Elverton, West Virginia
From West Virginia (WV) Cyclopedia
The mine at Elverton was first opened by Joseph L. Beury in about 1896, who soon afterwards sold the mine to the Chapman interests. A C&O publication of 1906 listed the Chapman Iron Coal & Coke Company as operating one mine at a station named "Chapman", with 60 coke ovens in operation. The company's post office address was listed as Elverton.
State mining records indicate the Chapman Coal & Coke Co. operated the Chapman mine in 1901. The name of mine was apparently changed from Chapman to Elverton in 1902. The state's records after this date show the Elverton mine as being operated by the Chapman Iron, Coal & Coke Co. from 1902-1906; The Gashen Iron Co. during 1907-1908; Elverton Coal & Coke Company between 1909-1910; and by Branch Coal & Coke Company between 1911-1945.(1) Some source claim the Elverton mine operation was closed in 1951.
A 1911 Fayette County publication listed the Elverton Coal & Coke Company as operating the Elverton mine, citing the company's post office address as Elverton, W.Va. The mine worked the Sewell coal seam.
A post office was established here at some unknown date. Elverton was included on a 1917 list of West Virginia post offices.
Elverton's population was estimated at 200 in 1910 by the West Virginia Geological Survey. Extensive stone foundations, including the ruins of mining structures, a school, coke ovens, and a company store, are visible here when foliage has died back in fall, winter, and early spring.
Rafter's Reference: the ruins of Elverton, consisting mainly of stone foundations, are located on river-left along Warm-Up Rapids.
Sources
(1) West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training, mine data tonnage reports
