COMPANY STORES

A postcard view shows the store of the Washington Coal and Coke Company in the patch town of Star Junction (founded 1893-1894), Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The postcard is unused, so the age of the photograph is uncertain. A local told me that the large building in the center of the town view, postmarked 1911, was also the company store. The two structures look quite different to me. Store buildings had the habit of burning down back then, so one structure might have been a replacement for the other? The railroad line passing by the store is the present pathway of PA State Route 51, and a gas station now occupies the site of the store. Nonetheless, many of the houses are still occupied, although only a handful of the 999 beehive coke ovens remain from the town's glory days as a coal and coke producer.

A postcard view shows the company store of the New River and Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Company in Berwind, WV. The store architecture was unique with only several like it ever constructed. The only remaining example is in Whipple, WV but in a sorry condition. N.R. & P. was a subsidiary of the Berwind White Mining Company, which was also the second operator of Kaymoor in the New River Gorge. If you look closely at the town view, you can see the company store in the background peeking over company houses next to the office building.

Fonde, Ky

I have found a few more pics of the Pruden store. My assumption is these were taken around the late 40s to mid 50s. One is of the front and the other of the back of the store where the gas pumps are.