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Wise County Photograph Albums, ca. 1890, Accession #11074, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
This collection consists of two bound photograph albums containing 96 sepia-tone albumen prints (19 x 24 cm), ca. 1890, of scenes in Wise County, Virginia, primarily in the immediate vicinity of Big Stone Gap and Stonega. (The dating was partly established by the absence of automobiles or other motor vehicles.) The photographs may have been taken by a photographer or construction engineer for the Southern Railroad (then called the South Atlantic & Ohio), which was completed through Big Stone Gap in 1890. Many of the scenes are of railroads, yards and maintenance facilities, bridges and tunnels, as well as cuts and related geological features. More likely, given the fact that the captions were typed and the photographs professionally mounted and bound, and include the natural beauty, people and industries of the region in general, they may have been prepared as a "promotional video" to attract business and industry. Aside from the captions, which are given verbatim below, there is no identification of the subject matter or the photographer.
Included are a number of photographs of people, both individuals and groups, and including African-Americans. Given the premise above, the people depicted include both officials, workers, and their families, as well as various local business or social groups and organizations. A number of the photographs of people were taken in front of their homes, which affords the opportunity to also study the local architecture and the condition of the housing, as well as personal details such as dress.
Copy negatives have been made of all of the photographs in
the albums, and are filed in negative collection Pnts-162.
Photographic copies may be made from the negatives by citing
the negative collection and the item number, ie: "Pnts-162
item 7."
1. "The Gap" Big Stone Gap, VA.
2. "Big Stones" In River, Big Stone Gap.
3. Mountain Scene, in "The Gap".
4. A Few More Big Stones.
5. Powell River, Looking Down Gap.
6. Powell River, In Gap.
7. "Bee Rock", One of the Big Stones of the Gap.
8. Another View of Bee Rock.
9. A Whole Mountain of Rock, in the Gap.
10. Bee Rock.
11. View of Rocks in Powell River.
12. Coke Ovens, Stonega, VA.
13. Coke Ovens, Stonega.
14. A Few of the Natives of Stonega.
15. A Few More of Them.
16. A Few Visitors at Stonega.
17. Portion of the Town of Stonega.
18. Natural Tunnel, Virginia, Entrance Southern End.
19. Natural Tunnel, Mouth Southern End.
20. Natural Tunnel, Looking Out From Tunnel, Southern
End.
21. Natural Tunnel, Mouth Southern End.
22. "Pulpit Rocks" at Natural Tunnel.
23. Natural Tunnel, Amphitheatre.
24. Natural Tunnel, Mouth Northern End.
25. Natural Tunnel, Entrance Northern End.
26. Natural Tunnel, Amphitheatre.
27. Natural Tunnel, Amphitheatre.
28. View From Top of Natural Tunnel, "Green Fields of
VA."
29. Natural Tunnel, Entrances Two Tunnels, Southern End.
30. Natural Tunnel, Mouth southern End.
31. Natural Tunnel, Entrance Northern End.
32. Group Visitors and Natives, Top Natural Tunnel.
33. A Typical "Sager's" Outfit, Top Natural Tunnel.
34. Powell River, Above Extract Works.
35. Swinging Bridge, Powell River.
36. Old Beech Trees.
37. More Old Beech Trees.
38. A Virginia Homestead.
39. Family Party for Thanksgiving Dinner.
40. Intermont Hotel, Big Stone Gap.
41. Residence General Ayers, Big Stone Gap.
42. Our First Home in Dixie.
43. As It Is Now.
44. Moonshiner's Cabin, Virginia.
45. The Moonshiner.
46. Virginia Sheriff, Mounted.
47. Sheriff and Deputy, Mounted.
48. A Virginian at His Favorite Occupation.
49. Extract Works Site, Looking Westward.
50. Extract Works, Barrel House Frame.
51. Tenement Houses, Extract Works.
52. Extract Works, Leach House Frame.
53. Extract Works, Leach House Frame.
54. Extract Works, Leach House Frame.
55. Pan House Foundation.
56. Barrel House and Leach House.
57. Boiler House Excavation.
58. Water Supply Ditch.
59. Interior Leach House.
60. General View of Plant.
61. Interior Leach House.
62. Water Supply Ditch.
63. Interior Water Supply Ditch.
64. Coffer Dam at End Water Supply Ditch.
65. Water Ditch.
66. Putting in Last Piece Pipe Water Ditch.
67. Extract Works, Main Engine.
68. Pan House Walls.
69. Boiler House Walls.
70. General View of Works.
71. View of Extract Works and Tannery.
72. A Few of Our Builders.
73. A Few More of Our Builders.
74. Partially Completed Coal Trestle and Stack.
75. General View Showing Buildings and Railroad Yard.
76. Pan House Pumps.
77. [unidentified railroad wayside]
78. Vacuum Pans.
79. Interior Chipper Shed.
80. Darkies in Water Supply Ditch.
81. Just a General View.
82. Darktown Lodge of Oddfellows.
83. Darktown Lodge Good Samaritans.
84. Picnic Group, Natural Tunnel.
85. Another Picnic Group, Natural Tunnel.
86. A "Happy Family" Group.
87. Our First Christmas Party in Dixie.
88. Just a Plate Wasted.
89. Extract Works, Boiler House.
90. Extract Works, Pan House Walls.
91. Extract Works, Completed Plant.
92. [unidentified house]
93. [unidentified house]
94. [unidentified family group]
95. [unidentified professional group]
96. Two Virginia Belles.