Old Coke Ovens on Fire Creek, West Virginia (New River Gorge National Park)

Some of the oldest coke ovens in the New River Coalfield are located along the New River at Fire Creek, West Virginia, and were operated by the Fire Creek Coal & Coke Company. The Fire Creek coal town was established in 1877 and operated until the mid-1940's. Coking ended in the 1930's. Twice in this video, I incorrectly stated that these coke ovens haven't been used in 100 years; in fact, they haven't been used in over 80 years. The town, despite the end of coal operations in the 1940's throughout the New River Gorge, survived until the mid-1950's when it was finally abandoned.
Fire Creek is about a four mile (one way) hike from Thurmond.
The main ruins of Fire Creek are the coke ovens, although some remnants of the powerhouse building, tipple, and house foundations can be found scattered both down and up river of the coke ovens. The video includes several old photos of Fire Creek, particularly various views of the coke ovens while they were in operation.
An excellent history of Fire Creek can be found at this link:
theclio.com/en...

[@paulmcdaniel3782]

My father grew up in Fire Creek. As a kid, they would pay him to clean out those coke ovens. I have been searching for any kind of map that might show the layout of the town and tracks back in the day. Are you aware of any such map?

[@WebsterHighlanders]

There is 1932 topographical map of the area at this link (best one I could find of Fire Creek--it looks like the vast majority of structures were on each side of the Creek): ngmdb.usgs.gov/img4/ht_icons/overlay/WV/WV_Beckley_253332_1932_62500_geo.jpg
The WVU photo archives have nearly 100 photos of Fire Creek you might be interested in (showing all types of residences, company buildings, depot, tipple, etc.): wvhistoryonview.org/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search_field=all_fields&q=fire+creek

[@ultimateicon2010]

Amazing. Really good video, excellent narration.

[@paultrimble9390]

Good fishing up there.

[@johnremy9065]

Right across the river from Fire Creek is Rush Run . The C&O use to have tracks that ran down that side of the New River. Rush Run was one of many coal communities along that side of the river. There are coke ovens in that area as well like the ones in Fire Creek

[@sbennettyt]

Wondering if the missing faces were robbed to use the stone for construction elsewhere. Otherwise they would still be there?