1958 — Oct 28, Oglebay Norton’s Burton coal mine gas explosion, near Craigsville, WV–14

–14 Hanna, Pat. “Born out of tragedy.” The Register-Herald, Beckley, WV. 10-25-2008.
–14 United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the [US]. “Oglebay-Norton…”
–14 WV Archives & History. “On This Day in West Virginia History…Oglebay Norton’s…”
–14 WV Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present.

Narrative Information

Hanna: “….[On] Saturday…a memorial was dedicated to the families and communities that lost loved ones in an explosion 50 years ago at Oglebay-Norton’s Burton Mine (commonly known as Richwood Sewell), which was located in a remote area along the Gauley River in Nicholas County.

“Fourteen miners died in the accident. Three who were underground and 37 others who were working on the surface side of the explosion survived.

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States: A list of 13 of the 14 victims can be found at the USMRA site noted below in Sources.

West Virginia Archives & History: “On October 28, 1958, an explosion at the Oglebay Norton’s Burton coal mine in Nicholas County resulted in the deaths of fourteen miners.”

Sources

Hanna, Pat. “Born out of tragedy.” The Register-Herald, Beckley, WV. 10-25-2008. Accessed 1-26-2023 at: https://www.register-herald.com/news/local_news/born-out-of-tragedy/article_a5869bc1-0fc3-5135-b772-3acc8b579f64.html

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Oglebay-Norton Coal Company Burton Mine Explosion, Craigsville, Nicholas County, West Virginia, October 28, 1958. Accessed 1-26-2023 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/burton_news_only.htm

West Virginia Archives & History. “On This Day in West Virginia History…October 28, 1958 Oglebay Norton’s coal mine…” Accessed 1-26-2023 at: https://archive.wvculture.org/history/thisdayinwvhistory/1028.html

West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present. MHS&T, October 9, 2008 update. At: http://www.wvminesafety.org/disaster.htm