FAMILIARIZATION (FAM) TOUR THROUGH TAZEWELL COUNTY

Between 2007 & 2008, familiarization (FAM) tours were taken by each of the seven participating counties to become more familiar with the proposed route through their county. Below is a review of what was seen on the tour through Tazewell County on November 5, 2007. Gathered at Southwest Virginia Community College, 8am.

Welcomed Coal Heritage Trail Committee

- Ginger H Branton, Chair, Tazewell County’s Tourism Committee and Coal Heritage Trail Committee
- Randy Rose, Development Specialist, Virginia Tourism Corporation

Traveled by Four-County Transit to Bramwell, West Virginia

Gathered at Bramwell, West Virginia’s Visitors Center-Old Restored Trail Station

Welcomed by Mayor Lou Stoker, Town of Bramwell and Christy Bailey, Executive Director, West Virginia Coal Heritage Trail

Historical presentation on the Coal Industry in the surrounding area (video) (mainly West Virginia)

Historical Narration by Lou Stoker

Toured Bramwell’s Museum

Traveled to Pocahontas

Welcomed by Amy Flick, Tour Guide, Pocahontas Exhibition Mine

Toured Exhibition Mine, Museum and Gift Shop

Historical presentation on the Coal Industry in Pocahontas and surrounding area (video)

Historical Narration by Tom Childress, Pocahontas Historical Society and Tazewell County’s Tourism Comm

Traveled to Bluefield, Virginia

Welcomed by June Brown, Director of Tazewell County’s Visitor’s Center and Graham Historical Society

Toured Saunder’s House

Historical Narration by Don Scott, Graham Historical Society and Tazewell County’s Tourism Committee

Traveled to Tazewell, Virginia

Welcomed by Charlotte Whitted, Executive Director, Historic Crab Orchard Museum

Toured Museum and Gift Shop

Historical Narration by Charlotte Whitted

Lunch compliments of Tazewell County’s Tourism Committee

Traveled to Richlands, Virginia

Welcomed by Ginger H Branton, Executive Director, Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce and Tazewell County’s Tourism Committee

Coal Miners’ Memorial

Historical Narration by Ginger H Branton

Traveled to Jewell Ridge, Virginia

Welcome by Dave Taylor, Jewell Ridge Historian, Ken Ratliff, Jewell Ridge Recreation and Development Corp and Jewell Ridge Fire Department

Toured Jewell Ridge Coal Camp and School

Historical Narration by Dave Taylor and Ken Ratliff

Took photo opportunity by newly installed Coal Heritage Trail sign

Also Do you need to add that the Coal Heritage Trail Committee traveled to Richlands to meet with Sec Gottshock and Alisha to talk about National Designation.  Just a thought.    January 16, 2008