The Authentic Life of Industrious Coal Miners

AUTHOR: admin DATE: 02 Apr 2012 04:05:49

Where They Worked

The coal miner's of South Eastern Kentucky comes from a special breed of man who works in the darkness under dangerous conditions and breathes the coal dust that gives him Black Lung and no hope of a retirement future.

The work is dirty and dangerous and many lost their lives due to the neglect of mine operators and poor implementation of state and Federal laws regulating the way mining should be conducted. The miners and their families lived in a settlement called coal camps. The houses, merchandise store, church, and schools were owned by the coal company. I am the son of a Kentucky coal miner, I was raised in a coal camp, and in my OWN words I want to document this life on the web site, so those who are interested can read about that experience.

This site is about coal miners - 'Where They Worked And Where They Lived'. Included within the web site is some insight about coal mining, coal education, coal mining disasters and history of coal mining. The pictures displayed are colored from black and white versions. My web site is dedicated to paying tribute to the coal miners of America

Visit - Roger's World

Another site about coal mining.

Where They Lived

In a coal camp, the company owned all the properties, the houses and everything associated with the camp. Miners who worked there, just worked for wages and the pay they received was not enough to provide decent living for their families. The houses were mostly four rooms without indoor plumbing, there were no streets, just dirt lanes filled with coal ashes from the 'warm morning' stoves that were used to heat the home. Some houses only had a single fireplace for heat in the cold winters.

A general store owned by the company, allowed the miners to trade for necessities. The miners used company monies called script which could only be redeemed, at the company store. Tennessee Ernie Ford had it right with the song lyrics 'I owe my soul to the company store'.

Organized labor came into being, thanks to the United Mine Workers and John L. Lewis. This changed pay and mine conditions for the miner.Prior to the union, life was not easy. Folks had to 'make do', which in my opinion made stronger and better people. This life did me no harm it made me a better person who appreciates what I have today, I am sure others who have experienced this life can give testament to that.I made this web site for those who have experienced this life and can appreciate what it means to be a coal miner's son or daughter.