Thousands of black soldiers, including 1,500 from McDowell County, served in World War I, and the first monument built in their honor was the the World War I Memorial Building in Kimball, West Virginia, designed by architect Hassell T. Hicks, of nearby Welch, West Virginia, in 1927. Its mix of Classical features and industrial metal-framed windows seemed to suit the community, where black miners enjoyed pay equality, comfortable company-built housing, and social opportunity not felt elsewhere in the U.S. With a large auditorium, kitchen, meeting rooms, library and trophy room, the building was a busy activity center through the 1970s. The memorial has been restored and is open by reservation for tours and special events.
