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. art halcomb. Great story and oh so true, every word of it. Good memories there. You do remember he is my step-daddy?? On future blog give Watts Creek a mention. 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. The coal industry known for its boom and bust cycles was in a slump. Basil Collins - Wikipedia I have been gone for 40 years I still have my Harlan Co accent and the kids have lost their Eastern Ky accent. 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. No one from Harlan . Even though I had been lots of places, leaving Harlan took me out of my comfort zone. Others leave to find better opportunities. The original Mount Aire Motel was on Pine Mountain, and it burned down in the 70s. I need a shirt like that. Whatever happened to Basil Collins? - Answers 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 I didnt like a lot of your article, some of it is accurate. I still have a lot of family living in Harlan, Evarts, going all the way to Holmes Mill (Alias. THIS is just funny. Everything is right on! Its bleak. Ive often heard that anywhere you go on Earth you can find someone from Harlan county. I left Ky in 1990 but go back very very often. Thats pretty cool. The Fuzzy Duck, the Corner and the VFW. I have no information on a Clarence Leonard in our family tree. One can argue that its always been over-populated what with the chronic high unemployment and high poverty rate. Life in the mountains is easy or hardvery little in between. Thank you so much for sharing. I live in Northern KY now but all my family still resides in Harlan so I visit a lot. Doris, do I know you? I aint convinced about mccounty What is Eastern Kentucky? Remember all the men that used to hang out around the courthouse, sitting on the little wall? Were also the last of a breedand this applies to all of Appalachia. Also attended and graduated from Loyall High, where I was cheerleader and fairly popular. Harlan has always been divided into pro- and anti-union. filmboards.com - Basil Collins The folks in Brookside were surely Harlan Countians as was the chief gun thug, Basil Collins. So, I speak of how it was 30 years ago. Ill say Im from Harlan, but dont get confused. I never got a straight story from my parents and possibly they didnt know why or what happened. I have always considered Harlan my second home. This is where Norma lives, was the reply. Anyway, I just had to leave a note. My dad was a teacher at JACHS from 1962 to 1968. My Aunt Pauline is 95 now and still lives there. Alternative name. 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!! I first saw the light of day in Oneida, tn because that was the closest hospital & the road l.P. looPwas better You say that you came here now and then, but if you did you would know that we have many amenities and hotels such as a holiday inn express and a comfort inn. I married a Lady, born and raised in Harlan. So much that even some locals have a hard time understanding me. Murdered while running against Boyle. I wouldnt trade my life for anyone else. People gathered at the railroad tracks to watch it. my growing up years were behind the old telephone company next to Robinette Chevrolet which was across from the old Macks Supper Market and down the street from Hackneys. Ben Joe Harris disarmed the guy so that it would be a fair fight. This excludes Boyd, Greenup, Lewis, etc. Youd be surprised how many of us moved here from other places (quite a few from other countries), were welcomed as friends, made our homes here and raised our families here. Many people watch the FX series Justified. Enjoyed reading your blog. Theirs will be more like trips to Kings Island, etc. I graduated in 1964. I still call Harlan home, and as our family decreases, we return to our home to rest in Resthaven until we are all reunited in the hereafter. John, this is really good stuff! I knew your father-in-law, and mother-in-law. Moo-ron. Stalwarts, outlanders, pretenders, loathers you left one group out. That is perhaps because I hail from off the grid (Smith). I was born and raised in Harlan County, from Jones Creek, graduated from Evarts High. Would I be a pretender? Harlan Countians did not like that. Finally I hang on long enough to get a real person. There she met my father and I was born in 1952. Now, far in the past, at least until I visit. So my family got to enjoy it even tho they never lived in Harlan. Black Diamonds In My Own Backyard-- Rufus J. Bailey 3. Anyway, thanks again. I graduated in 71 from JACHS. You might even become a best-selling author or reality TV producer. I attended LoyallElementary and Junior High and James A. Cawood High School. I have been gone from Harlan now for 40 years, One thing I will say is you are accurate in your writings of Harlan. My much loved step daddy moved us to his hometown after he was discharged from the Army. JACHS did not open until the 66 67 school year. 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, Basil was a neighbor of ours when I was a kid, so I know he was Btw, the Mount Victory part of this county feels very Eastern KY. Just found the blog and enjoyed it. I do not claim to be from there so I am not in any of your groups. Thanks again for the good read. Moved to Indiana at about 15 or 16 years of age. | Coal Troll's Blog, I stumbled across your blog and enjoyed much. Spent a lot of time at the top of the hill up Watts Creek. miners in this county AND other states. My brother and I thought we had died and gone to Heaven. They point to the many fine folks in the county who were (and still are) horrified by the goings on at Eastover. I saw a little of all of it. Help me out with what category to look at to fi the hitchhiking story. I live in Lexington now as well have since 1990. Thanks. When I was young, the Government Cheese truck looked like a scene from an African relief mission. 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. She taught Home Ec, but also taught other classes. I live in Lexington, but always tell people Im from Southeastern Kentucky, Knox Co (not to be confused with just Eastern KY or Knott Co. Geelong. These folks are Harlan Countians, but they dont like it. It was an old theater whose best days had long past. It was described as a place where people only smiled when they heard that someone had died. Loved this! If he is still living can you ask him about any Leonard relatives he know about or put him in touch with me. The rest of us (that includes me) hate the image of Harlan Countians as violent, uneducated hooligans. Looking at Appalachia | Robert Gumpert | Walk your Finished my last year in high school from there. It is my hometown by choice.I love it, I retired from Ky Dept of Trans (engineering). My people have been there for over 200 years, since before it was Harlan. I loved reading your blog and all, or at least most of the comments! I know it well. I was born and raised in Harlan County and we moved to Alabama in 1952 when I was 12 years old. I instructed her to be on the lookout for a Harlan countian. My Mom and grandparents are gone now but I have always continued to visit with relatives in Harlan every summer. Our football coach , Ed Miracle, was shot in the foot playing golf three weeks later . Miss the trains. Two Men Are Shot in Kentucky In Incident Laid to Mine I dont know. One of the great things about Harlan is that changes very little. Give me about 30 minutes, and its like I never left. I not THAT old! I happened across this blog through a friend. I am so grateful to the educators in Harlan who worked so diligently to open our minds, expand our thinking and develop our talents especially in music. We got segregation in those years, and I never knew the difference, we all got along. WebBooks About Harlan County Kentucky Books I purchased and own. Both our families are made up of longtime coal miners and school teachers. Now, dont confuse Harlan County with the town of Harlan, our county seat. My uncle Clarence still lives in Ky. My mother and her Sister Yuvonne live in TN. My grandparents, Elve and Flaura Campbell, moved to Sunshine and eventually to Loyall. i bet you knew my father in law he worked at the loyall store and was the fire chief for a number of years. My husband and I are the black sheep as I am an attorney and my husband is an accountant. Im happy living here. TO JIM CONNOR, jimmy c morgan lives in the big town of sawbriar, near wallins creek. 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? I do not intend to change it now and I am NOT ashamed of it. Really enjoyed the read. I feel the same way, even though my sons say they cant believe I grew up there! Ive been gone for 20+ years now. Art worked in one of the maintenance departments (cant remember which one). 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. I was rather disappointed to read all about my competition Garys Lounge. Although we certainly werent poor, Government Cheese is excellent, and my Dad would get us a block whenever he could. So if you have a iota of respect for you mom and dad, grandma and grandpa you will correct this mess and actually write something that isnt from fifty years ago. My mother grew up in Cumberland and knew tons of Creeches from up that way. It has been both fascinating and sad as well to learn so much about the history, struggles, strength and resilience of the Harlan countians. When I went to college, I befriended other Eastern Kentuckians. I guess you can tell by my rant that I CANNOT stand anyone putting this beautiful part of Gods earth down. Like anywhere else, you have to hope to you dont cross paths with the bad ones at the wrong time. Like much of Eastern Kentucky, the population has declined for decades. You talked funny. The truth, of course, probably lies somewhere in the middle. This strike had only one death. I have always been proud of being from Cawood in Harlan County. In fact, I got up this morning with the intent or renewing my research. It will always be home to me. TOP 10 what happened to basil collins harlan county 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? I have to say, I know of nobody named Lonzo. Goodbye Fleming, Nicholas and Robertson Counties. I have enjoyed these old memories!!! The government cheese, however, is real. Its amazing how many of Moms students I still run into. I knew some fine people from Smith. 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. I went to Cumberland College, Austin Peay Univ for my first masters, Trevecca University for my doctorate, second masters, and administrative certification. Interview with Lois Scott, August 27, 1986 SPOKEdb 63 the Home daily of the 1174, 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. ha! I have a 94 year old aunt who still lives there. We used to be territorial based on our schools. 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 I was in her class the day JFK was shot in Dallas. We meet in Williamsburg, but I love going back to the Creek. I KNOW A LOT OF REALLY GOOD PEOPLE AT CAWOOD AND SMITH, KY. I remember when you had to take a gravel road from Pineville to Loyall when they were building the new 119. I live in Nashville now, it seems like everyone here know someone from Harlan. Billy G. Williams. I know exactly where you were driving. I ate government cheese as often as we got it. No complaining here though. I, too, am from Harlan an outlander like yourself, and I was left laughing and shaking my head at all the things only people like us would know to be true I would love to include a link to this in my own blog, but I dont yet know how to do it, lol. | Coal Troll's Blog, My Life in Harlan County | Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC. Howdy, Dad was born and raised there. Well written and interesting. There is a bleak side to Harlan, as anywhere else. Oh the cheese made the best grilled cheese, My wife from Ohio and my 2 children even loved it. 360NG - Basil Collins Harlan County Obituary - Facebook I will never be ashamed of where I grew up. Im very impressed by your writing. A striking coal miner was in critical condition last night in Harlan County, Ky., after being struck in the head by a shotgun blast. As I was merrily driving along, I was suddenly chastised soundly for missing the road. The vast majority of Harlan Countians are proud to be from Harlan. . My parents didnt ever say much about their lives or or about my Grandfathers as both of them met violent deaths back then. Each letter she wrote me held the news. If I knew them personally I would surly let them know about it too. WebHarlan County, Kentucky: Basil Collins miner foreman and leader/manager of the scabs confronts picketers with a 45 in his right pocket. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Lynch had a skating rink when I was a teenager. I didnt mean to turn my comment into a mini blog, but you inspired the flood of memories! Were you in danger? We only periodically had a movie theater, the fabulous Margie Grand in Harlan. . Brought back alot of memories. Harlan County I also have those wonderful memories, of making grilled cheese sandwiches in the evening, after supper when we as children, never seem to be really full. Government checks. Im sure they knew each other. I remember an encounter with the business end of a 38 special at the Smith lake boat ramp late one night. She was one of my favorite. Im not from Kentucky saw this blog post through a friends facebook but Ive really enjoyed reading it and the comments! And a little c.r.a.z.y. Any of that sound familiar, Pingback: SoWhere Are You From? Hollywood Bledsoe from the mouth of Cloverlick in HC, once wrote a song about Government Cheese. Again I will say Harlan is a great place to be from but I would not want to live there today. Background to the 1931-32 Strike - University of Kentucky In Atlanta, some of the New Yorkers that worked with me at the ad agency used to continually ask me where I was from just to hear me say it. The only tv stations the antenna could pick up were out of knoxville We drive Chryslers, BMWs, Honda Van, Subaru sports car, Chevy pick-up, Harleys, Hondas, Yamaha V-stars-4-wheelers. No matter where Ive traveled in this great country, I never fail to meet someone that is either from Harlan, or knows someone that lives there!! Oh, you might go to Garys Lounge and Roller Rink sometimes. Being 60yrs old now, I am very proud of my ancestors and family heritage. Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976) captures the story of strike conducted by the United Mine Workers of America Local Union in Harlan County, Kentucky. Paddling. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . There are a few folks who left and dont care to ever hear of Harlan again, but thats true of all small towns. They go to other parts of the state or country and live as ex-Harlan Countians. Oxford American | The Ballad of Harlan County They didnt know what to do with me! An outlander is someone who used to live in Harlan. Finally I tried talking like a city slicker but I was too Eastern Kentucky that way. HARLAN WILL ALWAYS BE HOME TO ME. After 8 weeks or so the letter came with I found your Harlan countian!! I was born and raised in Leslie County. My husband has worked in low coal where one had to crawl to get to your section. Your article is awesome! My grandfather worked in the Sunshine mines in the 20s and 30s. Theyre still there. So you see, all of this rambling I have just done is to state the obvious because you have made us sound like we are backwoods, unlearned, in-bred no accounts. They were both sweet, kind, honest, decent people. My sister in law was born over in Leatherwood. Basil was a neighbor of ours when I was a kid, so I know he was real. Howard and Lucille Leonard are my grandparents. We also suffer from stereotyping. Pretty accurate for McCreary Co, as well. I left first to attend Cumberland College, then only a two year school, and later was forced to leave and gravitate north for employment. WebA coal miner silhouetted and barely visible in the darkness of a coal mine calls out a warning three times, fire-in-the-hole, the words all run together melodiously, letting all know hes about to detonate an explosion.So begins HARLAN COUNTY USA, 1976, 104 minutes Directed by Barbara Kopple, Winner Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary 1976. My reply was that he didnt scare me, I am from Harlan, Kentucky! inside lacrosse schedule; bradley county 911 active incidents; dodgers home run seats menu; what happened to brittany on the jeff kuhner show. I get the isolation, and the coal mining( although Boyd , Greenup, and a lot of the others have had some minor strip mining now and then.) 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. Youve made me think about Harlan all day today and its been a good day. I was looking for the turnoff to Loll. This one in particular may be of interesthttps://thetrivialtroll.com/2013/07/13/hometown-loyall-ty/ SO neat to see my family talked about on here! Ha, Ha. It still is in some ways, although it has been many years since the United Mine Workers Association held great sway. Pingback: ALL ABOARD THE NERVE GAS TRAIN! In response to your statement about pretenders, I personally feel Im still a Harlan resident at heart even though I dont live there and dont visit very often. ha! 62 (10) 1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1921. My Dad taught English there for a long time (Mr. Creech). It will always be home., Thanks. I knew no one married to his own sister and just a handful married to their cousins. It has to be kind of tough to get there or at the very least its just on the way to somewhere else. Barbara Kopple Reflects While not as corrupt as his predecessor Boyle, he seems on his way down that pathor not. Your mother was my teacher at Hall High for four years. I had to laugh at your reference to government cheese. It really was good stuff! Their isnt anyone who acts the way you have described them in this concoction, Nor is the area the way you have presented it. But my roots are still strong an a country girl. I believe you will see that I have great affection for Harlan, much more than many of the people who still live there. Trust me on this one. My parents were stalwarts. Our client was suing the City of Sandy Hook. I live in Lee Co,Ky. I believe they graduated for there on 83. I didnt want to leave. E Hudson. loved her. We didnt have that problem when I lived there. Our reputation precedes us. My dad taught there from 66 96. Im sorry my great-grandchildren dont have such memories. The other motel in Browning Acres is Mount Aire Motel. Black lung finally got the best of him but legally these days black lung doesnt exist. WebBasil Collins the mine foreman might have been one of the best villians I have ever seen in movies, except for the fact that he was real. WebHarlan County U.S.A. 8.2. I know you as a Harlan Countain and also as a fine person. One guy said we were like Indians who left the reservation. Were about the same age. We just live somewhere else. 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. Although I left Harlan County in 1968, and grew up in Florida, I am still proud to say, I am from Harlan County! Whitley County is troublesome. My Mom was a nurse at the hospital there (where I was born in 66). And should I know you? I do think this is good stuff. I know that area well. Were from coal mining stock. That is certainly true, but I must say that those unfortunates (if thats what they are) are the in minority.. Edit. Take care! I remember your father well, especially his hair! That brings back fond memories. I have been told that he worked harder than 3 men. And of that i am very proud. Basil Collins was Uncle Basil to us. 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). Im sorry that I didnt do more to keep in closer touch with them both as we grew older. I grew up in Sunshine too. I havent lived in Harlan in 30 year, but if someone asks where Im from, Harlan is the immediate response. A few notes: The qualifications for Eastern Kentucky status include: I hail from Harlan County, the Eastern Kentuckiest of all counties. He worked at Eastover for several years after the strike until Duke closed the mines. Have a cousin who lives in Evarts and cousins in middle KY. I was in Wallins Creeks all day Saturday visiting my niece and stayed at my Mothers in Rhea. as differences, real ones, but the rest is a little over stated, like JUSTIFIED, eh? I was born and raised in Floyd County,I always heard my family came out of Harlan or Harlan County over a hundred years ago.I dont know if there are any STAPLETON family in Harlan anymore,I am proud to be from the HILLS OF KENTUCKY !! If he called on you and you missed the questionBOOM! Daughter has owned her own business in Harlan for thirty years. Alan Creech, such nice thoughts and memories of this beautiful part of God earth that I am proud to call home. I didnt know, but thats before my time. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. I enjoyed your blog ..I too left Harlan to find work ..I recently got turned down for a job doing private duty nurses aide for a new client because I was from Harlan ..The job interview started out very well until she ask where I was from I had an accent 24 years later I still have that accent I think she was worried I was packing a gun..to funny ..love my Harlan county roots ..from Wallins.. ..Oh yeah agree with everyone loved that Gov, cheese. Ive got a few more Harlan County memories. I grew up in the town of Harlan, at the bottom of Ivy Hill. While my friends and fellow graduates were leaving here, I was happy to stay in a place I loved. We currently have a lot of re-fencing to do, interested :). When we went to high school, we identified as being from Loyallor Hall or Wallins. Mostly, we just hung out. Like inner cities, there are generations locked into a poverty cycle. We moved here from a comfortable city life to having no electricity (a new three bedroom house with one bath and hardwood floors. Its nice to read good thoughts of Harlan County. I moved to the Tampa Bay area as a teenager and it was a bit of a culture shock. 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. Many never leave it. Harlan County, USA I think we also went to RC Bottling Plant at Loyall. You hit the nail on the head ~ Love this! https://www.facebook.com/groups/WallinsCreekers/. The obvious beingwe are just like you and every one else. Then, I moved to Lexington, Kentucky and found out that I was pretty tough by Lexington standards. The sinister way he talked. I dont believe Ive ever been called a mooron before. There arent running gun battles anymore like the famed Battle of Evarts many decades ago. Tons of great memories and good friends. Awesome story. They dont want to sound like Harlan or look like Harlan. You probably know others of my family, like my sister Lisa, that worked at the Enterprise for years and now works for Corrections and lives in Georgetown; or my cousins that went to James A.Cawood, Ruth Ann and Gary Cox. Thanks for the comments. The people certainly are of Eastern Kentucky stripe, but they do lack isolation. I volunteer as a cashier at a nonprofits ReStore. We are made to known about his death on September 16, 2020. All thats left is the yard and that light. Lots of memories from Harlan. 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. There were several Leonard families in the county in my day. If youre spending the night in Harlan, you probably have family there anyway. I dont think I have an accent but get me out of Pike County and they all say I do. WebSynopsis. A striking coal miner was in critical condition last night in Harlan County, Ky., after being struck in the head by a shotgun blast. It was the latest violent incident in Harlan County, long a scene of labor unrest. (LogOut/ Whitley County has an interstate so are they still Eastern Kentucky? I was born in Harlan County, Louellen specifically, but moved away when I was little due to my dad being in the Navy. My ancestors settled Smith, hence its name, and Im proud of it being off the grid. Very proud of my heritage. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HARLAN,CO. The previous mentioned Clarence E. Leonard is my Uncle. 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.