The Monongah Mine disaster occurred on December 6, 1907 and has been described as the worst mining disaster in American history. An explosion thought to have been caused by the ignition of methane ignited the coal dust in mines number 6 and 8, killing hundreds of workers.
Mannington is famous for its oil and gas boom in 1889. Dr. Israel C. White, a well known geologist, gathered enough support to begin drilling. In late 1889, real estate prices rose 100% in two days. Mannington would soon become one of the largest oil fields in the state of West Virginia. Dr. White also pushed for natural gas exploration in this area which was the main reason behind Mannington's period of growth. After the 1929 stock market crash, people began leaving town as demand was severely down.
View of the building's interior, where men and women shop workers pose behind the store counters. The building, believed to be built in 1884, was still standing at the time the caption was written.
From left to right is Marie Shaffer, Gene Lee, Pearl Morris, H. M. Rogers, Bill Tidwell, Tommy and Tommy Leeper. Leeper helped build the store and then spent the rest of his life working in it.
