Last updated: December 31, 2020
Place
Russell E. Matthew Park
Quick Facts
Location:
Oak Hill, WV
Amenities
3 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto, Playground
Russell E. Matthew was born in 1914 in South Nuttall, a coal camp on the New River in Fayette County. Born into a coal mining family of eleven children, Mr. Matthew’s dad worked in the mines of the New River Gorge. As Russell grew up, he enjoyed school but once he was old enough he followed his dad into the mine in order to help support his brothers and sisters.
He began his mining career at Kaymoor where he learned from his father how to load coal. Eventually, Russell worked his way up to the position of coal weighman whose job it was to weigh and record each miner’s coal as it came out of the mine. The company paid the miners based on the amount of coal they mined each day.
After several years working as a miner, Mr. Matthew took a job as a state mine inspector. He was the first African American mine inspector in West Virginia. In 1945, Russell married his sweetheart, Margaret Owens. Throughout his career, marriage, and retirement, Mr. Matthew served his community in many different ways.
In 1979, he was elected to the Oak Hill City Council, making him the first black person to serve on the council. During his years as councilman, he helped bring sewage treatment service to his Harlem Heights community as well as a playground and park for residents to enjoy. Mr. Matthew worked as a Red Cross volunteer, a member of the Fayette County Health Department Board, and a member of the Region IV Planning and Development Council. He was also an active member of Zion Baptist Church in Garten where he was a deacon and sang in the choir. He took seminary classes through the West Virginia Baptist Convention at Hilltop.
In 1998, the small park here in the community of Harlem Heights was named for Russell E. Matthew for his contributions to his community and neighbors.
He began his mining career at Kaymoor where he learned from his father how to load coal. Eventually, Russell worked his way up to the position of coal weighman whose job it was to weigh and record each miner’s coal as it came out of the mine. The company paid the miners based on the amount of coal they mined each day.
After several years working as a miner, Mr. Matthew took a job as a state mine inspector. He was the first African American mine inspector in West Virginia. In 1945, Russell married his sweetheart, Margaret Owens. Throughout his career, marriage, and retirement, Mr. Matthew served his community in many different ways.
In 1979, he was elected to the Oak Hill City Council, making him the first black person to serve on the council. During his years as councilman, he helped bring sewage treatment service to his Harlem Heights community as well as a playground and park for residents to enjoy. Mr. Matthew worked as a Red Cross volunteer, a member of the Fayette County Health Department Board, and a member of the Region IV Planning and Development Council. He was also an active member of Zion Baptist Church in Garten where he was a deacon and sang in the choir. He took seminary classes through the West Virginia Baptist Convention at Hilltop.
In 1998, the small park here in the community of Harlem Heights was named for Russell E. Matthew for his contributions to his community and neighbors.