He made shoes. Goodbye Fleming, Nicholas and Robertson Counties. Where you from?..Pike Countylol. It reeked of Pine Sol. I left a long time ago and went back to live there once for a few years. I raised my daughter hereBTW she has owned a successful swimming pool and fence company here for 35 yrs. Loved your blog and thought it to be an accurate description. Different, but nice. Loved reading your blog and reminiscingI was raised in Harlan County both parents having been from there. It was quiet then. Ha, Ha. These are the folks who stayed in Harlan. No one should have to make a livin working between 2 rocks. We know at least one person whose mother was really their grandmother, and sister was their mother. She talks about elections I have lived here all my life and even tho at times i feel like due to work i may have to leave, i doubt i ever could. They had no desire to ever live anywhere else. Coal Mining. Graduated Wallins about 1956. I am from Wynntown, went to Evarts High School and live in Richmond Ky. Nobody has ever even looked at me sideways up there; theyve always treated me well. My Aunt Pauline is 95 now and still lives there. I went back through my Ancestry.com files and I found 2: Clarence Leonard, born 24 May 1914, Walker County, AL and died 27 July 1985 at Corbin, KY, it shows he had no wife or children, and his father was John D. Leonard and his mother was Jeanette McKendrick Leonard. They say that when they see I use Scotch Tape, staples or safety pins to fix a hem in a pair of pants. It would occasionally be condemned but re-open at some point. Spent a lot of time at the top of the hill up Watts Creek. Do you remember the Chappells Dairy slogan? This is where Norma lives, was the reply. Harlan Self - Mine Foreman (as Basil Collins) 1976; Credits. Cats and Harlan Countians have 9 lives. His name was Wiley Holmes. In fact, I got up this morning with the intent or renewing my research. WebOfficial Summary of the film Harlan County harlan county summary harlan county is documentary that tells the story of the brookside miners in harlan county, that he would ensure better safety programs for the miners. I left first to attend Cumberland College, then only a two year school, and later was forced to leave and gravitate north for employment. Janice and I were both switchboard operators and admissions clerk. I married a Lady, born and raised in Harlan. ITS GOOD TO HEAR FROM OTHER HARLAN CO PEOPLE. About 1,000 people lived there when I was a kid. You have to have mountains, not hills. Funny thing is, thats what my kids do, even though they live in a small city with a million things to do. U and I are related. I know that area, well, too. Each letter she wrote me held the news. (She died in 1995, and I am so glad to have such good and often funny memories of her.) I-64 runs through Montgomery, Bath, Rowan and Carter Counties. My life is very much divided into two partsbefore and after Harlan. And so do I. I know all those places. The other side was the Lounge, a long, narrow open room with a dance floor. It was tough to find two functioning seats together. I have to say, I know of nobody named Lonzo. My great grandpa ran a mill there. Coal mining runs in cycles. I live in the city now, and raised my daughters here. We mine coal and have for over 100 years. Thats righttheyll pretend. They dont want to sound like Harlan or look like Harlan. Brings back so many memories. I would have loved to have had that McDonalds there when I was kid. | Coal Troll's Blog. Nothing came easy for Dad but he never complained. Like you, I loved growing up there but couldnt see myself living there now. Holmes mill was actually named after my family. Oh the cheese made the best grilled cheese, My wife from Ohio and my 2 children even loved it. While not as corrupt as his predecessor Boyle, he seems on his way down that pathor not. John I cant believe you didnt even mention the no nothin about. What do you suppose that would translate into? Arthur died when his house burned a few yrs ago. IM RETIRED AND LIVE IN TN NOW BUT I GO BACK TO HARLAN ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. Good stuff, John. I also would talk to Art at the store in Loyall, where I would stop to get gas. Always. JACHS did not open until the 66 67 school year. of life I have lived in Chicago, IL., Ypsilanti, MI., Charleston, W. Va., so I know all to well about the differences of living in Eastern KY & a big city. SOMEONE MENTIONED SMITH. 63 the Home daily of the 1174, The sinister way he talked. I have three amazing great-grandbabies. What year, and how did he die (or is he still alive)? It used to be called Klondike many years ago. That is perhaps because I hail from off the grid (Smith). To add to my previous comment above, my other Grandfather was Elijah Depew (nicknamed Lidge? Ive been gone for 20+ years now. Some of these folks do leave Harlana lot of them, in fact. NOTE TO SELF: Dont move to Ages,Ky,Home of Brookside Mine, during a strike. Sherry Jones Hall. We can be called ignorant, inbred, genetically inferior, toothless, shoelessyou name it. In fairness, many went to both joints. After all no one I know would go north of the Ky border to see. Ruby did you know a family named Clark? Now, far in the past, at least until I visit. I told him apparently his computer didt speak Hillbilly.I am proud of my head of the holler rasin. I go back once or twice a year to visit relatives. Jan had so many stories about the hospital. Many never leave it. To the men that worked at the Highsplint mine, where the majority of filming took place for the documentary, he was the one responsible for making sure Basil and his men got through to work every day. 1. ! Whatd I say? It is classified as a moist countya county in which alcohol sales are prohibited (a dry county), but containing a "wet" city, in this case Cumberland, where package alcohol sales are allowed.In the city of Harlan, The name of the area now came to be because the truckers that hauled from the mill just refrerred to it as Holmes Mill! It rated right up there with his song about Jim and Tammy Baker, pretty good actually. My mother grew up in Cumberland and knew tons of Creeches from up that way. We have mountains all around us. 6. Life in the mountains is easy or hardvery little in between. They didnt know what to do with me! I have a heavy heavy accent. I was in Wallins Creeks all day Saturday visiting my niece and stayed at my Mothers in Rhea. He died in 1980 at age 63, and 42 years later his name is presented on the roads of Harlan. Murdered while running against Boyle. My mother is Drena Crowder-Leonard. I knew that truly dangerous people dont threaten much. Mountains. The Fuzzy Duck, the Corner and the VFW. Also as a child there was a Ski Lodge and slopes on Black Mountain. | Coal Troll's Blog, I stumbled across your blog and enjoyed much. now let me add to your story, Harlan has taken a step ferder, and now has a Huge new Comfort Inn Hotel.Yep, John this is LONZO, and we now have more southern hospitality hure..Come see us sometime. My mother taught Home Ec at Evarts for 28 years. I have to admit that I enjoy the irony of a sentence like Your ignorant., Its like the guy who commented that Im a fuckin mooron.. Charles Leonard Birmingham, AL. Thanks for the kind words. Government checks. Much later in life we got married and we were on vacation going south to visit her sister who lived back home. Im sorry but I dont think so. Keep writing as I do enjoy it. I have a 94 year old aunt who still lives there. Girl fights were always the best. Dickens said it best . THIS is just funny. This film documents the coal miners' strike against the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky in June, 1973. The motel next to Holy Trinity was a Holiday Inn Express at one time, but now its a Comfort Inn. One day I kidding with a guy about something he was buying and at some point he says that hes from Mingo, West Virginia. Next, everyone is not here because we cant escape. U can take me out of Ky. but u cant take Ky out of me!!!!!! Ive been trying to read up on as much as I can on the people in the documentary. These books are listed as History and Genealogy reference only. Remember all the men that used to hang out around the courthouse, sitting on the little wall? Harlan County was fighting for the right to have a union. I suggest you search my blog for my many other posts about life in Harlan County. In the summer a friends Dad (The Blantons) would take us up the river in his pickup and wed spend the day floating back in rafts in the summer or wed spend all day at the city pool. I am sure he is talking about when he grew up and how times were then I am from Harlan live here now .I loved the article and havent read anything disrespectful . Were you in danger? I grew up in this wonderful town, going for summers and Christmas in Atlanta. . When I was young, the Government Cheese truck looked like a scene from an African relief mission. Accents. Im pretty sure I remember Lance. I would make mom break me off a chunk. Then we moved up on Park Hill in Loyall. For many years now, Harlan has had a multi-screen cinema. My Mother, Reba Campbell, was born in Liggett. Harlan County, U.S.A. is not a traditional documentary in any sense of the word. Its bleak. You werent one of us. Wouldnt trade my youth spent in Harlan County for any other in the world. There are good people and bad people. The obvious beingwe are just like you and every one else. Greenup is east of Harlan, Ashland is east of Whitesburg, and if Catlettsburg gets any more east it`s going to be West Virginia, are you seriously arguing with the lat/ and longitude? It was a Best Western when it was first built. Never making any differences in us. Your Great Grandfather John D. and my Grandfather Brack H. were brothers and my Grandmother Geanie and your Great Grandmother Jeanette were sisters. We knew Jimmy Meeks very well. Also, I find the surest way to know someone is from SEKY is after telling them where Im from they follow up with, do you know so-and-so? I love that. Now kids go to Harlan County High School which consumed Cawood, Evarts and Cumberland High Schools. My Mom graduated from Cumberland High School. They were both sweet, kind, honest, decent people. BTW until barrack obama declared war on our coal mines,a fact, there were more millionaires in Harlan, Pike,Perry Counties, per capita than in our largest cities. A mouthy little man like me finds out the hard way that bad is good, but big is better. Nimrod Workman. If you ever lived in Harlan you have been gone so long you dont know what the hell is going on. We moved here from a comfortable city life to having no electricity (a new three bedroom house with one bath and hardwood floors. I used to try and derail the presumptions, now I just embrace them. SO neat to see my family talked about on here! Basil Collins was Uncle Basil to us. I guess this was one of many reasons my dad thought California was a good choice for me. And of course, I mean that in a funny, I`m laughing kind of way. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HARLAN,CO. Thats pretty much the consensus of people I know. Oh, you might go to Garys Lounge and Roller Rink sometimes. We lived in Yancey when I was born, moved to Brookside, then moved to Evarts (Woods Mine Area) before moving to Walker County, AL. It even had an old balcony whererumor had itblack folks used to be seated. There are people who will pretend to be from Harlan or any place else in Eastern Kentucky. I grew up in Eastern Kentuckyborn and raised as we say. WebIn his new introduction to the reissue of Harlan Miners Speak, an on-the-scene report from a panel of writers about the coal strike in Bell and Harlan Counties, John Hennen skillfully explains the precipitating factors of the labor unrest. There is a bleak side to Harlan, as anywhere else. Loyallalso had a theaterthe Roadenuntil I was about 6 years old. My Mom taught at SE Community College. I have many relatives there, but Ive been gone since I graduated from high school in 1979, when my family moved to Corbin. They had two fabulous sons who have college education with degrees in medical field and other fields. Howdy, First, there is a Holiday Express in Harlan, and a few other places to stay if you want to visit our town and county. I am VERY new to the blogging world. I ate government cheese as often as we got it. A striking coal miner was in critical condition last night in Harlan County, Ky., after being struck in the head by a shotgun blast. I know that area well. I knew the Clarks well. We rarely hung out with anyone from Evarts or Cumberlandin those days, they had their own high schools. Everything is right on! Hey, I actually remember the Cliff Hanger (by reputation only), but it was not for my younger crowd. I dont know. U may or may not remember it and I also did alot of the fencing around the many many acres he and ur moms own. So please you out landing, loathing spectator, Keep your thoughts on the area you live in now, and the goings on there, we dont need or want you perspective of the people that actually live, work and die here. I am also a faithful Alabama Football Fan ROLL TIDE. My first trial was in Elliott County. By the way, Cumberland had the Novo Theater and the drive-in theater as well. We also had to carry our water from a water-pump in buckets, so the new bathroom was a good conversation subject with its only use was the bathtub that we would heat water to bathe in. WebWives leader, short black hair. I need to work Watts Creek in to a future post, for sure. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); https://www.facebook.com/groups/WallinsCreekers/, http://www.kentuckytourism.com/places_to_stay/holiday-inn-express/73/, SoWhere Are You From? myname isronnie saylor i lived in fairview hollow i was 11 years old,went to haran grade school i remenber my gym treacher they call him doc , he would paddle you for saying the word shit ,does anyone remenber that .i will never forget the family that live accross from us the kids name was buck and peggy thomas,peggy was my frist she was beauitful to,the boys lived next to me , i remender one of thems name phiplip,i still got a scarefrom where he hit me with a rock.we used to take car hoods cut them off and float down rivier on them.my dad work out of town in ohio,my mommy would slip around with a taxi driver,she drink alot ,we move to wallins after that , thats where i never went to school,started working in coal mines at 16 years old dad sign so i could work under ground.we lived in wallins for a little while then move to molus ky thats where my dad was risedthey were about all kin florks back then they all live in camp houses granmam and jack brock lived next to each other they were family to, i remenber my brother got lock in a rc cola mach out on granmam poach. My maternal grandparents grew up in Black Star coal camp and Papaw taught at Hall High. I was born in my grandmothers house, in those days hospitals were few and far between. My Dad used to talk about when they distributed commodity margarine. Alternative name. I know it well. I can connect with outlanders here in Georgetown by telling them, I was there the day that McDonalds opened..great times! And they were well respected. Earlier strikes had resulted in a great deal of bloodshed on both sides. An outlander is someone who used to live in Harlan. I graduated in 80. (: Did you know Jo Alice Chitwood or Lance Johnson? I was even sent back to Atlanta to attend Agnus Scott College, and didnt stay because I actually missed my family AND Harlan County. Mikes Drive In was in Loyall. Everyone I knew (including my family) ate government cheesethe best cheese ever. Outlander here Born at HARH, raised in Grays Knob- attended Hall Elementary and Junior High, JACHS and then got out to attend UK. | Coal Troll's Blog, https://thetrivialtroll.com/2012/03/10/adventures-in-hitchhiking/, ALL ABOARD THE NERVE GAS TRAIN! But today, thanks to my daughter and another pool company, there are more privately owned pools at homes, per average, than in Fayette County (Lexington). WebSeveral members stabbed a local sheriff when he dragged a woman violently off the road on 28 February 1974. And hell, I was taken at knife-point down into the creek at Hall when I was in 6th grade. We live in McCreary Co now, so still SEKY. The experiences never leave me about growing up poor and the shame and humiliation that I felt as a child. Love the article. TO JIM CONNOR, jimmy c morgan lives in the big town of sawbriar, near wallins creek. The ones who love it love the depiction of rough and ready union brothers and sisters ready to wage war with the coal company thugs. Just kiddingabout the hate part. I do not claim to be from there so I am not in any of your groups. Graduated from jach in 78. Sadly, they didnt seem to be doing well. Black lung finally got the best of him but legally these days black lung doesnt exist. What Mountains besides the one on the border with Virginia, Black Mt.(?)? We were not eligible for the government cheese, but my aunt was, & she would always bring us some, every month. Anyway, thanks again. It has always been home for me. We wore machine guns with semiautomatic carbines. Unless you lived in the town of Harlan, you dont go to the city schoolsHarlan High Elementary and Harlan High School. Collins spent more than three years as a prisoner of war in Japan. One side was a roller rink. Went to JACHS then moved to Indiana an I havent went home in a long time. The general store, a thriving Coal community. I lived in Cumberland for 2 years from ~ 1974-1976. My brother actually had a knife pulled on him at Cawood. There are differences: we`re north east, you`re south east. Great description. My dad was one of them, outside Tommy Lees barbershop. I first saw the light of day in Oneida, tn because that was the closest hospital & the road l.P. looPwas better why dont u come back?i know why ,because it is to political and if your not a doctor or a lawyer or have plenty of money ,you aint shit yeah the mountains are nice and this is a beautiful place, but if you aint in the click you aint shit and thats the way it really is you just like the bloody harlan shit and it makes you look BADASS to tell people your from here .your a joke dude and quit livin off a place that you evidentally really no nothin about ..post this DUMBASS . Cawood was named after James A. Cawood, long time Superintendent of the Harlan County Schools. I have resided in Knoxville, TN for 26 years but Eastern Kentucky will always be home because that is where my extended family and my husbands extended family continue to reside. Welfare checks. Most OUTSIDE THE COUNTY shopping, doctors visits, etc were in Tennessee I own a piece of railroad track on the Rhea Straight. Like anywhere else, you have to hope to you dont cross paths with the bad ones at the wrong time. Just discovered your blog. Ruth Ann was my older brothers age. But I have lived in Harlan Co. since 1986 & now I couldnt imagine living any where else. Have you checked out Welcome To Watts Creek site? Hollywood Bledsoe from the mouth of Cloverlick in HC, once wrote a song about Government Cheese. I need a shirt like that. John, enjoyed your comments. I live in Northern KY now but all my family still resides in Harlan so I visit a lot. A convenient store replaced the gas station and stores. Mrs Abraham was my Home Ec teacher @Hall High. I try to go back a couple times a year, for nostalgia as much as bagging those elusive, scarce birds. Love love love Harlan County Kentucky and the people. I was able to buy it when we lived in the Corbin area for $20 a box. I was looking for the turnoff to Loll. I remember an encounter with the business end of a 38 special at the Smith lake boat ramp late one night. Garys was a fun place. Basil was a neighbor of ours when I was a kid, so I know he was real. Moved to Indiana at about 15 or 16 years of age. Thanks for the kind words. The new leader of the UMWA, Arnold Miller (a real miner, not just a union hack), is shown as a possible sellout. Even though they know whats best for Harlan, we dont really like them. If youre spending the night in Harlan, you probably have family there anyway. Both my Grandfathers worked in the mines their younger years and I still have a 1st cousin working the mines. Thanks again for the trip back to the Harlan of my youth! We got segregation in those years, and I never knew the difference, we all got along. My little brother had a knife pulled on him at Cawood. And the tell me they can always tell when Im talking to a relative on the phone for the same reason. https://www.facebook.com/groups/WallinsCreekers/. Your article is awesome! They might have gone to college or joined the military. She always bought some, even though she was never sure if doing so was legal. Its too dull. Its nice to read good thoughts of Harlan County. The Chappells Dairy Slogan: It may be good and not be ours, but it cant be ours and not be good. That I can remember but I cant find my car in the parking lot? Lots of good folks from across the mountain.. Parents moved to Dayton, OH in 63. Thanks! I made the mistake of posting a picture of Basil on a Harlan County Facebook page. I went to college and had personal and professional opportunities that pulled me away. Although I left Harlan County in 1968, and grew up in Florida, I am still proud to say, I am from Harlan County! U take car cuz. WebLearn about Basil Collins: his birthday, age, zodiac sign, his family, and more. They were pretty quick to tell you that they were from Harlan. I didnt mean to turn my comment into a mini blog, but you inspired the flood of memories! Bell county baby.We got the mountains here too. BTW I live on Watts Creek and have most of my life..off and on. A miner was I know that area well. Not a native but my ears always perk up when I hear Harlan. How do we know they dont live in a ghetto. Outside the Highsplint mine in Harlan, County, KY in 1974, United Mineworkers of America (UMWA) strikers and supporters confront state police and strike breakers. Before the union won the right to an election, one miner was shot dead by company security while having a beer with friends. Like inner cities, there are generations locked into a poverty cycle. They point to the many fine folks in the county who were (and still are) horrified by the goings on at Eastover. I lived there 6 years and worked in the mines . Congrats on a good job describing a little bit of what most folks cant imagine happened. As for accent and all that, I never noticed having any problems understanding anything anybody said, strange utterances, etc. I was born and raised in Harlan, KY a lil place called Sunshine. I went from a county of about 35,000 people spread over 1,000 square miles to a campus of 20,000 + crammed into a few blocks. First time reading it. I knew Lisa vaguely. We are made to known about his death on September 16, 2020. Finally I tried talking like a city slicker but I was too Eastern Kentucky that way. My people have been there for over 200 years, since before it was Harlan. Youre probably thinking of Arthur Johnson. Bad and small isnt a recipe for success. The children of Harlan are blessed to have such a nice school. After 8 weeks or so the letter came with I found your Harlan countian!! Everywhere I go here in Ohio I run into people from Harlan or people who have relatives from there and some still living there. Robertson County is the toughest to exclude. I live across the mountains from Harlan in a little off the map place called Leatherwood in perry county. My husband has worked in low coal where one had to crawl to get to your section. Im not sure where you found this, but most folks realize that some of it is tongue-in-cheek. WebHarlan County is a county located in southeastern Kentucky.As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,831. One guy said we were like Indians who left the reservation. Were originally from Letcher County and had to leave in 1995 due to the coal mines shutdown. Two of my best friends were Steve Farley and Jamie Helton. Harlan Countians like Justified. Youve made me think about Harlan all day today and its been a good day. I live in Lee Co,Ky. My husband is a retired coal miner. Im very impressed by your writing. The result - Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976) - was an astonishingly intimate and passionate work that won the Oscar for Best Documentary and recently was selected as one of twenty-five films by the Library of Congress to be placed on its Film Registry. My parents (James Depew & Thelma Randolph) grew up in Harlan in the late 20s-30s My Grandfather was Bill Randolph, one time police chief, Constable and apparently gun thug for the man. She was stationed in Newport News, Virginia when the war ended. We have live all over Eastern Ky, moved south to the Carolinas, then back to eastern Ky for a couple years. wilson combat magwell p320 Regardless, they came back. Loved Justified. Hes married married to one of my first cousins for many years. Oh yeah, one last thingI am a coal miners daughter..and damned proud of it. We have corresponded back and forth for several years about our Leonard connections. I worked with them both at Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital in the late 60s, early 70s. No wonder I was overwhelmed. I know exactly where you were driving. I was born in Atlanta and moved here when my step-daddy (forevermore referred to as daddy) and my momma met when he was proudly serving this country.He a handsome young man from the mountainsshe a beautiful divorced young woman with two small children. None of my schools still exist. Crow Drums 70 (CHS). The rest of us (that includes me) hate the image of Harlan Countians as violent, uneducated hooligans. I loved reading your blog and all, or at least most of the comments! It will always be home., Thanks. I left Ky in 1990 but go back very very often. I live in Nashville now, it seems like everyone here know someone from Harlan. No as in stop, do not, negative, etc and nothin slang for nothing not anything; no single thing; having no prospect of progress; of no value; not at all. I feel the same way, even though my sons say they cant believe I grew up there! We still have relatives in the area. The strikers made bumper stickers supporting their cause and drove around the community in a truck with loudspeakers to explain their grievances and hopefully gain support. My best friend (not from Harlan) went to Saudi Arabia as a traveling nurse. They dont like being from Harlan. The actress claimed family friend Val Dumas said her mum whored her out to him for 400 She later claimed family friend Val Dumas said her mum whored her out to him for 400. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. His hair was infamous! Sheriff of Hanrlan County. miners in this county AND other states. Whitley County has an interstate so are they still Eastern Kentucky? Oh, well. ha! My Grandfather/Grandmother was Floyd/Janie Clark. Heres my personal map of the area: This seemingly random boundary results in some folks calling it Southeastern Kentucky which, geographically speaking, is more accurate. We always found lots of mutual interest things to gab about. My parents who were also my papaw and mamaw owned Tiny Jos market in Baxter. Weve been in the Lexington area since then, but we still say back home when we are talking about Neon and Jenkins. She taught Home Ec, but also taught other classes. There are a lot of Harlan Countians that are very happy to be called just that. It tends to work to my advantage. Even though I had been lots of places, leaving Harlan took me out of my comfort zone. Ive also been criticized for making Eastern Kentucky sound too goodand that came from a guy who lives there! We used to be territorial based on our schools. It still is in some ways, although it has been many years since the United Mine Workers Association held great sway. We knowthat houses have winders and chimleys. Justified portrays Harlan as a lawless frontier of wanton violence. As usual John you nailed it!! You do remember he is my step-daddy?? Therefore, the kids of this county today only have to step out theyre door and into a pool. They tease me that my accent changes when I cross the county line going back home :-). I loved growing up there and go back frequently. Personal details. It was an old theater whose best days had long past. Clarences family was pretty small. Bloody Harlan is just badass. Born and raised in Cumberland.I live in Florida now loved your article.Proud of my roots! Ive lived a few places in east ky, but never been to Harlan. Im sure they knew each other. His first feature film was Harlan County U.S.A. (1976, as Himself - mine foreman). Plaster would fall from the ceiling and you could throw popcorn on the stage in front of the screen and watch the rats scurry out to eat. I am definitely proud of my heritage, both generally mountain/Appalachian and Harlan County in particular. My name is Julie Crowder-Ward. My dad and papa were both coal miners for blue diamond mining for years. Stumbled across your post. WebHarlan County U.S.A. 8.2. When we went to high school, we identified as being from Loyallor Hall or Wallins. Thats probably why he is disabled now at a a young age.

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