"SHINBRIER" ALMOST HEAVEN by "dizzy" harris. 

  • "SHINBRIER" ALMOST HEAVEN by "dizzy" harris
  • NISWANDER FAMILY OF SHINBRIER
  • SHINBRIER PAGE TWO
  • SHINBRIER PAGE THREE
  • COOPERS
  • MILL CREEK COAL & COKE COMPANY STORES & TIPPLES
  • MILL CREEK C&C TUG COMMUNITY
  • HARRIS FAMILY OBITS
  • BLUESTONE WEST VIRGINIA
  • McDOWELL & MERCER COUNTIES COAL DISASTERS
  • COAL & RAIL
  • POCAHONTAS PAGE ONE
  • POCAHONTAS PAGE TWO
  • BOISSEVAIN
  • MAYBEURY
  • COALDALE
  • SOME FAVORITE PHOTOS
  • ISAAC BELL CEMETERY - SHINBRIER, WV
  • LANDMARK BIBLE CHURCH - COOPERS WV
  • CHARLES CROCKETT BELL OBITUARY
  • SHINBRIER'S LOG HOME by BILL ARCHER
  • SHINBRIER-COOPERS HORSESHOE LEAGUE 1945
  • SHINBRIER COUSINS & FRIENDS 1945
  • BOBBIE JO CASEY OBITUARY
  • 1944 PAY ENVELOPE FOR EARL BELCHER
  • GILFORD CORNER JR - SHINBRIER BOY REDISCOVERS HIS ROOTS
  • VICTOR & RUBY BELL HENDERSON
  • EDITH HARRIS BUTT & SON
  • DWIGHT HILL - SHINBRIER'S SINGING SON
  • HARRIS GROCERY - SHINBRIER, WV
  • SHINBRIER'S BEER TAVERN
  • SHINBRIER COOPERS LADIES 1956
  • PRINCESS BELL
  • GRANNY WIMMER - MATRIARCH OF SHINBRIER MOUNTAIN
  • SHINBRIER - COOPERS MEN IN WW 2
  • 1924 SHINBRIER - COOPERS SCHOOL STUDENTS
  • COOPERS CEMETERY - COOPERS, WV
  • 1927 SHINBRIER - COOPERS SCHOOL STUDENTS
  • COOPERS METHODIST CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 1927
  • DAVID BELL & ELIZABETH BELL MORAN

Home

Rainbow's End

That is where you will find Shinbrier

Shinbrier, a curve in the road and a mountain situated midway between Bramwell and Coopers, Mercer County, WV. Before Shinbrier was developed it was covered with shin high brier bushes. Folks passing through this area would often have their shins cut and scratched by these bushes. Can you guess how Shinbrier got its name?

"SHINBRIER GANG"

 

Third and fourth grades at the old Coopers-Shinbrier School, 1924. Recognize anyone?
Among the faces are Elbert Harris, Lois Harris, Garleen Miller, Hazel Miller, Lewis Bell, Howard Bell, Mary Bell, Spot Niswander and teacher, Bernice Brown.

SHINBRIER LINKS

  • 1924 SHINBRIER - COOPERS SCHOOL STUDENTS
  • 1927 SHINBRIER - COOPERS SCHOOL STUDENTS
  • 1944 PAY ENVELOPE FOR EARL BELCHER
  • COOPERS CEMETERY - COOPERS, WV
  • COOPERS METHODIST CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 1927
  • DWIGHT HILL - SHINBRIER'S SINGING SON
  • EDITH HARRIS BUTT & SON
  • GILFORD CORNER JR - SHINBRIER BOY FINDS HIS ROOTS
  • GRANNY WIMMER - MATRIARCH OF SHINBRIER
  • HARRIS GROCERY - SHINBRIER, WV
  • ISAAC BELL CEMETERY - SHINBRIER, WV
  • LANDMARK BIBLE CHURCH - COOPERS WV
  • PRINCESS BELL
  • SHINBRIER - COOPERS LADIES 1956
  • SHINBRIER - COOPERS MEN IN WW 2
  • SHINBRIER'S BEER TAVERN
  • VICTOR & RUBY BELL HENDERSON

RAY T NISWANDER MEMORIAL - 29 PHOTOS

JAMES EDWARD and JULIA STOWERS BELL

James is the son of Isaac and Nancy Shrader Bell. Julia is the daughter of Andrew and Polly Mary Terry Stowers.

JAMES AND JULIA PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LEWIS BELL FAMILY OF SHINBRIER AND YVONNE BELL BOOZ.

HENRY CLAY BELL

 Henry Clay Bell, son of James and Julia Stowers Bell. Henry made his home at Coaldale, Mercer County, West Virginia

 

Among the earliest settlers of this area was Isaac Bell. Isaac came to this area, which would become known as SHINBRIER. He purchased 400 acres of land from a Mr. Witten in 1848, and in 1850 and 1855 he received two large land grants for his service in the War of 1812. These land grants totaled 160 acres. Isaac had married Nancy Shrader in 1824 and they had five children, all boys.

David
James
John
Benjamin
Samuel

Many of the area residents are descended from these original Bell families.
 
EMILY & SARAH BELL
DAUGHTERS OF JAMES EDWARD AND JULIA STOWERS BELL

 

Daughters of James Edward and Julia Stowers Bell. Emily married Willam Mabe, Jr. Sarah married James Frank Mabe.

Emily and Sarah are the granddaughters of Isaac and Nancy Shrader Bell.

EMILY - LEFT
SARAH - RIGHT 

Positive identification of Henry furnished by E. HAROLD BURLESON, descendant of Henry Clay and Julia Belcher Bell. THANK YOU

OTHER CHILDREN OF JAMES AND JULIA STOWERS BELL

James Edward Bell, Jr.
George Washington Bell
Mary Amanda Bell
Benjamin Bell
John Bell
Nancy E. Bell
Charles Crockett Bell
Causby Jane Bell
PHOTOS FURNISHED BY ARTHUR DAVIDSON
AND
EVELYN "EVIE" THOMPSON
                                                                                                                                                             
  CAUSBY JANE BELL HILL - WIFE OF ARIES HILL - DAUGHTER OF JAMES AND JULIA BELL
  
PROMINENT FAMILY NAMES OF SHINBRIER

Bell
Belcher
Harris
Tabor
Miller
Shrader
Martin
Byrd
Costina
Niswander
Buckner
Musick
Corner
Wagner
Gullion
Allen
Cook
Butt
Tackett
Godbey
Blankinship
Yates
Fuller
Moore
Radford
Moran
Simpkins
Henderson
Fudge
Ross
Morrissette
French
Ryder
Stykes
Stanger
Cunningham
Adams
Poston
Diaco
Wimmer
The centerpieces of Shinbrier included the Harris Grocery Store, Beer Tavern, Baseball Field, Blue Hole Swimming Spot, Shinbrier-Coopers School House, Bell Log Home, Gullion, Moran, Fuller and Bell Cemeteries.

HARRIS GROCERY

 "Jess" Harris - Long time owner of Shinbrier's Harris Grocery. Jess is pictured on porch of store.

The grocery store was originally owned and operated by the Miller family. Ownership was passed to the Harris family. Elbert and Walter "Rat" Harris formed a partnership in this business. It became known as the Harris Brothers Grocery.
The partnership was disolved in 1942 and sole ownership passed to "Rat" Harris. Eventually ownership passed to Jess and Elizabeth Harris. Jess being the older brother of Elbert and "Rat".

Store serviced the area for many years. Elizabeth was helped by the "Buckner Girls" in its operation. It eventually was abandoned, vandalized and burned.

Many a RC Cola and Chess Pie were consumed at this store. The school bus stop was in front of the store and every morning the children would line up with their pennies and nickels and parade past the "CANDY COUNTER".

MARTHA LYN FUDGE WRITES

"I grew up beside Harris Grocery, Elizabeth and Jess were like my grandparents.......I have so many wonderful memories growing up in Shinbrier. I still have the old rolltop desk that I sat on so often when Jess did his billing."
AUDREY WILLIAMS SLUSS WRITES
 

 My family lived in the big white house beside Harris grocery for nearly 20 years. My     mother Dorothy "Phyllis" Williams Graham rented from Jess and Elizabeth Harris until she sold the home after moving to Fl with her son. Names were Dorothy "Phyllis" Williams Graham and children Linda Williams Perkins, Barbara Williams Dunn, Herbert Williams, Randall Williams, Kathy Williams Faulkner, Terry Williams White, David Williams, Audrey Williams Sluss, Michelle Williams Myers, Tonya Williams and Rhonda Sue Graham.   Many good memories of the Harris' and that store.

 

HUGH L. HILL WRITES

"I was born and raised on Bramwell Hill, the son of Jess Hill, and remember the many, many times my mother, younger brother Lindy and I walked from our home to the store when it was Millers Store and also after your family bought it. It was something we truly looked forward to, no matter how far we had to walk to get to the store and to climb the mountain to get back home. The penny candy, ice cream and Nehi-pop still make me wish I could live those days over again. My favorite Nehi was grape and strawberry. We did not have much money but our credit must have been good because, as well as I can remember, our list was always filled with lots of smiles and courteous service.
     George Webster was the teamster in that area. With his wagon and two horse team he made deliveries of coal, groceries and anything else that called for his services.
     My favorite time of the year was July 4th, because that was the one time a year we got a case of pop---24 bottles for $1.20---and a 3 gallon container of ice cream packed in dry ice. We always ran out the road to meet Mr. Webster as soon as we spotted him coming and escorted him to our door and helped him unload the unbelievable goodies he had brought us. There was eleven of us and, although it was a once a year treat, it did not last nearly long enough and it was all gone and our hopes turned to July 4th next year.
I now live in Columbus [Gahanna] Ohio and have for the last 41 years but I wish I was still a small boy living on Bramwell Hill and still walking off the mountain to the HARRIS GROCERY STORE.
One summer evening my mother, Lindy and I had gone to the HARRIS GROCERY STORE, and it got dark before we started back home. We walked to the swinging bridge, crossed over and walked the railroad tracks to the point where we went up through the woods to the top of Bramwell Hill. My mother had a flashlight and naturally Lindy and I were barefooted. We were in front of mama when she let out a big scream, it scared the heck out of us. We turned and she was shining her flashlight on two copperheads we had just stepped over. Mama calmly killed them and we continued our climb up the hill. We were probably six and seven at the time, so I suppose we didn"t know enough to be scared. That little tale was the subject of discussion for quite awhile I expect."

Sincerely
Hugh L. Hill
 

"DIZZY" HARRIS

 Pictured is Dizzy Harris on pony in front of Harris Grocery. Dizzy is the son of Elbert Lee Harris, Jr. and Thelma Louise Phelps Harris.

SHINBRIER BEER TAVERN

 The beer tavern was a favorite social gathering spot for many of the local residents. It was operated by Mabel Bell and by "Casey" and Garleen Miller Harris at different times in its history. "Casey" and Garleen were the parents of John, Russell and Ruthie Harris.

 shinbrier_almost_heaven_by_dizzy_harris/shinbriers_beer_tavern

COOPERS-SHINBRIER POST OFFICE

 The post office that serviced the Shinbrier-Coopers area was a one room wood frame building. Mrs. Thomas O'neil was postmaster there for many years. She retired early and Florence Lyons assumed the duties. She worked until the last day of its operation, March 2, 1973. Edith Harris Butt also served here on a temporary basis. Shinbrier folks walked here daily to "FETCH" their mail.

ELBERT AND DORA HARRIS

 Pictured is Elbert Lee Harris, Sr. and Dora Jane Bell Harris. Lifelong residents of Shinbrier, their marriage produced seventeen children.

TRAGEDIES AT SHINBRIER ~ COOPERS

Charles Monroe Turner, Jr drowned in Blue Hole July 10, 1941.

Sherman Egar Harris struck and killed by train in Coopers - Bluestone Tunnel Sept. 30, 1955. Researched by Earl Sherman Belcher.

Glenn McConnell Hancock killed by train at Coopers Nov. 24, 1958.

 

FIND A GRAVE MEMORIALS

  • Charles Monroe Turner, Jr - by Beverly Aker
  • Glenn McConnell Hancock - by Beverly Aker
  • Sherman Egar Harris - by Diz Harris & Sherman Belcher

SHINBRIER'S BASEBALL FIELD

Sunday was always a favorite day at the baseball field. Mine owners would sponsor teams from their workers and many a great game was played here. The New York Giants once played an exibition game on this field. Local residents spent many a day here, playing or spectating. Many a baseball ended up in the "BLUE HOLE". Shinbrier was a very popular place to be after church on Sunday.

In the 1950's an outdoor skating rink was erected at the ball field. JANET ELLER YANIS writes, "I remember the outdoor skating rink at the ball field there in the early 50's. I dearly loved roller skating & really enjoyed going there."

Who can forget the wonderful days when the CARNIVAL came to Shinbrier's ball field for its annual one week visit. All roads led to Shinbrier for this gala event. Remember the CANDIED APPLES and the COTTON CANDY! Most of all, remember the WONDERFUL PEOPLE who came from so many of the neighboring communities.

GREAT SUNDAYS AT SHINBRIER

 I remember the day my cousin, "Fronnie" Fleming, was umpiring and called the third strike on me. And it was called correctly. "Dizzy" Harris

BIG GAME AT SHINBRIER ~ APRIL 1929

TEAMS WERE THE NEW YORK GIANTS AND THE BRIDGEPORT, CONN. CLUB OF THE EASTERN LEAGUE. EXHIBITION GAME WAS HALTED IN THE NINTH INNING WITH BRIDGEPORT RUNNERS ON SECOND AND THIRD WITH ONLY ONE OUT. REASON BEING ALL FOURTEEN NEW BALLS AND SEVERAL OLD ONES HAD BEEN LOST DURING PLAY. FINAL SCORE WAS GIANTS 7, BRIDGEPORT 4. FANS WERE DISAPPOINTED AT THE QUALITY OF PLAY AND MADE THEIR FEELINGS KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE GAME. TRAFFIC WAS TIED UP ALONG THE ROAD BETWEEN BRAMWELL AND POCAHONTAS FOR HOURS AND DID NOT CLEAR UP UNTIL AFTER DARK. THERE WERE AT LEAST 2000 PEOPLE WHO WERE UNABLE TO GET INTO THE BALL PARK. THEY WERE STANDING ALL ALONG THE BASE LINES, IN THE OUTFIELD, PERCHED ATOP FENCES AND TREES, AND HUNDREDS STOOD ON THE NEARBY HILLSIDES AND ALONG THE ROAD.

GAME INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY ROGER "POT" ADAMS, WHO CARRIES SHINBRIER IN HIS HEART.

GAME PHOTO PROVIDED BY MY COUSIN, MARLENE MORAN HOUCHINS, A SHINBRIER GIRL FOREVER.

  

 

MY COUSIN "FRONNIE"

 Fronnie viewing the homestead of our ancestor, George Washington Bell, on Shinbrier Hill. Fronnie says, "one more payment and it's all mine". LOVE YOU COUS!!! 

WHY ALMOST HEAVEN?

MY SHINBRIER COUSIN ~ EARLEEN GULLION PRICE
Earleen writes, "My Dad was Earl Gullion and I spent my childhood up on SHINBRIER HILL and a lot of time in and at that cabin, (Isaac & Nancy Bell's Log Home), when Willis Mahaffey lived there. He was my Mother's cousin. I LOVED IT THERE!"

"The power house at Bluestone! Wow, we would sit on Aunt Josie's porch at night and watch the twinkling lights. It looked like Vegas to a child. Her house was half way up the hill, it was the old school house. She had one of those big soft cushy gliders and we would stay out there half the night when it was hot summer. She could really tell good stories."

If you have never had an experience such as sitting on Aunt Josie's porch overlooking the beautiful Bluestone River and Valley on a warm, late summer night you don't know what you have missed. Why it's......."ALMOST HEAVEN"

HOW BEAUTIFUL THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD

SHINBRIER IS FOREVER CARVED INTO THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF US WHO SPENT OUR YOUTH THERE.

Earleen is the ggg-granddaughter of Isaac & Nancy Bell.
 

 

COUSIN EARLEEN AND HER AUNT MYRTLE 

My cousin, Earleen Gullion Price, and her Aunt Myrtle Gullion Taylor. Earleen, pictured on right, spent much of her youth on SHINBRIER HILL and is the ggg-granddaughter of Isaac and Nancy Bell. Her Aunt Myrtle passed away shortly after this photo was taken and is interred in the Gullion Cemetery on Shinbrier Hill, Shinbrier, Mercer County, West Virginia.
DizzyHarris1@yahoo.com
E. L. Harris
1305 Dodge Drive NW
Warren, OH 44485
SHINBRIER BANNER by NORMA VISHNESKI 

  

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