Iaeger West Virginia: An Appalachian Coal Town in McDowell County
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- Опубликовано: 18 май 2022
- Iaeger West Virginia is near the heart of the nation's coal bin! To understand real Appalachia you have to start with coal and coal mining. Iaeger is located in McDowell County, West Virginia, and has roots in the timber and coal industries. Part of the unique melting pot that is Appalachia, Iaeger also has some interesting pre-Revolutionary War history which we uncovered in this trip exploring Appalachia!
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#Appalachia #WestVirginia #Coal 
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Thanks for watching! Where should we explore next? *UPDATE* Song Playlist in the description!
Would love for you to come do Haywood NC!!
Can you drive up through Roderfield and Big Sandy, towards Westchester? I have not been there in years and I miss my home so bad and would love to see what it looks like now!
Baileysville, WV in Wyoming County ....... Sand Lick Mountain in Raleigh County ..... THANKS !
Why not go to the panther state forest, do a drive thru of the place, I really miss being back there but Lord willing I'm moving back this year to work in the mines for my uncle
its all new to me. I think anywhere you choose could be interesting
Went to Iaeger hi school 1967-69 CUBS played football, the town was roaring back then, all those buildings had businesses in them. Had a couple of banks theater, a lot of money came through Iaeger.👉💰👈
My dad went to Iaeger High around that time. Ronnie Cline.
@@gojira5425 We played football together, we were best friends. We had some good times together. Ronnie was a class act back in those days, Mr. Cool.🏈😎
Wow, I'm surprised to find any videos about Ieager. My father's side of the family are all from Ieager and surrounding counties. Lots of stories come out of these counties. Wild bunch of relatives and their friends, lots of folks picking guitars and singing. Many happy memories of sitting on my Grandmammas' front porch watching all of these characters. Thanks for posting this video!
Sounds amazing !, I'm over in the uk and always fascinated by this way of life in the states. I come from a mining community in the north of england and we also suffered with the closures in the 80s . Still strong communities and folk so friendly . .
I actually come from a village in North East Wales called Gresford. I went down the pit in 1973, the following year it closed ,I went past the sealed mineshaft where in 1934, 266 men lost their lives, so perhaps being from Wales, we have a connect with West Virginia.🏴🇬🇧🏴
Good to hear from you! 👍🙂
A small town that helped build a huge part of US. Iaeger is a "BIG" roll in our history. Imagine the steel and other items, along with "ELECTRICITY" that came from all the coal that came from that small town. Also that Marathon Gas Station you passed, in the start of the video, belonged to my uncle Sam Butler's gas station. To that train engine should be sitting in Iaeger and not somewhere else, because the coal started from there! Great overhead footage, hurts me bad to see this town this way. Played a role in a big part of my life. God Bless you, love your video's! (Glen) WV.
Thanks for sharing this interesting history.
I agree with what Tony DiSalvo said.
Vote Democrat...and You'll see Much More of This....!!!!....
Where did the name originate?
My family comes from egerland.
Stalin erased it in 46.
@@marcruby5844 and yet all of these counties are run by republicans. typical right winger to complain and blame everybody else for his problems.
Thanks for the video of my hometown. I remember when I was a youngun we'd go to town once or twice a month and you would have to walk in the streets because the sidewalks were so crowded. Coal was always feast or famine.
My dad grew up in the house to the left of the junior high, he had 8 siblings. They are all gone now. He played football basketball and baseball for Ieager HS. He always said they taught the "Three R's" at Ieager HS, reading, 'riting, and the road to Roanoke
Lived in twin branch went to that place often
We will all be gone.
We lived across the road from the Jr. Hi School. I attended school there from 1953 to 1956.
@@calwolfe3094 did you know any Hammes'. Dad was the youngest of 8. Played football and basketball for the high school. Graduated around 1950
@@jonhammes6209
My dad was born in coal town and county seat Clintwood, VA. I, who was born and live in MN., have "hillbilly" roots that have been a part of my 71 years of life. The greatest gift my dad and my family in the hills of Virginia ever bestowed on me was the gift of southern hospitality; the overwhelming experience of love through being welcomed and well fed always warms the heart.
It sure does! Love that, thanks for watching!!
Another winner in your series of revealing Appalachian culture and its contribution to American history!
Thanks! & Thanks for watching!
I'm a history addict. I've Yankee roots but the Shenandoah Valley is my adopted home. I love to explore SW VA and WV coal country on my motorcycle. I have a deep appreciation for the fact that this region provided the raw energy and material that helped make the US the greatest country in the world. It saddens me to see however those formerly lively communities in coal country perishing. Love your channel. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, I really appreciate you watching!
I drove a delivery truck for 44 years in southern WV where I live and southwest VA. In the late 80s it took me 3-4 hours to deliver in downtown Iaeger! Things sure have changed! Enjoying your channel!
Yup they sure have changed and not for the better places like this definitely went to shit
My great grandma lived in Iaeger, as did my dad when he was little and from what my half sister tells me we still have cousins that live there.
"The Mine Wars", PBS, "American Experience". One of the most interesting, and educational shows I've ever seen! I've been a union, and non-union employee, and was completely engrossed in this program! Thanks for your travels and contributions to this incredibly important area of our country! ✌️
This is super educational and I am loving this channel. This part is irrelevant but my goodness- West Virginia is beautiful!
I took an economics class one time (1990’s), and the story of Ieager was actually a case study in the back of the book.
When I was younger, I traveled through Ieager often. I guess over time I have forgotten how Ieager looked. It was fascinating to see the old Ieager High School after all these years. Before moving from the McDowell area, my sister actually graduated from that very building. Thanks for bringing back those memories.
Great job!
Oh wow! So glad the video brought back memories for you 😊
My mom was from Iaeget
I spent several summers there and had a good time
My favorite aunt Laike Croziet taught at the old school. Mom left Iaeger for Florida where I was born and raised. Have not been to Iaeget in 40 years.
Sorry. Misspelled Iaeger twice. Nobody's perfect.
Laike Crozier taught there.
Walked those streets as a very young boy with my grandparents mid to late 70's if i remember correctly that hardware store was a Ben Franklin store. Great video sure did bring back some good memories.
Reminds me of a little place called Bates Hollow. It's in Upstate NY..its in Durham County, that's where you'll find lots of Irish families..there was actually a BAR up there called the DoDrop In!! 8 stools!! So authentic!! 1983..Great Year! I rode on the back seat of my man's '58 Panhead..rigid frame..stripped right down..those were the days. I could cry right now if I let myself. I'm so darn lucky I got to see all that. America. It was still America.
❤😊
Our newspaper mentioned the Matewan Massacre was today in 1920..
Sure was!
Used to drive by here on the way to Omar every summer as a kid. I used to read the billboards on the back of the brick buildings from across the river as we passed.
I feel like I’m watching a high quality history show. This series has incredible history and you have such an interesting and captivating way of talking about it all. The visual effects are amazing as well!! I loved seeing the old buildings there, such as the hotel. Fascinating.
Had a lot of great memories in Iaeger as a child. It's not what it once was but it'll definitely always be a special place. Great video
I grew up in the town right before Iaeger, Roderfield. Doesn't look like much but it was the best place in the world to grow up. Kids ran free with no worries. Such great times!
In 1979 I made deliveries to the Dairy Queen in town . This video brings back memories of driving my semi truck from Columbus, Ohio through southern West Virginia.
America the great as we can see in many of your videos. West Virginia is such a special place to explore and slow down a little bit. I always enjoy it anytime I drive through. Thanks bud 👍 for showing the real America 🇺🇸
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
i was raised all my life in Iaeger, our town is destroyed now, not really much left, you should have checked out guessesfork virginia near hurley they got flooded back in Aug 2021, alot of people lost their homes, they are just now getting it straightened up, but we suppose to get more rain so all the places that have flooded are in danger of flooding again, i enjoy your videos so glad you went through Iaeger, that was my school back in the day, it was alot nicer and so was our other schools, most have never even heard of our little town
Josh, your camera work and editing is first class... The music, and everything is as good if not better than large production companies... Great Job Brother... Extremely enjoyed it... God Bless... 😁👍👍❤❤❤
My parents were born and raised there in Iaeger. My parents graduated from that old high school. Thanks for driving through, I really need to go back for a visit. I used to have a subscription to The Industrial News and they delivered it to me in Michigan! I think they only printed a paper on Wednesday's
That's amazing!
Did you know JB and Laike Crozier on Hy 52?
I've lived in the area for nearly 21 years. Enjoyed picking out the buildings that I've worked on as a contractor. Thank you
Just got back from a trip to Washington DC via West Virginia. The beauty of this state is absolutely stunning. Traveling the small highways and roads off the major interstates is an absolute must for anyone who is a history buff. This place is incredible and easily rivals the larger moutainous states such as Colorado. There are 10 times the amount of roads and byways cutting through all of Appalachia which makes access to even the smallest of towns possible. Keep up the great work. If not for the hard working people of Appalachia there would have been no coal to fire the blast furnaces of the steel industry which inspired the entire Industrial Revolution and built great cities and infastructure all across America. Sadly there are people working overtime to destroy the entire coal industry and along with it an entire way of life. Dont let this happen. Appalachia deserves much better and its coal industry should be celebrated not demonized. Its a god damn shame.
It's unfortunate, but Appalachia- especially WV, East TN & KY have suffered from gross yellow journalism that has given such a derogatory misconception of the area. Many people simply are unaware of the region's beauty, and its wonderful people! I intend to contribute more objective cultural journalism with my work. Thanks for watching!
I agree with you, the beauty of this state is stunning. Best comment.
@@MountainRoots The beauty of this state is absolutely stunning.
So interesting. I'm am doing genealogical research on a line from Wayne County, West Virginia. It has sparked my interest in how hard life was in the coal mining families. They had a hard life, for sure.
Was down there 3 weeks ago for my wife’s family reunion. Beautiful hills but the ditches and streams are full of trash. Sad. Her family are a great bunch of people. How they build homes and get mobile homes into some of those “ hollows “ is beyond me. She is related to both the Hatfields and McCoys but mostly McCoys.
My Father was born in McDowell County WV in a little place called Jolo. I remember as a kid going from Big Rock, Buchanan county, Virginia to Jolo to visit my Granny. I had cousins and Aunts and Uncles there too. This would have been in the fifties. My family moved North when i was 12 but i will always remember with fondness of growing up there.
I’ve watched Iaeger go down hill for the past 52 years. It’s a sad thing but time marches on and you can’t stop it. We still go back to visit family. For some reason I love it, always have and always will.
Stayed on HY 52 and Tug River one summer long ago. Nice time!
Love it. There's my house and white van at the 1 minute 30 second mark.
Thank you for showing me the hollers I have been to only 1 holler in my life in Virginia and it was gorgeous. Because when I was younger I lived in North Ohio I truly enjoy your videos you're showing thank you so much please don't stop showing them. It's my way of seeing West Virginia Virginia Kentucky that you're going to I love it thank you
Loved the visual work in this one!!!!! 😍 So many interesting stories from this small town. Can’t wait for the next episode! This is such a good series!!
Thanks for watching!
Binging on your videos!! Worked in coal testing for AEP for just shy of 40 years. It saddens me to see these old mines and towns dying off or on life support. 😢 Keep up the good work. Maybe do some in Eastern/SE Ohio as well.
Trump brought back clean clean coal. Coal production is at its highest since the 1920 's.
My grandfather lived in this area of the country. Only had the chance to go there once in my lifetime about 15 years ago, but I wish I could have gone back before he passed. Thanks for making this video, brought back some memories!
You're welcome!
Sorry, but I'm a Yankee, but worked with a bunch of guys from WVA and KY and just really enjoy your series. I have 5 series I never miss and you're one of those five. Keep it rollin!!!
You're okay in my book, thanks for watching! 😉
Loved these videos Josh. I am a city kid (Brooklyn, NY) and I love the chance to explore this part of the country. So much - beauty (lush - foggy mountain tops) and so much history...and for years and years, coal kept the lights on and the cities bright. Keep making these videos...and a sidebar...the background music is great- credits? Again, thank you Sir.
I hope you got it into the woods.
That lil drone shot at 5:55 is stunning
As an eastern european, even though these towns seem depressingly empty, the tons of movies, series, videogames, stories etc. we’ve seen involving such towns, either comedy, horror or whatnot, made me see these kind of towns as incredibly interesting 😂
My grandmother, Mrs. Stella Call lived there a good part of her life until she passed away in 1974. I'd be willing to bet that most of her friends and acquaintances are gone too by now.
😔
I love old buildings and houses. I wish someone would restore them and put them to good use.
Watxhinthese videos is sk intriguing. Always loved seeing Lil towns like these, it's about history. It helps me appreciate so much and thank God for everything. From Nashville TN here.
Drove by Iaeger back in 2011 while on a solo motorcycle tour. Decided to take rt52 to head towards an over nite in Pikeville, ky. Left Bluefield VA at about 3pm in early October. What a mistake! As darkness fell, fatigue st in after an already long day. I was now driving on rt 52 in the dark, leap-frogging a huge coal train along the way. Suddenly I came upon the “downtown” of Iaeger on my right…..clearly looking abandoned, but still with some streetlites….and the wail of the train horn reverberating around the small valley.
Due to severe fatigue from riding nearly all day, the train horn and the sight of iaeger, I was struck with an eerie feeling…..
I later made Pikeville at about 10:30 pm….got into the hotel room, turned on the bathroom light and was stunned to see my face was nearly completely blackened from coal dust! I had been leap-frogging with that coal train for hours.
On the return trip about a week later, I decided to take the same route, Ute this time in the daytime. Stopped in Welch, met Tom Acosta, a local artist, and learned about what happened to Iaeger.
Motorcycle: Moto Guzzi 2001 California EV. I still have it 🤓
Great story! I know Tom, in fact he and my wife worked on some art projects back in the early 2000's. Still ride the bike much?
@@MountainRoots Now the bike is 20 years old....and I'm hitting 69 this summer. The bike is on-the-road and ready-to-roll....but as far as long-distance solo rides...ah, thinkin' twice about that at this point in my life. :) Tom was a very nice guy to talk with...he was painting a huge mural (of a clown?? or something like that?) in downtown Welch. He did direct me to some type of drive-in restaurant. I had fried cat-fish for lunch, served by a woman with a classic bee-hive hairdo :)
Iaeger was a strange experience...especially coming across it at night. The road was damn windy at points with hairpin turns, and my arms were killin' me from grippin' the handlebars for over 8 hours. Not fun to do that trip in the dark and deeply fatigued. The hairpins were tough because on the bike, you have to slow down to a crawl, almost at the point of tipping over :)
My hometown, Thanks for the video. Iaeger was a great place to grow up, time was definitely not kind to the area. I miss those hills and hollers.
We are from Brasil 🇧🇷Estamos te acompanhando. Sucesso pra ti.
Iaeger is what would probably be considered my grandmothers home town. She was the daughter of a coal miner and born in a cabin a mile or two north of town. I know her father worked at a few different mines and they moved to Welch eventually before ultimately moving out of state because her mother was very sick and needed medical treatment, but I would assume she went to the school you showed for at least a couple of years before they moved.
My mother was born In Iaeger 1920.
Sure is beautiful. I live in Alberta not far from the Rockies, and these mountains are just as beautiful in their own way!
My dad worked for N&W . Many of these small towns in West Va. I recall him talking about. Thanks for your videos and bringing these places a reality for me.
You’re travelogue is my day’s bright rainbow, Josh. Thanks.
I spent many summers in the Hill country of West Virginia, around the mining towns of Carolina and Ida May when I was a kid. I'm really enjoying these videos, a lot of people don't realize just how pretty it is out there.
Beautiful country! Thanks for watching!
I 100% believe in my past life i Lived in Appalachian i have dreams about it. i'v never been there but for some reason i, drawn to it and feel the need to go there. i watch every thing i can on it and look at every video and photo.i feel a pull. but i was born in N.W, Arkansas. im now 61 and still feel the pull to even just go have a look. to see what i see.
Perhaps the mountains are calling?
I enjoyed this. Completely different world to Brisbane Australia. Thanks for sharing.
Just signed on, MR. Beautiful landscapes! Even nicer than where I live in central TN. Our one great blessing: we have 30 varieties of trees, and so the hillsides look like bouquets of shades and shapes of green.
Love Tennessee!
I was born in Iaeger West Virginia in 1958. Old Man Doctor Clark delivered me. At Clark Clinic in Iaeger West Virginia. Vonna,(Vonner), Jean Brumfield was my mom.
I remember watching the coal trains coming through English day and night when I was a kid in the 70s. It’s amazing how McDowell co has deteriorated now
Beautiful country.
The Appalachian towns are so eerie... Love the video!
Some are, thanks for watching!
I lived and grew up by the tug river at a place called Hagers' Curve. The curve on rt 52 is located between Roderfield and Wilmor. This is where my people were for several generations. I traveled along the tug on rt 52 everyday to and from school in Iaeger. From 2nd grade till 9th I spent a lot of miles along that stretch of Appalachia. In the late 60's and 70's it was a busy road, full of cars, coal trucks, log trucks and all other sorts of transportation.
Though this video was a short drive by, it brought back memories of a place, that during the hay day was full of people and businesses. Seeing the school was powerful, and despite its sad state of condition now, it was staffed by great teachers, and coaches. It was a place that changed lives. It gave kids the tools to go out into the world and be successful..I'm forever grateful for those people and that place..
thanks so much for shining a light on McDowell County, their are a million great untold stories there..
I love this!..."a million untold stories" indeed.
I'm a neighbor in VA ! W. VA is a beautiful state ! Ben to w.VA several time, loved the people & state ! Best wishes to you all !
Me too. Resident of the beautiful country of Tazewell County. Nestled between the 33 miles of the Back of the Dragon and the back side of McDowell Co WV. God Blessed this entire area when He had His designs down for this community... especially Burke's Garden.
My great grandfather founded the vfw here awesome men i just moved from iaeger 2 months ago
Good video with a good balance of music and voice. I am a West Virginian ( Cherry Falls) and have never been to this town. Thanks to your video I now feel like I have a connection to this town. If buildings could talk.😃
Great video! I agree with L D, it would be interesting to hear talk about their towns & what it means to them.
i did enjoy the drone shots and i loved hearing the history. I hadn't realized so much happened in the places you visited. Thanks for filming!
What a great video.Thanks for all the beautiful scenery shots and history
Thank You for everything you're doing.
Thank you for another most interesting and informative video. I think next time I visit the US I will have to make the journey to this part of the country.
Love your videos, grew up in Wyoming Co. Left when I joined the navy truly can never leave the hills they are always tugging at your heart
West Virginia is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Always feels like home even though NC born and raised. The state park system is one of the best.
Truly is, thanks for watching!
An interesting and well-documented video of Iaeger WV! Very well narrated! Thank You!
Josh my son is a Rail Road Signal Man is Iager, he bumped a guy to take the Signal Maintainers position over around Rich Creek Virginia, he couldn’t wait to come back to Iager, didn’t care much for the folks down that way in Virginia, I’ll put MacDowell County people against any in the world, I called on McDowell County for 35 1/2 years,Love those people.
I would love to walk through the old school I love going through old places like that…thanks for sharing good vlog 👍
Thanks so much for your work! Very enjoyable.
Great video. Thank you for sharing. We lived up by Wilmore Dam. Loved it, loved the people. So many memories. God Bless
I enjoyed every minute of this
Great video! Thanks for sharing parts of North America with us 🙂
Thank you for wonderful video. I just subscribed. Keep them coming 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for the tour!
Another nice video.....Thanks for sharing!
Great video,thanks from bring us with and sharing ,very cool ,big hugs from MN
Great job! Very enjoyable
Thank you!
Amaizing views, a piece of history and fantastic music. The red firefighter truck was beautiful. Thank you
My grandma was raised here I drive through every now and again it hurts my heart to see the way it’s deteriorating. I wish there was a way to preserve all the buildings and bring life back to this little town that used to be booming
Love your videos. I am from Jolo WV and I went Ieager High School in the mid to late 80s.
Great video thank you for posting it
Enjoyed your video, from there . Brought back lots of memories! Still a beautiful place.Loved the music also.
Beautiful!
Gosh darn it. I want to go camping in those mountains
Nice video. My grandfather and father were from Morgantown. I grew up in coal country.
Brilliant Vid. I actually felt like i was there driving along in the car with you.
Great video bro ! Keep up the good work!
Cool to see someone head deep into Appalachia and explore it. Ive only been on the highways so its nice to see some history.
Awesome!!!👍😎🇨🇦
Hello mate. Sitting over here in the uk after watching a few of your videos. I’m
Used to the bbc and David Attenborough documentary’s. But your channel is very cool. Thank you for taking the time to educate me. I’m gonna grab a beer and keep watching.
I enjoyed this and the background music was perfect.
Enchanting
Please visit everyplace possible. It is so beautiful!