The Hall, Little, Johnson and Branham families had lived on left Beaver creek for years when men like John Mayo a buyer of coal mineral rights came to the area. Outlanders as strangers were called were welcome, they brought money to buy timber and coal rights. One family urged there father to get a good price for the coal rights to there land because they had made a living on the money made from the timber already taken from the area. Paw told the family I am going to take what they offer because that dam coal is between two rocks with a hill side setting on it and they ant a devil out hell that can get to it.

The coal companies came and with them miners of all backgrounds from around the world. The coal was dug from the hills and stacked on the ground. The railroad was under construction by the B and O which was later bought by the C and O railroad. A rail yard was built at Weeksbury and the family's of the B and O were built homes in the area known as silk stocken row near the center of Weeksbury. When Inland Steel came to Wheelwright all the homes had outhouses and the streets were unpaved. E.R.. Jack Price was placed in charge and he knew to get the best men to work in his mine he had to give them a reason to come to the area. He had all the homes upgraded, paved the streets built a swimming pool a 9 hole golf course and a telephone company, a dental office and a hospital. Now we take all this for granted but in the 1930s few larger towns had the amenities enjoyed by the workers in Wheelwright.. Inland Steel sold the town lock stock and jail after many strikes had cut production to a point that made the cost of the coal more than they could buy on the open market. For more information on Inland Steel and Koppers Coal find the company store.Hint BUSINESS.