and in 1902, he
organized The Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke Company.
If you lived in Toms Creek in the
twenties and thirties, you would have fond memories of the coal camps. The
camps housed Italian, Hungarian, Negro and white laborers.
Most of the Italian immigrants
originated from the southern part of Italy (Catanzaro). They were employed
mainly in three different occupations; coke drawer operators, outside laborers,
and miners. The section set aside for these people was called "Tally
Town." The Italians attended the Catholic Church. Since the Italians were
trained in working with the coke ovens, the need for their work became very
much in demand when the coke ovens that Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke Company
built became the largest in the world at that time.
The Hungarian immigrants came from
Iron County in Budapest, Hungary. They lived in a section called "Hunk
Town". This part of Toms Creek always had a wonderful smell of fresh
bread. The Hungarians were excellent bread bakers. They had outside ovens,
brought from their homeland, where you could buy fresh baked bread. The Hungarians
also attended the Catholic Church.
The Negroes came mainly from Georgia
and South Carolina. Although their labor was the same as others, there was
still a sense of segregation of these citizens. One example was the separation
of the Negro and white schools. The Negro children had a three room school in
the back of Thelma store. The coal company built and gave to the Wise County
School Board, a big six room building that had a full size basement, steam
heat, and a large auditorium that seated at least three hundred people, and
this was to be used as a school. Only the white, Italian and Hungarians could
attend the school. Toms Creek had a Negro church for the Negro people, which
was of Baptist denomination.
Another section which made up Toms
Creek was called "Big Bug Row". This was where the bosses of the coal
camps lived. There were about 35 houses. As a company benefit, as were kept
with running water, picket fences and board walks. The largest houses belonged
to the superintendents.
"Hardaway Row" was another
well kept row of houses. This was where the foreman of the company lived. This
section of houses had only four rooms and was not equipped with running water
and baths.
A row of about 100 houses made up
the community of "Pink Town". There were only white employees who
lived there. These homes were built on the same style as the houses in
"Hardaway Row." At one time it is said that all the houses in
"Pink Town" were painted pink.
Everyone in these communities took
pride in keeping their yards nice, for each summer a prize was given by the
company for the best kept and prettiest yard.
The coal boom attracted business
within the community. The huge company store was built in 1911 and was said to
be the most modern store this side of Roanoke. It included a butcher shop, a
dry goods department, grocery department, and a furniture department. In the
middle of the floor was a large round department where cigarettes, candy, ice
cream and soft drinks were sold. This was called the "Ball Pen." Mr.
E. S. Becker was one of the first store managers. The store also had delivery
service. In the beginning they made deliveries with a horse and wagon, and
later by truck.
The hospital was a huge red bricked
two-story building. Anyone who was employed by the company, whether they lived
in Toms Creek or one of the company's other camps, could use this hospital. You
could go to the doctor's office or he would make house calls for a fee of $2.00
per month. This fee was held out of your pay at the company office.
There was a large two-story brick
theatre building where public gatherings were held. Any of the employees or
organizations were allowed to have parties, suppers, dances, or any kind of
gathering without charges.
Next to the theatre was the post
office. Mr. Squire Tompkins was postmaster for several years. At one time the
post office was called "Georgel" in honor of George L. Carter.
Some of the other businesses within
Toms Creek were a machine shop, electric shop, supply house, a large boarding
house and a large stable where company horses were taken care of George
Stillwell was in charge of the stables.
The mining department of Toms Creek
was vast in Scope. This large organization helped to develop the small mines in
Toms Creek. Some of the more important mines were Sexton, Coeburn, and Thelma
mines.
Sexton mines was a well equipped
operation. This mine had what is called the double entry system. This meant
that the slope of the coal is such that the mine is mainly drained by gravity.
The road beds were also good. Mr. Robert T. Hopkins was general foreman.
The Coeburn mine was also well
equipped. Coal from this mine was primarily used for steam and domestic
purposes. Mr. Conley Lyons was the general mining foreman for Coeburn mine at
this time.
The large Thelma mine had coal
averaging eight feet. Some mining mechanics were used in Thelma mine for
cutting through the coal. Mr. W. A. Smith was general foreman.
Swansea, Pine Run and Lee mines are
some other well known mines within the community during this period. The
Swansea mine output was very large. The road beds and ventilation was very
good. The general foreman was Richard T. Akers.
Pine Run was one of the largest
mines in Toms Creek. The coal was conveyed to the outside, around the mountain
and the tipple. The drainage was good. This mine was equipped with a 20 foot,
200 horse power engine. The coal was used for domestic and slack purposes. The
general foreman was D. R. Pippin.
The lee mine has a natural drainage
and part of it was lighted by electricity. Its coal was primarily used for
steam and domestic purposes. The general foreman was Mr. Pete Castle.
The colleries of Lee, Swansea, and
Pine Run mines were in charge of Mr. J. H. Garner, a native of Pennsylvania. He
was an expert in the study of coal mining. Sexton, Coeburn and Thelma colleries
were in charge of J. R. Bailey. He was at one time superintendent at Boissivan,
VA.
During World War II, the mines in
Toms Creek were in full swing. After the war, the coal supply began to run out
in the deep mines. Homes began to degenerate and the people began to depart.
Where once there was beauty, now
there are coal tipples, loaded docks, washing plants and a huge silo.
Toms Creek may be only a lapse of
times before, but for some, the memory still lingers.