Winona

Historic image of the town of Winona

Quick Facts

Location:

Lansing Edmond Road, Winona, WV

Significance:

Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History Month, once was a coal miner in nearby Nuttallburg and later taught school in Winona.

African American Heritage Driving tour Stop 3: Carter G. Woodson

Located on Keeneys Creek in the highlands north of the lower New River Gorge, Winona is inhabited, though little is left of the community. The entire site of present-day Winona was owned by Robert M. Holliday, Sr., farmer and pioneer settler who came to the area prior to the Civil War. The mineral rights to Holliday's land were purchased by John Nuttall in December of 1870. The Winona post office was named for Winona Gwinn, oldest daughter of William Gwinn, who operated a hotel in the town.

The development of the coal lands surrounding Winona occurred due to the efforts of John Nuttall, who had by the 1880s acquired a tract of 30,000 acres of coal lands along Keeneys Creek in the highlands above his coal operations in the New River Gorge at Nuttallburg, which he had opened in 1873. 

Carter G. Woodson spent his formative years in West Virginia as a coal miner in Nuttallburg and a teacher in Winona. He went on to start Negro History Week, which eventually became Black History Month.

The tour stop is at the Keeney's Creek Baptist Church.

For the full story go to Carter G. Woodson: Winona, WV

Before Dr. Carter G. Woodson, there was very little accurate written history about the lives and experiences of Americans of African descent. Today a National Historic Site, Dr. Woodson’s home served as the headquarters for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. To learn more about Carter G. Woodson, visit Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.

Driving Directions:

From Beckley, WV: Take Highway 41 north (Stanaford Road) and travel 29 miles to Highway 60. Turn left on Highway 60 west and travel 5.3 miles to Lansing Edmond Road (Route 82). Turn left on Lansing Edmond Road and travel to Keeney’s Creek Baptist Church in Winona.

From Fayetteville, WV - Take Highway 19 north to the exit for Highway 60. Turn left on Highway 60 east and travel four miles to Lansing Edmond Road (Route 82). Turn right on Lansing Edmond Road and travel to Keeney’s Creek Baptist Church in Winona.

Directions to Next Tour Stop:

Nuttallburg
Physical Address: Keeney’s Creek Road
GPS Coordinates: N38.050158 -W81.039922
From the church, turn left and continue straight on Keeney’s Creek Road (Route 85/2). Travel 4 miles to the Nuttallburg Historic Site. Tour Stop and parking is at the end of the road.

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