WV Adventures and Roadtrips: Itmann Company Store

The WV Roadtrip to Ruins: Ittman Company Store

Explore an abandoned Coal Mine Company Store.

The Historic Itmann Company Store

A Castle in the Coalfields

Who was Isaac T. Mann?

One of West Virginia’s wealthiest business pioneers.

The old way or “the better way”: The path from simplicity to modern convenience.

How did we ever get here?

Chocolate Milk Talks

I’ve heard many stories about this particular area. Mostly slack coal railroad stories.

Mullens, Itmann, Pineville, Logan;

This is the Heart of the Coalfields

Set back and listen; Bring all your enthusiasm and Chocolate Milk.

Let’s tawwwwlk.

First Time Festival Guide:WV Coal Festival, Madison, WV

Madison, is known as “The Gateway to the Coalfields“. It’s also home of the WV Coal Festival.

These parts of West Virginia are different. I grew up in the Eastern Panhandle. Naturally; Orchards and Farms are the livelihood. Coal is the livelihood ’round here.

Take a Step Back

If I could time-travel; I’d go back 60 or 70 years. I’d teleport myself into a company store. I’m really not much for shopping.

I’d rather take a hike.

Buy Less, Create More. 15 TIPS FOR CLEANING, ORGANIZING, FRUGAL LIVING, SAVING MONEY: TIP #1

But, I’d love to see the inside. Browse the commodities. Shop and look around. Put myself in shoes in one of our neighbors. Talk to ’em. Ask them real questions.

Peter Santanello does a phenomenonal job capturing life the Coalfields.

It was not long ago. This is one of the very last American societies to reach modern capitalism.

They were also one of the last communities to use the party-line calling system.

Technology Pulls Plug on Rural Party Lines : West Virginia

Go Forward

Seeing the opportunity. Following promises, hopes, and dreams. Money makes the world go ’round. Right?

Coal Mining in Appalachia

The old way or “the better way”: The path from simplicity to modern convenience.

Industrial Busy-Ness

After the Civil War; the industrialization of America began. Factories, Railroads, and business economy. In other words; busy-ness outside the home.

Who is Isaac T. Mann?

Born in 1863; about a month after West Virginia became a state. Isaac T. Mann was born in Greenbrier County.

I.T. Mann: A Bramwell Legend

He began his first job working as a teller at a bank. From there he climbed up the ranks inside financial institutions. He organized the Bramwell Bank; which floated out the largest Liberty Bond sum in the United States in WW1.

Selling World War I: “Buy Liberty Bonds!”

Before the war began; at the turn of the 19th Century. In 1901; I.T. Mann went to New York, and met with financier J.P. Morgan (present day: J. P. Morgan & Chase Co.) . The famed 7-minute meeting was a deal made for land acquisition.

J.P. Morgan Documentary:
How one man financed America

Isaac T. Mann was becoming prominent. Owning a chain of banks and land of natural resources; He was also president of the Pocahontas Fuel Company (present-day: Consol Energy).

The Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine, Pocahontas, Virginia

Life, Light, and Energy

Man has always required heat. Since the discovery of fire. Our bodies need kept warm.

Timber was used for centuries. The English discovered the new land had plenty of timber.

In 1754, a group of Pennsylvanian colonist bought land from Indians. They exploited anthracite coal. A natural resource right from under their own feet.

1776 American Revolution: Coal was used to help forge weapons for the Continental Army.

1810; In Pittsburgh; it was discovered that coal could be used to smelt iron ore.

1819; Known as the “Smoky City”; a cry for anti-pollution. Pittsburgh residents were forced to wear goggles.

1821; West Virginia ran an advertisement for workers.