Singer and songwriter Bill Withers grew up in the coal mining community of Slab Fork. Part of his experience there is immortalized in his song “Lean On Me,” said Rachel McBride, representative of the Coal Heritage Trail and promoter of West Virginia tourism.

“The song is about the camaraderie of growing up in a coal camp; people had to lean on each other to survive,” she said.

Beaver Coal now hopes to preserve that camaraderie and rich heritage by renovating company homes in Slab Fork and creating weekend rentals, called Coal Camp Getaways, for tourists to experience the coal camps while taking advantage of area recreation.

“Tourists who come to Burning Rock or come to raft, bike, hike or climb, can stay in these turn-of-the-century houses,” McBride said.

At an open house Thursday, Beaver Coal general manager Woody Duba showed off the first fully remodeled rental house. “This house was built around 1908,” he said, “and has gone through a great transformation over the last two months.”

This first house will be a trial rental property, and depending on the success, more may be remodeled, McBride noted. The home has its original fireplace and can sleep up to six, eight with the addition of a sleeper sofa.

Randy Horten not only grew up in the house that was remodeled, he spent 47 years living there. His grandfather came to Slab Fork and cut the right-of-way for the road into the town. His family worked at the mine from the time it opened.

“I think what they have done to the place is wonderful. I am glad to see this town go back on the map,” he said.

Duba stated that “with the Boy Scouts coming in, and because of the importance of our coal heritage, anything we can do to provide some kind experience to the rest of the world about what happened in West Virginia and how West Virginians lived would be just a plus for our state.”

McBride pointed out that “being a part of the Coal Heritage Trail, I see so many coal camps that have just vanished. Tams, where Burning Rock is now, used to have more people than the entire town of Beckley. Tams had around 3,000 people and now there is nothing left from that era. By renovating these homes, we are able to keep a part of our heritage alive.”

David Sibray, member of the Raleigh County Historic Landmarks Commission, stated that “this is exactly the sort of economic development the county landmarks commission is working to support. Instead of tearing down grandma’s house, we can support the economy by employing craftsmen to restore it while preserving a piece of our cultural history.”

— E-mail:

splummer@register-herald.com