University of Virginia's
College at Wise
Department of History & Philosophy
UVa-Wise Home Department of History & Philosophy About Me Office Hours
Coal Towns/Derby Virginia
In 1923, the Stonega Coke and Coal company built one of the last coal towns in southwestern Virginia . With the success of nearby Arno and the discovery of coal in the hollow through which Preacher Creek runs, the company contracted to have Derby built.
The town however, served a secondary purpose: It was the model community constructed by SC&C in order to combat the growing trend of unionism. In the early 1920s, miners in Kentucky and West Virginia fought bitter battles to ensure their right to organize in labor unions. In an effort to preclude that necessity in their mines, the Stonega Company intentionally sought to provide their employees with exceptional living conditions. By building more modern towns like Derby , the company hoped that its charity would forestall unionization.
When completed in late 1923, the town of Derby consisted of the typical public buildings along with 100 houses and three mines. Of these houses, the vast majority were two story structures, separated in the middle, made with tile on the exterior, and housing two families. Several other specialty houses were built including a large home for the superintendent and some smaller wooden houses for middle management and professionals within the camp.
Throughout the 1920s, Derby 's fortunes rose steadily. With three mines operating from the town's inception, the growth of manpower is not surprising. Starting with an initial workforce of 163 men, the colliery grew rapidly and employed more than 700 men by 1927. Although Derby struggled like the rest of the industry during the Great Depression, even resulting in the closing of mine number 1 closing from 1938-1942 and mine number 2 closing from 1939-1942, the entire operation never shut down. For the most part, the seams opened in 1923 remained productive on a large scale until Derby number three closed in 1964.
Derby is remembered as the site of one of Wise County 's most devastating mine disasters. On August 6, 1934, an explosion of methane gas killed seventeen local miners and injured dozens more. The initial blast trapped several miners inside the mine and rescue operations were underway when they began emerging from a distant entrance. They had escaped through a long-closed section of the mine which was nearly filled with water. With only one or two inches of space, the men pressed their faces to the roof while walking out.
Today, Derby is one of the best examples of coal town architecture. With many of the original houses still standing, and some of the remnants of the public buildings remaining, a drive through the town is impressive. Next to the church, a short, nondescript, concrete wall from the commissary still stands. In the bend above the church, the single story middle management houses are anchored at the northern end by the superintendent's home. Farther on, visitors cross a small bridge that once separated the white part of town from the upper section where the black residents lived. On the left after crossing the bridge, the foundation of the school remains along with a few half-destroyed buildings giving visitors a window into the structures of the tile houses. In 2004, Derby , along with Stonega, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Interviews
- Carliss Earley
- Jonathan Clark
- Inez Garrison & Shirley Thompson
- James Garrison
- Hubert Hylton
- Glen & Mary Kilgore
Pictures
Links
© 2000 The University of Virginia's College at Wise
All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use
This page last updated: May 11, 2005
Maintained by: Dr. Brian D. McKnight
