RAINELLE, W.Va. – August 29, 2026 – A new chapter in the preservation of western Greenbrier County’s history began Saturday as community members, local officials, supporters, and friends of the Greenbrier Historical Society gathered at the site of the former King Coal Hotel in Rainelle for the groundbreaking of the Greenbrier Historical Society – Meadow River Valley Museum.
The ceremony marked an important milestone in the long-held vision to establish a museum dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the rich history of the Meadow River Valley and all of western Greenbrier County.
The new museum is a key component of the Greenbrier Historical Society’s Hidden History of Western Greenbrier Project, spearheaded by GHS Board member Janice Cooley and the Hidden History Committee, which includes Vicky Neal, AmeriCorps Hidden History Associate, and Margaret Hambrick, GHS Board Secretary.
“The groundbreaking represents more than the beginning of a construction project. It represents our commitment to remembering and recognizing the contributions of those who came before us. The Greenbrier Historical Society Meadow River Valley Museum will help us tell the stories that have too often remained hidden- stories of ordinary people who made extraordinary contributions,” remarked Janice Cooley about Saturday’s event. “It will become a place where students can learn and take part in storytelling, families can connect with their heritage, visitors can discover the history of the region, and future generations can understand the people that shaped western Greenbrier County”.
Although the museum will be located in Rainelle, organizers emphasize that its story and mission extend throughout the region. The museum will serve as a place to preserve the history of the communities, families, businesses, industries, landscapes, and people who have shaped all of western Greenbrier County.
Saturday’s groundbreaking brought together a crowd for an afternoon of fellowship and celebration. For many in attendance, the event represented more than the beginning of a construction project. It represented a commitment to ensuring that the history of the Meadow River Valley and western Greenbrier County is remembered and accessible to future generations.
“It does take a village to create and that includes all of you! Thank you for coming today,” Margaret Hambrick said to those gathered as she introduced Janice Cooley. “(Janice) saw the need to ensure that all people were represented in the local history of the Greenbrier and Meadow River Valleys and she did something about it! Her work in recognizing (western Greenbrier County’s) unique history and proud heritage is creating a new sense of worth and helping build bonds of mutual respect and belonging.”
Among those attending were Senators Vince Deeds and Jack Woodrum, who presented the Greenbrier Historical Society with a generous donation to assist with bringing the museum vision to fruition.
Self-professed “lovers of history,” both Deeds and Woodrum have been strong advocates for the Hidden History of Western Greenbrier County project and for preserving the history of western Greenbrier County. This marks the second time they have provided financial support to the Greenbrier Historical Society for the project.
One of the afternoon’s most memorable moments came when Vicky Neal unveiled the school bell from Charmco Grade School, which closed its doors in 1968. Al Meadows, a respected educator who served as the school’s principal from the early 1950s until its closure, had originally entrusted the bell to former student Curtis Caruthers for safekeeping. Caruthers preserved the artifact, waiting for the perfect opportunity to bring it back to light.
Donated to the project on Al’s behalf, the bell serves as a tangible reminder of the generations of students, teachers, and families who once gathered around it. Vicky then rang the historic bell, welcoming a new era while honoring the history that brought the community to this moment.
“As someone who was born and raised in the Meadow River Valley, I am so excited about honoring our communities’ history. Hopefully this project will be another step of revitalization for the area.” Vicky said.
The museum project has been a vision built through the efforts and generosity of many people throughout the region. Support from community members, elected officials, organizations, businesses, donors, volunteers, and history enthusiasts has helped move the project from an idea toward becoming a permanent home for the stories of western Greenbrier County.
The Society expressed its gratitude to everyone who attended Saturday’s groundbreaking and to the many individuals who have supported the museum project in the past, continue to support it today, and will help carry the vision forward in the years to come. As work continues toward the museum’s completion, the Greenbrier Historical Society is encouraging the community to remain involved and supportive.
The groundbreaking at the former King Coal Hotel site was both a celebration of the past and a step toward the future, and a reminder that preserving history is not simply about looking backward, but about giving future generations a place to understand where they came from and the people and communities that came before them.
Construction of the museum site is set to begin this month, with completion and occupancy projected for spring 2027.
For more information and updates, visit greenbrierhistorical.org, call the Greenbrier Historical Society at 304-645-3398, or email info@greenbrierhistorical.org. Updates are also available by following the Greenbrier Historical Society on Facebook and Instagram.
Story by: Lisa Coburn, Community Outreach Liaison, Greenbrier Historical Society
