Ridgeley woke up quieter this week, the kind of quiet that settles in after a hard loss. Earl A. Hott, a lifelong resident known for his steady work ethic and easy kindness, died Monday, December 15, after a tragic logging accident outside Bloomery. He was 53.
According to investigators, Hott was cutting timber when a routine moment turned deadly. As one tree fell, it unexpectedly kicked backward, striking a nearby dead tree. From that dead tree, a heavy limb broke loose and came down with force, striking Hott. First responders arrived quickly, but the injuries were catastrophic. He was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma.
The suddenness of it has shaken people across Ridgeley and surrounding communities. Logging is familiar work in this part of West Virginia, often done by neighbors, friends, and family members who understand the risks but trust experience and caution to carry them through. This time, experience wasn’t enough.
Those who knew Earl describe a man who showed up — for work, for friends, for community events, and for anyone who needed a hand. He wasn’t flashy or loud, just dependable in the way that small towns quietly rely on. “Hardworking” comes up again and again in conversations, closely followed by “kind” and “good-hearted.”
The Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies responded after receiving reports of the accident and have continued to review the circumstances. While the incident appears to be a tragic accident, the investigation remains open, standard procedure in workplace fatalities of this nature.
In the days since, Ridgeley has done what it always does in moments like this. Neighbors have checked in on one another. Friends have shared stories — the funny ones, the stubborn ones, the moments that now feel heavier because they’re finished. Support for Hott’s family has poured in quietly, without spectacle, but with sincerity.
For many, the loss has also reopened a familiar truth about the dangers of logging work. It’s a job built on skill and judgment, but one where nature doesn’t always cooperate. One misstep, one unpredictable shift, can change everything in seconds.
As the community grieves, Earl Hott is being remembered not for the way he died, but for the life he lived — rooted deeply in Ridgeley, shaped by honest labor, and defined by the relationships he built along the way. Those who knew him say that’s exactly how he would have wanted it.
