Finlow (historical)

From West Virginia (WV) Cyclopedia

Both the name of the mine and the railroad station established here were named Brooklyn. However, the post office here was named Finlow. The date the post office was established is unknown but most likely about the time the mine was opened in the 1890s. Finlow was included on a 1917 list of West Virginia post offices. According to the W.Va. Geological Survey of 1919, the population of Brooklyn (Finlow) in 1910 was 166 person. The town's population in 1920 was 420.

The Brooklyn mine was opened at about the time C&O's South Side Branch was extended from Rush Run to Bridge Junction, a point just downstream and opposite Sewell.

State records indicate the Brooklyn Coal Co. was operating the Finlow mine during 1894-1895, and the Brooklyn mine from 1896-1904. The Brooklyn mine was operated by New River Smokeless Coal Co. between 1905-1908; New River Collieries Co. during 1909-1910; and Scotia Coal & Coke Co. from 1911-1953.

Finlow was listed on a circa-1896 map of the New River Gorge as the site of the Brooklyn Coal Company and, in 1906, as Scotia Coal & Coke Company, operating 65 coke ovens. Little if anything is left of Finlow today.

Finlow (Brooklyn) is accessible from the Brooklyn-Southside Junction Trail (http://www.newriverwv.com/Recreation_Hiking_Trails_Brooklyn_Southside_Junction_Trail.php) or the Cunard-Kaymoor Trail (http://www.newriverwv.com/Recreation_Hiking_Trails_Cunard_Kaymoor_Trail.php).

Rafter's Reference: Remnants of this small community, if present, would be located on river-left, just downstream of Plowshares Rapids.