A history of Wheelwright,
since 1917
Postcards, papers and photographs of Wheelwright from public archives, woven together by decade. Neighbors fill in the gaps.
The story
from WikipediaRead it all ↗Before the arrival of coal mining jobs, many locals lived by farming or logging. The land which would later become Wheelwright was owned by the Hall family. In 1916, the Halls sold their land to the Elk Horn Coal Company. That same year a post office was established with the name Wheelwright, named for the company's president at that time, Jere H. Wheelwright. The city was officially incorporated in 1917. Elk Horn leased its mines from the Consolidation Coal. In 1930, Consolidation sold the Wheelwright coal camp to Inland Steel. In 1966, Inland Steel sold the camp to Island Creek Coal. The mine closed in the 1970s. After the mine was abandoned, the Kentucky Housing Corporation purchased the town, rehabilitated the homes, and sold the homes to residents.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Timeline
built from the dates on the items belowFinish Wheelwright’s story
Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.
1 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old viewAfter the movies, snack bar at bo…, 1946: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10Famous people from Wheelwright
See all 2 →
Wheelwright, decade by decade
CommonsAfter the movies, snack bar at bowling alleys is crowded wi…1946
CommonsBaptist Church Choir, won district singing competition in 1…1946
CommonsBreakman and motorman at mine portal. Inland Steel Company,…1946
CommonsChanging shifts at the mine portal in the afternoon. Inland…1946
CommonsChanging shifts at the mine portal in the afternoon. Inland…1946
CommonsChoir of Methodist Church, Rev. Jackson is at extreme right…19461990s
1 historic place in Wheelwright
Wheelwright has 1 listing on the National Register, and they protect 16 historic buildings, because Wheelwright Commercial District alone counts 16.
Where they are
When they were listed
Then & now
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as After the movies, snack bar at bowling alleys is crowded with younger generation. Inland Steel Company, Wheelwright... … (1946) and it appears here side by side.
🔁 Retake this view · +15Stories next door
nearby towns’ historyFrom Wikimedia Commons (6). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.