On August 19, 1907, the N&W Railroad began the grading that would extend its Sand Lick Branch railroad 1.5 miles from Elbert to Filbert, West Virginia.  It was there where U. S. Steel's subsidiary company, U. S. Coal & Coke, was rapidly preparing to begin its mining operations. They had obtained 2,353 acres in the world-famous Pocahontas No.3 coal seam that averaged four feet thick and 2,022 acres in the No.4 seam that measured 8 feet 7 inches high.  Upon arriving at the No.9 mining complex, a mine was opened on the left mountainside and into the No.4 seam, and it was called the 9-East mine. Another portal was opened on the right hillside into the No.4 seam, and it was called 9-West mine.  The West side No.4 coal seam was worked out in 1943 while the 9-East side mine had been connected with the No.8 mine and continued producing coal. It wasn't until the 1940's when a new mine was opened briefly into the No.3, low coal seam on the west side of the mountain but was soon idled, leaving only the 9-East mine producing coal. In 1950, the charter for U. S. Coal & Coke Company was dissolved and all mining operations in Gary Hollow were then wholly owned and operated by the parent company, U. S. Steel Corporation. The No.3 coal seam was reopened in the 1950's. It, along with the 9-East mine continued in operation until 1962 when all mining operations at Gary No.9 were idled due to a reduced demand for coal. In 1966, both the 9-East mine and the No.3 low coal seam mine were reopened after having been idled for four years. Your author went to work at Gary No.9 shortly after the mines reopened in 1966. By 1970, the 9-East mine was worked out, leaving only the No.3 coal seam which was expanding its size and coal production. In 1982, the No.9 mine was idled again and then reopened in 1984. In 1986, U. S. Steel decided to permanently shut down all mining operations in Gary Hollow that had been ongoing since 1902. Today if you visit Filbert, you will not find a trace of the Gary No.9 mining complex.  In recent years, the DNR (Division of Natural Resources) has torn down and removed the coal tipple, shop building and every mine structure in Filbert. Even the lay of the land has been altered after dirt has been bulldozed over the former mine structure sites and the mine portals covered.  Gone are the sounds of the coal tipple loading coal into railroad cars and the humming sound of electric mine locomotives pulling loaded coal cars from the mine. It's quiet at this former mine complex today and the only thing that remains are old photos and the memories those former employees have who once worked there.