Charles C. West Coal Company papers

Collection

Identifier: D.90

Staff Only

Biographical/Historical note

Upon Heacock's death on December 13, 1897, Mr. West assumed sole ownership of the company and renamed it the Charles C. West Coal Company. After his own death on January 27, 1911, his widow Grace D. West continued to run the company. Shortly after her marriage to John W. Ross, she sold the company and made it into a corporation on February 27, 1914. Mrs. Ross and her husband were the principal shareholders, with the firm's attorney, Erwin E. Shutt of Reed and Shutt, owning a nominal five shares. These three served as both the Board of Directors and officers of' the company for several years. They later were joined by Victor H. Russell, the assistant manger of the firm, who became a stockholder and served as Assistant Treasurer.

In August, 1928, after the death of John W. Ross, Mr. Russell became general manager of the company and took his place on the Board of Directors. Likewise, when Erwin E. Shutt died in April, 1933, his son E. Reed Shutt took his place on the Board of Directors and served as an officer of' the company. Since the younger Shutt also was an attorney, he too served as the firm's legal counsel. In 1943, Mrs. Ross's place on the Board was taken by her daughter Miss Ruth E. West. Over the years, however, the coal market became less profitable as more houses were built with oil furnaces rather than coal ones. Miss West therefore dissolved the corporation in 1953 and the company went out of business at that time.

Scope and Contents

The Collection contains minutes of Board of Directors' and stockholders' meetings and a stock ledger of the Charles C. West Coal Company, Inc. of Rochester, New York, a private stock company whose shares were owned exclusively by family members, the general manager, and the firm's attorney. The company had a long and varied existence previous to its incorporation, however. It was first begun by Charlotte A. Heacock in 1883 and was called the C. A. Heacock Coal Company. In 1890 Charles C. West became a partner in the firm and it became known as Heacock and West. The following year Charlotte Heacock retired and Edward L. Heacock became head of the firm.

Creator

Charles C. West Coal Company (Organization)

Dates

Creation: 1914-1951

Language of Materials

English

Extent

1 box(es) (1 box and 4 volumes)

Access

The Charles C. West Coal Co. Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mrs. E. Reed Shutt, 1975

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Charles C. West Coal Company Papers, D.90, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester