Matoaka

The first settler in Matoaka was Council Walker (1812-1905). Council Walker is the 4th great-grand uncle of the Author [Linda Hill Mann]. Council was the first son of Chrispi Anos Walker (1782-1876) and Frances ‘Frankie Jane’ Simms Peters. Council Walker married Nancy D. Bailey (1816-1879). There were 12 children born of this marriage. The last child born to this couple was Charles Willie Jasper ‘C.W.J.’ Walker. He is traditionally claimed to be the first white child born within the town limits of present-day Matoaka. 

Glennis R. Walker spent over 50 years researching this line of the Walker family. In his book, The History of the Walker Family 1734-1990 and Their Kindred With Related Incidents,  he wrote “Aug. 12, 1878 - The Council Walker Family was living in a log house on the present day location of the Norfolk & Western Railway Station at Matoaka, W. Va. A son, James Buchanan Walker and his wife, Rebecca Lambert Walker were also living here temporarily, as their son, Gilbert L. Walker had been born eight days previously. The area was subjected to a torrential mountainous flood which filled and overflowed the hills and hollows surrounding the Walker home, and much of the water soon converged on the log structure. Eventually the floor “puncheons” began to float, causing the occupants to become understandably alarmed, and they were taken from the home by boat to a place of safety.”

In 1899, a post office was established. Since the town was located in the Pocahontas coalfields, the name Matoaka was chosen for the post office by Captain D. H. Barger, a conductor on the Norfolk & Western Railway. Matoaka is another name for Pocahontas, the Indian princess who married John Rolfe.

About 1902 Captain Barger bought the Walker farm from Council Walker’s son Ira. He had it laid off in town lots with streets and alleys. These lots sold quickly and homes and businesses began to spring up.

Several coal mines  opened along Widemouth Creek in Mercer County. They were the Panama, Weyanoke, Hiawatha, Piedmont, Smokeless, Winona, Algonquin and Thomas No. 2. The Springton was another mine in the area. Miners from these mines did their banking and shopping at Matoaka.

At its peak, Matoaka had four restaurants, several grocery stores, dry goods stores, two hardware stores, two drug stores, three hotels, a theater, a bank, a wholesale grocery, two railroad stations (N & W and Virginian) four churches and a newspaper (The Mercer Recorder founded by Wyatt). 

Five doctors, among them Dr. Bernard Clements and second-generation doctor Dr. Weldon Harloe, made Matoaka their home base, riding on horseback out into the country to see patients. ---"Town of Matoaka" By Barry White, William Sanders II, A New River Heritage, Volume IV.

The Bank of Matoaka was organized in 1906.  The Matoaka Bank later moved to Princeton and became the Mercer County Bank. The first water system was installed in 1911. The town was incorporated in 1912. C.W.J. Walker was elected the first mayor of Matoaka in 1913.

In 1956-57 Matoaka made national news when some parents who were opposed to school integration pulled their children out of the public schools. The protest didn’t last long when the parents decided the Board of Education could not change the ruling and the children gradually returned to school. 

In 2014 an apartment building on Barger Street was in the process of being renovated. A man was reportedly trying to steal copper wiring from the building. He tossed a lighted cigarette down a hole in the building. The cigarette caught some debris on fire. That building along with three others were destroyed by the resultant fire and a fifth building was damaged. Two of the buildings were owned by then mayor Todd Colonna. The man was charged with arson and entering without breaking. He was found guilty of the entering without breaking charge but the arson charge was dropped.

In 2015 Todd Colonna and his son, then mayor Travis Colonna began the process of tearing down and cleaning up the debris from the burned buildings. After cleaning up the debris they had plans to build antique malls, flea markets and a small park where people could sit and relax. Most of these were never built.

As each coal mine closed, businesses in Matoaka also closed and residents began leaving to find employment in other areas. In 1950 the population of Matoaka was 1,003.  By 2023 it was down to 170. The fire that  destroyed downtown buildings in 2014 and a FEMA buyout after one of the many floods that have happened periodically over the years reduced the population considerably.

Matoaka could not keep paying its bills. The town was unable to properly operate its water treatment plant or water distribution system. It could not maintain its sewage treatment facilities. It could no longer afford to pay for police protection or garbage collection. In May 2018 the town’s residents voted to disincorporate.

In 2022 the state Department of Environmental Protection awarded Mercer County a major grant to demolish abandoned, dilapidated and burned structures. 

Governor Jim Justice and his dog, Babydog, were presented with hard hats and matching T-shirts when they attended the demolition of the first house to be torn down using the grant money. The two story home in Matoaka was built in 1905. Governor Justice led the ceremonial countdown to knock down the house with the motto that was printed on the T-shirts. “One, two, three. Ready, set, demo!”

In 2023 the work began on Barger Street. Debris from the 2014 fire was cleaned up. Demolition of seven buildings, 3 on one side of Barger Street and 1 on the opposite side of the street began. Three garages in an alley by Widemouth Creek were also slated to be torn down. It was thought that demolition of the buildings would help with the frequent flooding that Matoaka has experienced over the years. More buildings in downtown Matoaka were being evaluated for demolition.

In 2023 there are no stores open in Matoaka, no grocery stores, no department stores, not even a Dollar General. 

Source: Information for this article was obtained from personal family history, from the 1984 Mercer County History book, and from several articles in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.