Pocahontas Fuel Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coal mining, Shipping |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Fate | Purchased by Consolidation Coal Company in 1956 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Virginia, West Virginia, New England (shipping) |
| Products | Coal |
Pocahontas Fuel Company managed coal mining operations in Virginia (notably Boissevain and Amonate) and West Virginia (including Jenkinjones, Bishop, and Itmann). Established in 1907, it formed the Pocahontas Consolidated Collieries Company. In 1956, the firm was purchased by Consolidation Coal Company, which later became Consol Energy in 1991. Consol Energy continues to operate mining activities at Amonate. The company utilized the Norfolk & Western Railway to transport coal to shipping terminals, underpinning its maritime logistics.
Pocahontas Coalfield
The Pocahontas Coalfield covers regions within Mercer and McDowell Counties in West Virginia as well as Tazewell County, Virginia. Mining operations commenced in 1883 at Pocahontas Mine No. 1 located in Pocahontas, Virginia, now preserved as a historic landmark. The coal seams—Pocahontas No. 3, No. 4, No. 6, and No. 11—are recognized worldwide for their superior quality, with an energy output near 15,000 Btu/lb (35 MJ/kg), offering a significant competitive edge in the coal sector.
Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine
The Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine holds a place on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and was the inaugural sub-bituminous coal mine within the Pocahontas Coalfield. Opened for public tours in 1938, it stands as the first exhibition coal mine in the United States, showcasing the area's mining legacy and its importance to the coal industry.
Pocahontas Fuel Company Store
Situated in Jenkinjones, West Virginia, the Pocahontas Fuel Company Store along with its Office Buildings were designed by architect Alex B. Mahood and constructed in 1917. These facilities functioned as vital operational centers for the enterprise and were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, signifying their role within the company's corporate framework.
Pocahontas Steamship Company
Founded in 1915 in New York City, Pocahontas Steamship Company specialized in coal shipping services. Primarily operating collier vessels, it moved coal shipments from Norfolk, Virginia to ports throughout New England, servicing important industrial regions. During World War II, it played a key role by operating merchant marine ships under U.S. government charters. The company discontinued its operations in 1961.
World War II
Throughout World War II, Pocahontas Steamship Company supported wartime logistics by managing merchant vessels on behalf of the United States Shipping Board and collaborating with both the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. Company crews manned these ships while U.S. Navy Armed Guards provided defensive support, illustrating the company's integration into national wartime supply networks.
Ships
Prominent vessels within the Pocahontas Steamship Company's fleet included:
- Isaac T. Mann – a coal carrier named after a company director and financier.
- Freeman
- Joe Nancy
- Oakley L. Alexander (I) – lost during severe weather near Dyer Point in 1947.
- Oakley L. Alexander II (SS Laconia Victory) – a Victory-class ship.
- Lynchburg Victory – acquired in 1952 and converted into a collier of 7,828 gross tons under the name Pocahontas Fuel.
- Consolidation Coal – originally built as Redstone in 1945, this Type T2 tanker was acquired in 1958.
- SS William H. Machen – sank off New Hampshire following a collision in 1942.
- SS Bylayl – constructed in 1916.
These ships were central to the company's coal transportation strategy and contributed significantly to its maritime market presence.
See also
- Pocahontas Historic District
- Pocahontas Fuel Company Store (Maybeury, West Virginia)
- Pocahontas Fuel Company Store (Switchback, West Virginia)