Pocahontas Fuel Company Store and Office Buildings

The Pocahontas Fuel Company Store and Office Buildings is a two-story brick complex in Jenkinjones featuring symmetrical facades and classical design details. Connected structures include a company store with integrated post office on one side and separate administrative offices on the other, with concrete cornices and stone foundations throughout.

Architect Alex B. Mahood designed these buildings in 1917 for the Pocahontas Fuel Company, which had been established by Welsh entrepreneur Jenkin B. Jones. The project emerged during West Virginia's coal mining boom when the company was expanding operations and needed larger administrative facilities.

These buildings served as the central economic hub where mine workers could shop and where coal operations were managed from one location. The combination of retail and administrative functions under connected roofs shows how closely business and community life were intertwined in mining towns.

The buildings are located in Jenkinjones at the heart of the former coal mining settlement and are easily accessed from the main area. Visitors can view the exterior structures and architectural details from the street without requiring special equipment or arrangements.

The post office was directly integrated into the company store building rather than being a separate facility, reflecting how central the coal company was to local infrastructure. This arrangement allowed workers and residents to handle mail and shopping in one convenient location.

Location: West Virginia

Architects: Alex B. Mahood

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

GPS coordinates: 37.29110,-81.42360

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:02