BluefieldThe remarkable story of Bluefield represents a unique combination of geology, geography, and opportunity. Once just the confluence of a handful of family farms in southern West Virginia, Bluefield was put on the map, literally, in the 1880s, when the Norfolk & Western Railway came to town. The companys influence on the rural landscape was overwhelming, and soon, Bluefield was transformed into the center of a coal-fired universe and became a major thoroughfare for the then-thriving mining industry. Though the companynot the coalwas king in Bluefield, enterprising men and women could, and did, share in its success. The city evolved into a successful supply center for the enormous network of towns that sprung up almost overnight throughout the regions coalfields. For the next 60 years, Bluefield experienced dramatic growth, enticing a diverse group of newcomers who helped to build the strong cultural heritage that continues to play a prominent role in the community to the present day. |
Contents
Two THE AVENUE | |
Three THE CITY | |
Four TRANSPORTATION | |
Five CHAMBER BUSINESS | |
Seven ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | |
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AfricanAmerican community Beaver High School Bluefield Avenue Bluefield Daily Telegraph Bluefield Hardware Bluefield High School Bluefield Sanitarium Bluefield State College Bluefield yard Bob Crockett Cecil Surratt Chamber of Commerce city’s northside corner of Princeton courtesy of author courtesy of Bluefield courtesy of Cecil courtesy of Grubb courtesy of H courtesy of Joseph courtesy of Nick courtesy of Thurman Daily Telegraph archives Davidson Dough Boy early Eddie Steele Edward Eddie Fats Waller Federal Street Feuchtenberger free lemonade Greater Bluefield Chamber Grubb Photo Service Higginbotham Jack John Forbes Nash Joseph Bundy Kennedy left to right located Maceo Pinkard Mahood family mainline Melvin Grubb Mercer Street Mitchell Stadium Nick Buzzo Norfolk & Western Norfolk Southern old Bluefield parade Photo by Melvin Photo courtesy picture Pocahontas Princeton Avenue railroad region’s served Shott shown Smitty Smith station steam locomotives Stinson School Thurman Scruggs U.S. Senator unidentified West Virginian Hotel Western Railway WHISTV