War, West Virginia | What The Hell Happened?

As a person who worked there some in 1998-2010, I wish you could have shown the contrast by interviewing some of the best people one could ever meet. From the man who came speedily to my rescue when I had a flat tire to the sweet little lady who dug back in her closet to retrieve a train for a young boy in my family who loved trains. Good people abound all over this county, and were praised by famous chef, Anthony Bourdain of Parts Unknown. That was buildings mostly, and had been home to many from a county sometimes fondly called “the patch.” At many homes I visited they brought me cold bottles of water or a big slice of melon, and I did not even have to ask. I hardly remember the buildings in disrepair, but the spirit of these people will always be with me. I lived in the county as a child, and loved going back to again enjoy the kindness of good good people!

I live in War and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I’ve been here my entire life 43 years. We are a town of about 1100, we have low crime rates, and you can’t beat the people that lives here. We are A community and a family. It’ll always be my home. Thanks for reading. BCHS 1999

My Papaw George was a coal miner in WV and lived with my Mamaw Fannie in Harts Creek, WV. If I am half the man my Papaw was when I die then I will have done something with my life. He is my hero.

Glad to see people proud of their WV background. I was born there and am moving back now to look after my grandmother. Im 47 and it’s been hard living in cities and suburbs of more affluent areas. I enjoy some of the amenities but it’s never felt quite right. I hope this move works out for me.

My grandpa was the hardest working, most gentle man I ever knew. He was born and raised in War. He grew up a coal miner before moving to Indiana and starting his family after the war he fought in. Strongest man I've ever met. Thanks for giving me a glimpse of where he came from.

I’ve lived in 26 states in my 48 years but West Virginia will ALWAYS be home. I’m halfway across the country but my heart is in those mountains. There’s nothing in this world like watching lightning bugs with a backdrop of dark mountains on a West Virginia summer night.

I enjoyed the no talking or music. Makes me feel I’m there hearing the car turn and the wind in my ear. ❤ makes these places so much closer and more real

I'm Irish and looking at this , it actually seems like a quiet, peaceful place to live, and the scenery in the background looks beautiful, and . after reading some of the comments?.., the people seem real nice, and seem to love living there! Love and peace to you all in war!... from Ireland! ☘️🧙🌄😄

I live here in War, and I can give you the answer to what happened. With effects of economy, relocated industry, and disasterous with aflictions, we're not as great as we were nearly 2 years ago. We're starting to recover, but as you can see in this video, it's taking a good minute.

Seeing things like this makes me sad. Every abandoned home and closed business was someone's hopes or dreams at one point in time. It is sad to see so much lost to those people. I grew up on the Ohio/ West Virginia border and the people in Appalachia are some of the most kind and genuine people on this planet.

Seeing old houses falling apart and dilapidated towns always makes me so sad. I imagine standing in each one and "feeling" the lives of the families that lived in them. I also think it's awful to consider how many people are homeless while buildings that were once livable go to waste after being abandoned.

I spent 8 months in Weirton,Wv renovating a hotel. Was the most at peace I've ever felt. Was also sad to see people just struggling everyday through life. I made hourly pay per diem and my room of course paid. I would try and show as many people as I could some love. Such a beautiful almost forgotten state

I was born in Welch, WV, not far from War. I was never privileged to have lived in WV as my father was in the Air Force, but we visited usually twice a year; summer and Christmas. This was back in the 50s and 60s. Later, when the mines closed, things deteriorated quickly and so many were, and still are, left in poverty. But the people I remember from my many, many visits to WV were some of the finest people in the world. Generous to a fault. Always quick to lend a hand. My grandparents were reasonably well off due to my grandfather owning a hardware store in Welch and poor people would occasionally knock on my grandparents' door begging for food or money. My grandmother never turned them away. My grandfather was always very patient with his customers whose bills were late. He understood the hard times so many had fallen on. I learned a lot about how to treat your fellow humans from my grandparents.

My husband and I taught at War Elementary back in the 80’s. The people and children of War were the sweetest and most generous people ever! I have precious memories of our days there.

I met a guy born and raised in War West Virginia while living in my hometown of Salisbury Md. He was a few years older than I was but we both played guitar as a hobby. He took a high school friend and I to visit his family one summer. His family treated us like they had known us all our lives. That trip took place just over 50 years ago. I’ll never forget it. I moved to Virginia not long after that trip. My friend Earnie Bollen from War was the most loyal friend I ever had.

It was in the summer of 1999, I believe, and I was playing bass with Buck Hall, and his band, “Buckshot.” We managed to get the silver eagle bus down those windy roads into the town of War. We set up on a wooden stage up by the train tracks. Little did I realize just how much the people of War looked forward to seeing live entertainment in their town. The fact is, they only had a concert there once a year, and to them it was a BIG event! By the time the band finished playing, the crowd was chasing us back to the bus. They had us sign autographs on anything that was available. (I even signed a couple of arms.) Now we were the biggest band of nobodies to ever play live music as a band. No one was famous. We were just hacks traveling around together doing gigs. But somehow we meant something to the people of War. They were saying, in effect, “thanks for dignifying us by playing for us.” Now it’s my turn to thank the fine people of War. You made us feel like rockstars for a day. I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Yours Truly, J. Lazer - bass guitar BUCKSHOT

I rode through there on a motorcycle trip a couple of months ago. I’ve described it to friends as being simultaneously the most beautiful, and most heartbreaking place I have ever seen. What was done to these people is criminal.

West Virginia is so beautiful, what a shame this has happened to so many hardworking honest people.

I've been to various parts of West Virginia several times over the years through mission trips with the Appalachia Service Project. While the poverty and disrepair of homes in some areas was always striking, what stuck with me the most was the amazingly warm and kind spirit of the people, and the absolutely jaw-droppingly stunning nature and beauty of the country in that region of the US.

This is very similar to the Italian province I do come from. Same conditions, landscape and people. I like it. Unfortunately some areas are left behind but if you did grow up there you can appreciate living there. Missing my province. Cheers to WV and USA 🇺🇸 people