HINTON, W.Va. — The New River Gorge Historical Society will celebrate a cherished tradition of life in southern West Virginia with a community fish fry and historical program on Saturday, June 13, at the Summers County Memorial Building in downtown Hinton, West Virginia.
Inspired by the annual “Miners’ Vacation” once observed throughout the New River Gorge coalfields, the event will combine food, fellowship, and local history while raising funds to support the society’s efforts to preserve the region’s heritage.
“From the 1950s through the 1980s, many coal miners looked forward to a two-week summer vacation spent fishing the New, Greenbrier, and Bluestone rivers,” said society president Jennings Berry. “We wanted to honor that tradition and celebrate a time when families gathered outdoors to enjoy the natural resources that have always been such an important part of life in Summers County.”
The fundraiser will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. and will feature presentations by local historians and preservation advocates. Beginning at 2 p.m., speakers will include Steven “Dusty” Trail of the Summers County Landmarks Commission and Mark Totten, president of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Historical Society, who will discuss the railroad’s lasting influence on the development of the New River Gorge region.
The tradition of Miners’ Vacation
The traditional Miners’ Vacation became firmly established in West Virginia after 1950, when national labor agreements between the Bituminous Coal Operators Association and the United Mine Workers of America designated the last week of June and first week of July as the annual vacation period for union miners.
In the state’s coalfield communities, the two-week break took on the atmosphere of a regional holiday. Vacation pay, combined with regular wages, boosted spending as families made home improvements, visited relatives, planned fishing trips, and traveled to destinations such as Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Coal companies generally welcomed the shutdown because it provided time for maintenance and repairs. The tradition remained a defining feature of West Virginia coal culture through the 1980s, before changing labor agreements, the growth of nonunion mining, and the demands of modern mechanized operations led many companies to adopt staggered vacation schedules.
For many vacationing miners, Summers County was a natural destination, with three rivers and Bluestone Lake offering some of the finest fishing opportunities in southern West Virginia and providing an ideal setting for families to spend their annual summer holiday.
Today, Summers County is among West Virginia’s premier outdoor recreation destinations. Visitors are drawn to its world-class fishing, boating, kayaking, hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, and water-based adventures. Attractions such as Pipestem Resort State Park, Bluestone State Park, Bluestone National Scenic River, and the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve provide year-round opportunities for exploration.
About the New River Gorge Historical Society
The New River Gorge Historical Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and sharing the history of the New River Gorge region and the communities that have shaped it. Founded to serve as a regional advocate for historical preservation across southern West Virginia, the society works to document historic sites, reclaim endangered cemeteries, collect oral histories, preserve artifacts, and promote public understanding of the area’s rich cultural heritage.
Through educational programs, lectures, exhibits, community events, and preservation projects, the organization seeks to ensure that the stories of the coal towns, railroads, families, and landscapes of the New River Gorge remain accessible to future generations. The society is headquartered in Thurmond and serves communities throughout the greater New River Gorge region.
For more information or to secure tickets to the fish dinner, which will include tilapia, baked potatoes, green beans, and rolls, visit the society website at NRGorgeHS.com. Tickets, which are $15 per plate, will also be available at the event. The speaking events, to be held within the memorial building, are free to attend.