Bramwell was established in 1883 and became incorporated in 1888. The town was named for its first postmaster, J. Herbert Bramwell, superintendent of the Flat Top Coal Company (later the Pocahontas Land Corporation), the land-leasing firm that established the town as its headquarters on a bend of the Bluestone River in 1885. Bramwell quickly became a business center for the Pocahontas Coalfield and a hub of southern West Virginia’s financial network with the opening of the Bank of Bramwell in 1889. By 1909, the Bluefield Daily Telegraph had dubbed Bramwell the ‘‘Coalfield Capital.’’
In the town’s bustling heyday, passenger trains stopped 14 times a day. Bramwell was home to numerous wealthy coal operators who built substantial late Victorian mansions there, including Edward Cooper, W. H. Thomas, Philip Goodwill, and Isaac T. Mann, the founder of the Bank of Bramwell and the Pocahontas Fuel Company. Once considered the ‘‘richest small town in America,’’ Bramwell enjoyed an exclusive, prosperous status until the Bank of Bramwell closed in 1933 during the Great Depression. The Bank would reopen in 2007 for a short time. The Bank hosts tours and can be used as an event venue or vacation suite. Visit bramwellrentals.com if interested in staying in this piece of WV history!
Welcome to Mercer County!
Mercer County is nestled deep in the heart of Appalachia. We hope that as you travel through our county on this geocaching adventure that you will love it as much as we do! Consider this another invitation to come and relax in Mercer County!
Along this geocaching adventure you will find yourself in a town that was once home to more than 14 millionaires, one that helped move over 40 million tons of coal during World War I, another that houses the first site of the WV Civil War Trail, and one where school was “normal”. You will also have stops at our State Parks, Pinnacle Rock and Camp Creek. Take in all their beauty and what they have to offer.
There is much to do in Mercer County so please visit our website at http://www.visitmercercounty.com to download the Geocaching Form for this series. The first 50 to complete will receive a gift from the Mercer County CVB. You can also find us on Facebook and we would love for you to upload some pictures as you cache. Good luck and most of all have fun!
We are glad you are here and hope to see you again soon!