Walter Seal Wood was a significant figure in the coal industry of early 20th-century West Virginia. Alongside Quin Martin, he co-founded the Imperial Smokeless Coal Company on June 5, 1919. Their partnership led to the establishment of the town of Quinwood, named by combining their surnames—”Quin” from Martin and “Wood” from Walter Wood. Wikipedia
Under Wood’s leadership, Imperial Smokeless began operations in 1920, opening its first mine in Quinwood. The company expanded its mining activities in the mid-1940s by opening the Quinwood No. 2 and No. 3 mines in neighboring Nicholas County. These mines tapped into the Sewell coal seam, known for its high-grade smokeless coal.
In 1940, Wood sold his interest in the company to the Vera Pocahontas Coal Company of Welch, West Virginia. The company changed hands again in 1947 when it was acquired by the Sprague family of Massachusetts, who were involved in the fuel wholesale business. Eventually, in 1969, the company was sold to Westmoreland Coal Company and merged into Westmoreland as a division in 1971.
Today, Walter Seal Wood’s legacy endures in the town of Quinwood, which stands as a testament to his contributions to the coal industry and the communities built around it.