On March 13, 1883, the first train to Pocahontas, Va., arrived after traveling the newly completed 75-mile New River extension on the Norfolk & Western Railway.

This 1884 photo shows miners from Pocahontas, Va. To meet labor needs, mining companies often traveled to Ellis Island, N.Y., to recruit.

Two miners from Algoma, W.Va., take time for dinner.

An unidentified Pocahontas coalfield operator stands by mule-driven carts of coal. The first coalfield operators served as engineer, mine superintendent, landlord,
"mayor" and troubleshooter.

Red Perdue, mine inspector from West Virginia University, stands with miners before conducting a routine safety inspection.