"SHINBRIER" ALMOST HEAVEN by "dizzy" harris.
MILL CREEK C&C TUG COMMUNITY
Mill Creek Coal & Coke Company began their Tug operations about 1908. Production ended in 1944 with a much reduced output. The community of Tug had developed around this operation. The community's life ended when coal production ceased. Tug was a small, but vibrant, community with a church, a school, a company store and, most importantly, wonderful people who created a family like atmosphere. The Joe and Ruth "Sally" Davis and Charlie and Ella Smith families were the among the last to vacate the Tug community.
TUG SCHOOL
Little Creek School
Teachers were Mamie O'Brien and Grace Atwell Henderson.
MAMIE O'BRIEN COOPER OBITUARY
| ANAWALT - Mamie O'Brien Cooper, 98, of Anawalt, and the past three years a resident of Glenwood Retirement Home in Princeton, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, Aug. 26, 2005. She was born on Jan. 31, 1907 at Little Creek. She was the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Jefferies O'Brien. Mamie will be remembered as a generous and giving person, spending a total of 54 years teaching in the McDowell County School System, 45 years as a full time teacher and principal and nine years as a substitute teacher. She graduated from Gary High School. A graduate of Concord College in Athens, she began her teaching career at the one room school house located in Little Creek, in 1924 where she taught for several years. She left that position in 1931 to teach at Jenkinjones Elementary School for three years. She then began her teaching experience at Anawalt Elementary/Junior High School until 1941. During the time of World War II she was appointed to the principalship at Thorpe Elementary School. Following the war, she returned to her position at Anawalt as the school librarian and teacher, where she stayed until her retirement. She also taught homebound students and adult night classes in the Anawalt area. Mamie was a member of the Methodist Faith serving as a Sunday School teacher for youth and adults for most of her teaching career. Preceded in death, in addition to her parents: Her husband, Kline Cooper of Anawalt; two sisters, Mabel Bailey of Wind Mill Gap (wife of Grover Cleveland Bailey) and Hattie Effler of Boissevain, Va.; three brothers, Lacy Patrick O'Brien Sr. of Gary, Raymond O'Brien of Boissevain, and John O'Brien of Philadelphia, Pa.; and several beloved nieces and nephews who were very dear to her. Survivors include nieces and nephews, John O'Brien of Gary and wife Beverly, Seth and Kelly O'Brien, Lacy Patrick O'Brien Jr. of Welch and wife Judith, Patrick O'Brien III and wife Melissa, Kimberly O'Brien, Shane O'Brien and wife LeAnn, Carol O'Brien Perfin of Pulaski, Va. and husband Donald, Daria Neal and husband Robert, Rick and Regina Perfin, Doris O'Brien Martin of Bluefield, Va. and husband James C., Rhonda Vance and husband Mickey; and two very special great-great nieces, Sara Perfin and Meagan Vance, Bonnie Hodge of Rocky Gap, Va., Bridget Bailey Morrow of Fredericksburg, Va., Zelma Settle of Rich Creek, Va., Raymond Bailey of Mansfield, Conn., William Bailey of Palatka, Fla., Marvin Bailey of Ward, Ark., Kenneth Bailey of Casa Grande, Ariz., Naomi O'Brien of Roanoke, Va., Conrad O'Brien of Salem, Va., James O'Brien of Dahlonega, Ga., John M. O'Brien, William O'Brien and Patrick O'Brien all of Philadelpha; and many great and great-great nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, 2005 from the Fanning Funeral Home Chapel in Welch with Pastor Raymond Gilley, officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery in Bluefield, Va. Friends may call today, Aug. 28, 2005 at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Pallbearers will be nephews. Fanning Funeral Home of Welch is in charge of arrangements. |
MILL CREEK C&C COMPANY STORE AT TUG ?
Could the building seen behind coal cars be the Mill Creek Tug Company Store? Can someone help identify this building? Samuel "Coon Eye" Graham was the store manager and butcher. Store also acted as the post office for Tug folks. Mail was delivered to store via the mantrip through Rock Heading Tunnel that connected Tug to Barlow Hollow. Tug never had a tipple and this tunnel was used to transport coal from Tug to the modern tipple at Barlow Hollow. The store was demolished by Robert Smith and Ezra Blevins. Mr Israel Foreman used the bricks to build a store in Anawalt.
TUG MINES SUPERINTENDENTS WERE J. G. HESLEP AND ROBERT "BOB" BOONE
ROBERT BOONE
MINE SUPERINTENDENT
Left - Mr J. G. Heslep Right - Sam "Coon Eye" Graham
PHOTO COURTESY TODD LITTLE
SMALL STEAM ENGINES WERE USED TO TRANSPORT MINE COAL CARS TO THE TIPPLE THROUGH ROCK HEADING TUNNEL
BILL PERDUE SITTING IN CAB OF ENGINE
General Superintendent William "Bill" Perdue at his Desk
PHOTO COURTESY OF TODD LITTLE
John and Virginia "Ginny" Westmoreland - Tug Residents
PHOTO BY BETTY SADLER BARNES
Home of Tug Residents Charlie and Ella Smith - Photo is Willie Smith and Daughter, Norma Jean. Dog is "BUTCH"
PHOTO BY BETTY SADLER BARNES
SADLER SMOKE HOUSE AT TUG
LEFT TO RIGHT - EDWARD FRENCH, JR - LARRY FRENCH - DEBBIE FRENCH - JOHNNY SADLER
PHOTO COURTESY BETTY SADLER BARNES
JOHNNY AND BELLE SADLER HOME AT TUG
PHOTO COURTESY BETTY SADLER BARNES AND BILL LAMBERT
TUG MINES FATALITIES
- Dave Fox - 06/09/1925 Tug Mine Kettle Bottom Fall
- Sam Green - 06/23/1924 Tug Mine Fall of Coal
- Oakley Carner - 05/10/1921 Tug Mine Fall of Slate
- J. F. Hendricks - 04/19/1921 Tug Mine Slate Fall
- Joe Lambert - 03/29/1921 Tug Mine Coal & Rock Fall
- Tony Adams - 02/15/1921 Tug Mine Fall of Coal
- Henry Staples - 01/11/1921 Tug Mine Fall of Coal
- Thomas Franklin - 01/12/1914 Tug Mine Coal & Slate Fall
- Paul Jackson - 07/14/1913 Tug Mine Trip Car Wreck
TUG VICTIM JOE LAMBERT SEATED ON RIGHT - PHOTO COURTESY ROBERT PRESLEY, JR
SEATED ON LEFT IS G. W. SADLER
STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT - O. P. Bailey - A. H. LAMBERT - HARVEY BAILEY
GRAVE OF TUG VICTIM OAKLEY CARNER - GROVER CEMETERY - GROVER, NORTH CAROLINA
DEATH DATE SHOULD READ 1921
OAKLEY WAS THE SON OF WILLIAM T. AND VIOLA DUNCAN CARNER
TUG VICTIM DAVID FOX GRAVE IN HAW ORCHARD CEMETERY - GRAYSON COUNTY, VA
DAVID WAS THE SON OF WALLACE AND ZELLA FOX
ROCK HEADING TUNNEL - TUG TO BARLOW HOLLOW
MORE TO COME
E. L. Harris
1718 Hamilton St
Warren, OH 44485
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