Bill Text: WV HCR68 | 2012 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Declaring the City of Beckley's Exhibition Coal Mine as the official Exhibition Coal Mine of West Virginia
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-03-05 - House received Senate message [HCR68 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2012-HCR68-Comm_Sub.html
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 68
(By Delegates Sumner, O’Neal, Snuffer, Moye and Mahan)
Declaring the City of Beckley’s Exhibition Coal Mine as the official Exhibition Coal Mine of West Virginia.
Whereas, West Virginia does not have an official exhibition coal mine; and
Whereas, The City of Beckley restored the Exhibition Coal Mine operated by the Phillips family during the late 1800s in what is now part of the New River Park; and
Whereas, The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is listed on the National Register of Historic sites and officially opened to visitors on July 24, 1962; and
Whereas, The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine allows more than 45,000 visitors a year to experience the history of low-seam coal mining from the hand-loading days into the era of modern mechanization, by riding authentic "man cars" under the supervision of an experienced veteran coal miner through a series of 1,500 feet of underground passages; and
Whereas, In addition to the underground mine tour, the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine features the historical representation of early 20th century coal camp life through the restoration of the Coal Company House, Superintendent's Home, Coal Company Store, Miner’s Shanty, Pemberton Coal Camp Church, Helen Coal Camp School and the estate of Beckley's founder, General Alfred Beckley's Wildwood House; and
Whereas, The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine site also offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including a campground, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and water slide, tennis and basketball courts, picnic and grilling facilities, covered shelters, a one mile vista fitness trail, playground and large playing field; and
Whereas, The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mines also offers educational opportunities for young people through its Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia that features a planetarium and seasonal exhibitions designed to both educate and entertain; and
Whereas, The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine promotes an invaluable connection to the state’s rich coal-related history through its extensive historical representation; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is the official Exhibition Coal Mine of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor.
