Image above: Wayside at the site of the Midlothian Mines, 2024. Courtesy America's Best History.
Spotlight on Lesser Known History
Midlothian Mines and Town, Virginia
America's Best History Spotlight
On this page we're going to Spotlight the lesser known historic sites and attractions that dot the history landscape across the USA and are worth a visit if you're in their area. And while they may be lesser known, some are very unique, and will be that rare find. You'll be, at times, on the ground floor, or maybe even know something others don't. It'll be fun. Visit them.
Midlothian Mine and Town, Virginia
Okay, first off, let's get the spelling right. In past days, it would have always been spelled Mid-Lothian; today both Midlothian and Mid-Lothian are tolerated. The county, Chesterfield, was founded in 1611, only four years after Jamestown, but not in Mid-lothian. It was founded at the Henricus settlement, where Pocahontas lived for a year and one half. Mid-Lothian was founded in 1836 as the Village of Midlothian by the founders of the coal mine, the Wooldridge family. The Mid-Lothian Coal Mining Company was the first true commercial coal mine in North America and shipped their ore for use in the colonies and England. Coal had been found back in the 1730's in the same area, with French Huguenots providing coal to heat the White House for Thomas Jefferson.
Today you can visit the remnants of the Mid-Lothian Coal Mining Company in Mid-Lothian Mines Park, and in the public square of the small village, the Chesterfield County Museum in the replica 1749 courthouse, an 1892 era jail, the current 1917 Courthouse, as well as the grounds of Confederate enlistment and a statue to their service.
Photo above: Image of the Midlothian Mines, Unknown author or date. Courtesy midlomines.org.
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Info, What's There Now, History Nearby
Midlothian Mines and Town, Virginia
The enticement of mining coal caused growth in this region of Virginia in the mid-18th century, with miners coming from Wales, England, and Scotland. During the American Revolution, the initial mines would provide shot and shell and cannons to the Continental Army at Westham. Of course, the British did not approve and sent, in 1781, British General Phillips to Midlothian to set ablaze the County Courthouse and destroy the coal pits. The Wooldridge famly was one of those who eventually opened a mine, but not until 1835/6 when Virginia was a state of the United States.
Image above: Remnants of the Midlothian Mines Grove shaft, 2024. Courtesy America's Best History. Below: Stocks outside the old Chesterfield Jail in the Midlothian Town Courtyard, 2024. Courtesy America's Best History.
Where Is It
Mid-lothian Mines Park is located at 13,301 North Woodbridge Road, Midlothian, Virginia 23114. The square is located at 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA 23832 and is open Tuesday to Saturday (10-4). Saturday's hours are (10-2). This includes the Chesterfield County Museum and 1892 Jail. The Chesterfield County Historical Society, open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is located in the 1879 Trinity Church on 10111 Iron Bridge Road, within walking distance of the square.
Minute Walk in History
For many, the name Midlothian won't ring a big bell. But the history in this small town to the west of Petersburg, Virginia is full of interesting history, for one, the Midlothian Mines. The Midlothian Mines were the first commercially operating coal mine in the United States. Yes, you might get some pushback on that from another Chesterfield mine, that of Colonel Harry Heth, but take your pick. Guess it depends on your definition of commercial. Take a tour around the area of the mine, now a park, as well as the town city square, where the old jail, Chesterfield County Museum, Civil War statue and enlistment ground for the war tell the varied story. Music by David Fesliyan. Coal Mine music via the Library of Congress.
What is There Now
Midlothan Mines and Town, Virginia
The Midlothian Mine is part of the Mid-Lothian Mines Park. There are waysides, the remnants of the Mine, as well as walking trails and a lake. It is located on both sides of the road you come in on. There is a passageway beneath the road to access both sides.
At the courtyard of the town of Midlothian, you can visit the 1892 Jail and the Chesterfield County Museum. On the grounds is the site of Confederate soldier enlistment as well as a Civil War statue. The current county Courthouse, a historic building on its own, is open rarely for visitors, but there are tours throughout the year.
When Open and How Much
There is no charge to visit the Mid-lothian Mines Park. It is open dawn to dusk. Donations are requested for a tour of the jail, currently $1, and $2 to visit the Chesterfield County Museum right next door.
Fees and hours are subject to change.
Websites
Midlothian Mines Organization
Chesterfield County Historical Society
History Nearby
The entire area around Petersburg and Richmond is full of, not only an amazing collection of Civil War era sites, but African American history, and Colonial history as well. Check out some of those below.
Photos, History, and More Spotlights
Mid-Lothian Coal Mining Company
The Mid-Lothian Company was chartered in 1835 and began operations in 1836. It sat on four hundred and four acres owned by the Wooldridge family, valued at $300,000. There were 3,000 shares of stock approved, valued at $100 per. 1,000 shares sold. With that capitalization of $100,000, four shafts were sunk; Pump, Middle, Grove, and Wood.
There was not immediate success; in 1837, only 70,000 bushels were mined, and the Trustees of the Wooldridge family contemplated selling some of their property to pay off debts. But things were not going well for even the other Chesterfield mines. In 1838, in a new shaft at the Black Heth mine shafts, forty men, almost all slaves, were killed during an explosion.
It was not until Midlothian hit coal at a depth of 722 feet in the Pump Shaft in the fall of 1839 that there was positive news. It was a thirty-six foot wide seam. Three hundred thousand bushels were raised by the crew of one hundred and fifty men and twenty-five mules in 1840. The capacity in that shaft could produce one million bushels annually.
The Pump shaft continued to produce coal until 1855, when a fire, then a flood, rendered the shaft unusable. Sixty-five men were killed.
Photo above: Another view of the remnants of the Midlothian Mines, the Murphy slopes, 2024. Courtesy America's Best History.
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Mining During the Civil War
Mining was confined to the White Chimney shaft as it produced coal to be sent to the Trafalgar Iron Works in Richmond to make munitions and cannons for the Confederate effort. By the end of the war the mine was run by the Wooldridge son, George S., who borrowed $180,000 to build a new shaft, Sinking Shaft. After drilling over one thousand twenty seven feet, they then dug three hundred feet further down. The superintendent was killed during this effort. There was no coal in the shaft, and the company went bankrupt.
Although no war actually came to the area of the mines, with the exception of the burning of the Coalfield Station railroad depot, after Lee's surrender, one hundred men of the 8th Vermont patrolled the area.
Image above: Map of the area of the Midlothian mines, unknown date and time. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons. Below: Coal Miners Homes at Midlothian Mines, unknown date and author. Courtesy Library of Congress.
Midlothian Town
With the name a compromise from brothers from East Lothian and West Lothian in Scotland; the brothers were purported to be Abraham Salle and Dr. Archibald Logwood Wooldridge, founders of the town and mine of the same name. Today various remnants of historic homes and buildings remain amongst the new townhouse developments. On the square there is the 1892 jail, the Chesterfield Museum modeled after the 1749 original courthouse, the 1917 Courthouse, as well as a Civil War statue and other wayside markers.
Outside the square and in areas near and far, you can visit the Chesterfield Historical Society at Old Trinity Church, and at least pass by history at the Bellona Arsenal, now a private home, the Bethel Baptist Church, Bellgrade Plantation, Dinwiddie County Pullman Car, Trabue's Tavern, Hallsboro Store, Hallsborough Tavern, Ivymont Manor, and the site of the Chesterfield Railroad.
Photo above: Hallsboro Store, Midlothian, a general store built in 1855, 2014. Bluesnote. Courtesy Wikipedia C.C. 3.0.
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