We lived the last house in the head of the holler with my poppy and granny our only neighbors. My dad spent much of childhood there in the 30s. I respect ALL coal miners. 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. Thanks again for the trip back to the Harlan of my youth! Witness strikebreaker Basil Collins as loathsome a screen villain as fiction ever invented targeting her during a drive-by shooting caught on camera. He worked at Eastover for several years after the strike until Duke closed the mines. There she met my father and I was born in 1952. Ive lived a few places in east ky, but never been to Harlan. Loyallhad a school, a railroad yard, one stop light, a movie theater (at one time), the Corner Store (a genuinesoda shop), a gas station, a barber and a couple of stores. WebBooks About Harlan County Kentucky Books I purchased and own. They had two fabulous sons who have college education with degrees in medical field and other fields. We still miss it! In fact, when I was down there on business a couple of years ago, I saw a couple hanging out in front of rock store. What did he end up doing after the strikes? My Dad was a coal miner, was on oxygen from 2007 until 2010. Brought back some memories. I told him apparently his computer didt speak Hillbilly.I am proud of my head of the holler rasin. Women took over the picket lines. Both my Grandfathers worked in the mines their younger years and I still have a 1st cousin working the mines. They are my parents. Harlan I didnt like a lot of your article, some of it is accurate. Basil was a neighbor of ours when I was a kid, so I know he was real. Only if were talking to another Harlan Countian would we narrow the description to the town. I appreciate all commentspositive and negative. Spent a lot of time at the top of the hill up Watts Creek. You havent had a grilled cheese sandwich until youve had one made with govment cheese, govment butter and fresh Bunny Bread. I worked with them both at Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital in the late 60s, early 70s. Publicado el marzo 4, 2023 por marzo 4, 2023 por Were you in danger? Enjoyed reading your blog. Like you, I loved growing up there but couldnt see myself living there now. I have always considered Harlan my second home. I still get over through there for work sometimes. Harlanthats what we call itisnt a destination, either. I am still Harlan County thru and thru. Our reputation precedes us. It is good to hear from you and I hope to hear from you again. My mother moved to Harlan County from Pike County at around age 12 and never left except to attend college. I was in Harlan last October, visiting my aunt that still lives there and yes, my sister and I had a lovely stay at the Comfort Inn! His name was Wiley Holmes. Good stuff, John. 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, Ive got a few more Harlan County memories. I once met a police officer who worked in the State Police in Harlan, he visibly tensed when I said I was from Harlan, went ashen when I said I was from Smith, and excused himself when I said I was a Middleton. There are doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, coaches, laborers, deadbeats and criminals. I am a Harlan Countian, born in Harlan at the old hospital as they call it. Its nice to remember, though. He died in a house fire a few years ago. Ben Joe Harris disarmed the guy so that it would be a fair fight. Would I be a pretender? Pingback: Hometown Loyall-ty | Coal Troll's Blog. There arent running gun battles anymore like the famed Battle of Evarts many decades ago. Were originally from Letcher County and had to leave in 1995 due to the coal mines shutdown. The county is big, about 50 miles across, but sparsely populated. They lived near Dionne along the river there. A miner was These are the folks who stayed in Harlan. They just inflict harm. Lived in Hazard then, after Hazard we came to Ohio. We werent eligible for cheese, either, but my Dad would get it anyway! Well.. We visited my grandparents every summer. Have you checked out Welcome To Watts Creek site? 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. I have never been to a Harlan County Bears football game, but I have been told that the team enters the field to Brad Paisleys You will never leave Harlan alive song. Im proud of where Im from and yes my Daddy was a coal miner for a time. Imagine trying to explain where Cutshin is located!! Mostly, we just hung out. Just discovered your blog. I was raised over the mountain at Little Laurel. born and raised in harlan ky live in northern. My Dad and his six siblings were all raised in Evarts. Since Ive been gone, Harlanlike all of Eastern Kentuckyhas been devastated by prescription drug abuse. Pingback: Im Baaaackmaybe | Coal Troll's Blog, Loyall kid hereloved finding this. , well leave the porch light on. I plan to continue reading your blog. Oh, you might go to Garys Lounge and Roller Rink sometimes. I knew your father-in-law, and mother-in-law. They dont say that because of my accent, since I only have one when I go back there. 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. I grew up in Sunshine, graduated from Harlan High School in 1972 and after going to Southeast and U.K., headed to California. Im pretty sure I remember Lance. Awesome story. Again, they are excluded because of lack of isolation. Do you remember the Chappells Dairy slogan? However, I always tell my two teenagers that some of the smartest people they will ever meet come from the mountains of Kentucky and may have never finished high school! Webcharity bell guilford county schools; did choi woo shik serve in the military; is impeachment an effective check on the president; joseph moran jr son of thelma ritter. The Fuzzy Duck, the Corner and the VFW. I appreciate your comments but must, of course, defend myself. You have to have mountains, not hills. I dont know. My older brother and sister were both born at Lynch Hospital. Ironically, my daughter found a boyfriend from Loyal(the ones in Georgetown are apparently not her type) so she visits him a lot. Just found your blog while attempting to refresh my memory about the name of the theater, the Margie Grand, in Harlan. You went up 119 to the Loyall turnoff, and youre absolutely right: Any Harlan Countian who turns the corner at Pineville changes languages! I have got too much time and information invested in my research to keep up with to just ignore my research. Oh, well. If you were Basils neighbor, then you lived in Rio Vista, right? I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU ALL, DO ANY OF YOU REMEMBER A LITTLE BLIND MAN THAT USE TO SELL NEWS PAPERS IN THE LOBBY OF THE HARLAN HOSPITAL? My Mom taught at Evarts from 1951 to 1980. The original Mount Aire Motel was on Pine Mountain, and it burned down in the 70s. I attended LoyallElementary and Junior High and James A. Cawood High School. Nothing will get a hard-working coal miner or school teacher fired up like a discussion about those drawing a check. Thats how it was when I was a kid, and it hasnt changed. I just tried a case in Illinois. Harlan is no more defined by any subculture than Chicago should be defined by its sad history of public housing or New York by the worst of its slums. We were not eligible for the government cheese, but my aunt was, & she would always bring us some, every month. My husband and I are the black sheep as I am an attorney and my husband is an accountant. As for accent and all that, I never noticed having any problems understanding anything anybody said, strange utterances, etc. She was one of my favorite. I live here because I truly love this beautiful part of Kentucky and America. I can relate to alot of it. Maybe 700 or so now. I was up at Holmes Mill just a few months ago. 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. I loved reading your blog and all, or at least most of the comments! Why turn here, I ask? Hi aurea, Ive helped ur grand paw make many many gallons of moonshine just over the hill from ur mom n dads house. HARLAN WILL ALWAYS BE HOME TO ME. My Mom moved to Cumberland from Pike County when she was 10. Raised up on Happy Top, Back Street and Creechs. It will always be home., Thanks. Of course, it doesnt. I have no other information on these two at this time. She stayed there for a few months but felt things just werent the same so she moved back to Newport News where she had made some good friends. There are a lot of us spread over the country, but we still think of ourselves as being from Harlan. We have mountains all around us. Garys was a fun place. I was just in Harlan County this weekend. Harlan County USAdivides us into two groups: Those that love it and those that hate it. Its quiet now. I owned a genteel little social club called THE CLIFFHANGER up on pine mountain, and had some of the finest folks i ever knew as customers, although mostly they considered the Garys crowd a little on the gentler side. Girl fights were always the best. Welfare checks. These books are listed as History and Genealogy reference only. preston and i have lived here in lexington since 1999. bu i consider loyall and that little house my adopted home. I was born in Pike Co. in 1960 and in my 53 yrs. It has always been home for me. We went to the movies most weekends and to every football and basketball game. LO People may had been living on Government cheese when you grew up and the first may had been like a amusement park, but all that has changed. Elected wives president by Lois. 62 (10) 1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1921. After all no one I know would go north of the Ky border to see. I have three amazing great-grandbabies. You might even become a best-selling author or reality TV producer. Most of my old mean crowd are dead. Lots of good folks from across the mountain.. 1. It was quiet then. The field is backdropped by some beautiful mountains, right at Tunnel Hill. I would sometimes go out and spend a month or two with my grandparents and spend some nights with other family members in Harlan and Bell counties. I loved it AFTER the mob left that came to my door the day I moved in, demanding to know Who are you and what are you doing here? My brother actually had a knife pulled on him at Cawood. I grew up in this wonderful town, going for summers and Christmas in Atlanta. A mouthy little man like me finds out the hard way that bad is good, but big is better. I am VERY new to the blogging world. Robertson County is the toughest to exclude. Now, dont confuse Harlan County with the town of Harlan, our county seat. Anyway, thanks again. She went back to Harlan as soon as she was discharged. I went to Cumberland College, Austin Peay Univ for my first masters, Trevecca University for my doctorate, second masters, and administrative certification. Thats when people get their checks. WebHarlan County is a county located in southeastern Kentucky.As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,831. The new leader of the UMWA, Arnold Miller (a real miner, not just a union hack), is shown as a possible sellout. Then we moved up on Park Hill in Loyall. My children are fascinated and perhaps slightly horrified that I grew up in Harlan. I remember your father well, especially his hair! My dad was a teacher at JACHS from 1962 to 1968. I had friends in Pathfork. If so, let me know so I can fill any dates, places, names and information you may furnish to me. Eastern Ky is not privvy to divorce is it?? The experiences never leave me about growing up poor and the shame and humiliation that I felt as a child. I lived there 6 years and worked in the mines . Restoring any closed widgets or categories. 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 retired in 1982. But I have lived in Harlan Co. since 1986 & now I couldnt imagine living any where else. My parents were stalwarts. Harlan County once earned the moniker Bloody Harlan for the union wars that broke out in the 1930s. As workers fought for better pay and safer working conditions, coal companies colluded with local law enforcement to break down the strikers. Remember all the men that used to hang out around the courthouse, sitting on the little wall? Please received our heartfelt condolences. You mustve been a good student, John. In fairness, many went to both joints. I am simultaneously entertained and offended. Theres no future. My uncle Clarence still lives in Ky. My mother and her Sister Yuvonne live in TN. Home; Movies; TV Shows; People. Thanks for letting me rant. Its amazing how many of Moms students I still run into. I made the mistake of posting a picture of Basil on a Harlan County Facebook page. Thanks. There was nothing like sitting on the front porch swing drinking RCs from my uncles one room store. I still have family in Cawood and Baxter but I dont get up there much.. Jennifer, I moved to the Tampa Bay area when I was four and a half. She would forever remain his Georgia Peach. I graduated from Cumberland High School in 1975. I live in Northern KY now but all my family still resides in Harlan so I visit a lot. Accents. ha! She always bought some, even though she was never sure if doing so was legal. We got spanked when we needed itdidnt hurt us one bit but sure made us better kids growing up and better adults today. Its still pretty much the same. U take car cuz. There are a few folks who left and dont care to ever hear of Harlan again, but thats true of all small towns. A friend of mine once drank a beer from a girls cowboy boot at the Lounge. I am an Outlander (orlando), looking to be a Stalwart. If we meet anyone else from Eastern Kentucky, we can get instant acceptance with a simple I grew up in Harlan. Translation: Despite appearances, I will kill you if necessary. Thanks again for the good read. And they didnt. Harlan is not what it used to be and I would never want to live there again, but your blog awakened the beautiful memory of what it was. I feel the same way, even though my sons say they cant believe I grew up there! They arent isolated enough. When we heard a car coming we knew we were having company.we usually hid to see who it was. I need a shirt like that. All thats left is the yard and that light. Hey, I actually remember the Cliff Hanger (by reputation only), but it was not for my younger crowd. Basil Collins Harlan County Obituary | Death | Basil Collins Dead | Died | Funeral Plans - We heard about the great loss, that Basil Collins is no more and Today, theres not much there for anyone, unfortunately. 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. Youre probably thinking of Arthur Johnson. https://thetrivialtroll.com/2012/03/10/adventures-in-hitchhiking/. I went to Business College, married my daddys cousin (you had to know that was coming didnt you). Love your response, I live in central ky for a lot of years now, but when I can go home I stay at the Comfort Inn Hotel, it is a Blessing to us out of towners, I think this page is right on, and I dont like the way most people think of Harlan, we are just like anyone else, even if we have a little accent, awesome page, and I lived in Loyall a few years also, my mother died there, thanks for letting people know that its not all justified, although I have never watched a full episode, they are awful. There are good people and bad people. Hollywood Bledsoe from the mouth of Cloverlick in HC, once wrote a song about Government Cheese. TO JIM CONNOR, jimmy c morgan lives in the big town of sawbriar, near wallins creek. Some are like me. 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. I feel blessed to have grown up in Harlan, at a time when people actually cared about each other, and would not trade it for anything!! Black Diamonds In My Own Backyard-- Rufus J. Bailey 3. Then, I moved to Lexington, Kentucky and found out that I was pretty tough by Lexington standards. Paddling. The late Norman Smith was a classmate of mine at JACHS. It used to be called Klondike many years ago. I know you as a Harlan Countain and also as a fine person. Never making any differences in us. Now, far in the past, at least until I visit. Sadly, they didnt seem to be doing well. I believe you will see that I have great affection for Harlan, much more than many of the people who still live there. I really hacked off one guy about the government cheese. I own a piece of railroad track on the Rhea Straight. I was in her class the day JFK was shot in Dallas. i bet you knew my father in law he worked at the loyall store and was the fire chief for a number of years. He was actually the son of my aunts husband, so that technically makes him a cousin, but age-wise he was more of my dads generation so that made him an uncle. Loyallalso had a theaterthe Roadenuntil I was about 6 years old. Yes. Used to go to Cumblin every Fride and satdy nite. Edit. Great article!! Before we started, I told the court reporter that Ive been told I have an accent of some kind. Sometimes, the film would jam and you could watch it melt. I guess teenagers everywhere just hang out. ENJOYED YOUR ARTICLE, WOULDNT TRADE THE PLACE I GREW UP FOR ANY PLACE IN THE WORLD . I instructed her to be on the lookout for a Harlan countian. Still have a few family members there and many friends. Jan had so many stories about the hospital. My kids do that, too. My great granny and grandpa lived in Harlan when they first married but moved to Leslie county. John. My Pappaw Creech was a coal miner, as were most of his brothers. You are so right, except I dont know anyone named Lonzo. I will list it here. I USE TO WORK IN THE COAL MINE AT THREE POINT, CRANKS AND HARLAN. I worked as a car hop from Denny rays rite out of high school. I have many relatives there, but Ive been gone since I graduated from high school in 1979, when my family moved to Corbin. Above all else, it covers the 1930s strikes at the coal mine, which resulted in 11 deaths and earned the area the name Bloody Harlan. But what probably haunts the My best friend (not from Harlan) went to Saudi Arabia as a traveling nurse. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Now kids go to Harlan County High School which consumed Cawood, Evarts and Cumberland High Schools. We didnt all drink Mountain Dew as babies. Im actually kind of offended by your antics and false information. Im not sure where you found this, but most folks realize that some of it is tongue-in-cheek. It was originally the Bays Motel. Regardless, they came back. Not many folks have a clue of my history, and thats fine. I left here when i was 15 came back in my late 20s. But my Harlan upbringing gave me my core values. I am a brand new grandma and I am Mamaw to that beautiful baby. And they were well respected. I was born in Harlan and I remember living there, but I didnt have the experience that my parents had (who were both born in Harlan County) since I didnt grow up there. NOTE TO SELF: Dont move to Ages,Ky,Home of Brookside Mine, during a strike. born & raised Pathfork Ky~, Thanks. What year, and how did he die (or is he still alive)? Oh yeah, one last thingI am a coal miners daughter..and damned proud of it. So, watch your step. Jenny Lynn (Saylor) Moore I was born and raised in Wallins ,lived there until I was 28 moved to Florida w/ My husband David Moore from Graysknob, we both graduated from James A. Cawood, My heart is still in the mountains, you can take the girl out of the country but you cant take the country out of the girl, we long to come back some someday Lord willing, I am a Harlan girl to the bone. You do remember he is my step-daddy?? E Hudson. I have no information on a Clarence Leonard in our family tree. We laugh at them but let them have their fun. Harlan. Thanks for the article. Were from coal mining stock. They had no desire to ever live anywhere else. I rarely saw Janice after I left the hospital, Im from a family of 12, but no inbreds here, but I do know cousins who married. I believe they graduated for there on 83. Your article is awesome! I was born in Pineville, Ky but grew up in Pathfork. I went to college and had personal and professional opportunities that pulled me away. Even though they have visited my homeland many times, they remain baffled by it. I havent lived in Harlan in 30 year, but if someone asks where Im from, Harlan is the immediate response. I dont think I have an accent but get me out of Pike County and they all say I do. Loved your blog and thought it to be an accurate description. Take care. Besides the accident of birth, we have certain commonalities: Harlan Countians can be found everywhere. My great grandpa ran a mill there. Growing up, I didnt feel particularly tough. Joseph "Jock" Yablonski. Thanks. The folks in Brookside were surely Harlan Countians as was the chief gun thug, Basil Collins. Daughter has owned her own business in Harlan for thirty years. He was my English teacherand a good one at that. My reply was that he didnt scare me, I am from Harlan, Kentucky! We cant include any counties on the Ohio River. Goodbye Fleming, Nicholas and Robertson Counties. Thanks for the kind comments. Oh the cheese made the best grilled cheese, My wife from Ohio and my 2 children even loved it. This is where Norma lives, was the reply. I couldnt quit reading it. Scott describes the murder of Lawrence Jones by Billy Bruner. Holmes mill was actually named after my family. What Mountains besides the one on the border with Virginia, Black Mt.(?)? Yes, we have folks living in povertytoo many (as though there is an acceptable level of suffering) but most folks live just fine. Our teeth arent all that bad, although mine arent great. Web8.what happened to basil collins kentucky Author: t4wkr.ac.th Post date: 22 yesterday Rating: 3 (1965 reviews) Highest rating: 4 Low rated: 1 Summary: January 30, 1868, I have a heavy heavy accent. It was a Best Western when it was first built. Harlan is quiet, unless you grew up near the railroad tracks like I did. I know exactly where you were driving. We were just there in July , I love going back to visit. My grandfather worked in the Sunshine mines in the 20s and 30s. Are we still allowed to be in Appalachia? Lots of memories from Harlan. I think we also went to RC Bottling Plant at Loyall. Did you know Jimmy C. Morgan? The Chappells Dairy Slogan: It may be good and not be ours, but it cant be ours and not be good. I have many good friends I have met through the Hall High Gamecock web site. Also as a child there was a Ski Lodge and slopes on Black Mountain. Thank you so much for this, it came at a time when I needed to count my blessings, and being born in Liggett, and raised in Pansy, I truly was blessed. Enjoyed the article. And of that i am very proud. She was a great homemaker and was full of wit, wisdom and love. I lived in Harlan for many years just ended up there one day and loved it and stayed I was not born or raised there just lived Place is wonderfull Im 25 so I would love to go back I call it home I feel home there I moved bout a year ago to Indiana. They know whats best for Harlan, though, and wont hesitate to tell you. Ive never known anyone who didnt wear shoesand I knew some pretty rough characters. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit but my parents were from Harlan County, my dad born in Holmes Mill growing up in Highsplint, my mother born and raised in Black Mountain eventually leaving and lived in Corbin. The Short area), my last name being Short The economy continues to contract and isnt likely to get much better. Unemployment in 2017 was 9.4 percent, far above the national average. . We are our own world. Ive really enjoyed reading this article. My parents who were also my papaw and mamaw owned Tiny Jos market in Baxter. I love your wifes Loll great story! Bloody Harlan is just badass. . We also have accents, heavy mountain accentsthe kind that can be indecipherable even to natives of the area. We were always suspicious of outsiders, especially those offering help. We could tell if you were from Ohio or Michigan or some other exotic place. Youve made me think about Harlan all day today and its been a good day. We knowthat houses have winders and chimleys. Edit. Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com. John, this is really good stuff! I guess this was one of many reasons my dad thought California was a good choice for me. Any of that sound familiar, Pingback: SoWhere Are You From? He tell the difference between bills by touch. Harlan County is not on the way to anywhere. And hell, I was taken at knife-point down into the creek at Hall when I was in 6th grade. My grandparents, Elve and Flaura Campbell, moved to Sunshine and eventually to Loyall. Of course you have to wash it all down with whole milk from Chappells Dairy! I left to go to school at EKU, meet my wife there, she is from Ohio. I live in Lee Co,Ky. Weve been in the Lexington area since then, but we still say back home when we are talking about Neon and Jenkins. Everyone I knew (including my family) ate government cheesethe best cheese ever. That is where my husband grew up. the Ackley Hotel in Harlan until he retired and moved back to Cumberland. My grandfather was from Island Creek, and my grandmother was from Harold. Crackin me up. If we had a problem like that today in my slice of Suburbia, there would be a full-blown panic. Went to JACHS then moved to Indiana an I havent went home in a long time.

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