Between the Signs

What happens to a community when its formal boundaries disappear?Though the formal town charter of St. Charles was dissolved in 2022, and the county physically removed its roadside corporate limits markers in 2026, the history contained within those 115 acres remains unforgettable. In Between the Signs, authors James Willis and Jerry Buchanan deliver a meticulously researched, deeply affectionate portrait of a classic Appalachian coal town.Spanning decades of heavy industry, local commerce, and profound social shifts, this book takes readers on a journey through the heart of the valley. From the strict financial architecture of company-owned commissaries and scrip tokens to the beloved local hubs like Baker’s Grocery, Beezer’s Esso, and the bright marquee of the Virginian Theatre, Between the Signs reconstructs a bustling landscape that time and economic displacement threatened to erase.Richly illustrated with archival photographs, rare historical documents, and deeply personal community memories, this volume highlights legendary local figures-from baseball standout Frank Scott to the unforgettable Woodrow 'Mainline' Wilson. More than just a regional history, Between the Signs is an intimate sanctuary of pause, generosity, and quiet connection, proving that a town’s true legacy isn’t written on a green roadside sign, but in the enduring spirit of its people.