I was born in Harlan County, Louellen specifically, but moved away when I was little due to my dad being in the Navy. I ate government cheese as often as we got it. Dickens said it best . A striking coal miner was in critical condition last night in Harlan County, Ky., after being struck in the head by a shotgun blast. Tons of great memories and good friends. We didnt all drink Mountain Dew as babies. 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. The original Mount Aire Motel was on Pine Mountain, and it burned down in the 70s. I not THAT old! 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 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 had to laugh at your reference to government cheese. It really was good stuff! I pass by there to go to my mothers home, it is amazing to see in Harlan Co. inside lacrosse schedule; bradley county 911 active incidents; dodgers home run seats menu; what happened to brittany on the jeff kuhner show. You hit the nail on the head ~ Love this! Of course, theres a downside. I must say it is a great read. We hiked deep into the woods for good sled trails in the winter. WebSeveral members stabbed a local sheriff when he dragged a woman violently off the road on 28 February 1974. Sometimes, the film would jam and you could watch it melt. You might even become a best-selling author or reality TV producer. Its a nice place. I would have loved to have had that McDonalds there when I was kid. Born and raised in Cumberland.I live in Florida now loved your article.Proud of my roots! I told him apparently his computer didt speak Hillbilly.I am proud of my head of the holler rasin. One hell of a nice fellow. I love being from there. You have to sound like us. Finally I tried talking like a city slicker but I was too Eastern Kentucky that way. Now, dont confuse Harlan County with the town of Harlan, our county seat. Howard and Lucille Leonard are my grandparents. born and raised in harlan ky live in northern. I still tell people I am from Harlan because it brings instant recognition. And to the ones that moved away (say to the north) or wherever, it shows very little respect and class to put down the place you came from. I respect ALL coal miners. His hair was infamous! When I started reading this blog I thought well this is alright, but as I continued I came to realize that you dont know what the hell your talking about. Holmes mill was actually named after my family. My Mother, Reba Campbell, was born in Liggett. Robertson County is the toughest to exclude. Dad was a good friend of Norman Yarboroughs. I really hacked off one guy about the government cheese. Where you from?..Pike Countylol. So, I speak of how it was 30 years ago. My kids do that, too. I know it well. Small town life can be hard or easy. I attended LoyallElementary and Junior High and James A. Cawood High School. Who are the Harlan Countians? For instance, threats didnt faze me. Havent lived there since the late 70s, but Harlan is always home. I didnt like a lot of your article, some of it is accurate. I remember Alafair. Sometimes, these people would show up to help us. And a little c.r.a.z.y. That is perhaps because I hail from off the grid (Smith). You brought back a lot of memories. THIS is just funny. I have always been proud of being from Cawood in Harlan County. I have all the respect in the world for the good people in Harlan county its rough with mines getting shut down and people loosing what they know best and thats coal Im sorry it rough that is a reason I moved but keep strong everyone in Harlan has a big heart and I promise they are some the best people u ever meet in ur life. 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? Thanks! I try to go back a couple times a year, for nostalgia as much as bagging those elusive, scarce birds. Rarely is an Eastern Kentucky county a destination. Harlan is quiet, unless you grew up near the railroad tracks like I did. IMDbPro. This is where Norma lives, was the reply. On future blog give Watts Creek a mention. I grew up in this wonderful town, going for summers and Christmas in Atlanta. My mother is Drena Crowder-Leonard. I am now in Knoxville tn, happy as a proud old grandpa can be, and thankful the good Lord saw fit to bring me through times i cant tell about. Unless you lived in the town of Harlan, you dont go to the city schoolsHarlan High Elementary and Harlan High School. It has to be kind of tough to get there or at the very least its just on the way to somewhere else. Not at all. And the tell me they can always tell when Im talking to a relative on the phone for the same reason. Pat your name seems familiar. To add to my previous comment above, my other Grandfather was Elijah Depew (nicknamed Lidge? heres the link: (LogOut/ Different, but nice. No Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, etc. Brought back alot of memories. They arent isolated enough. Ha, Ha. We meet in Williamsburg, but I love going back to the Creek. A friend of mine once drank a beer from a girls cowboy boot at the Lounge. Have you checked out Welcome To Watts Creek site? John I cant believe you didnt even mention the no nothin about. What do you suppose that would translate into? I am doing a genealogy study on the Leonards, McKendricks and Boteler families who lived at one time in Harlan County and some that still do. Congrats on a good job describing a little bit of what most folks cant imagine happened. . I am definitely proud of my heritage, both generally mountain/Appalachian and Harlan County in particular. Fine set of words here! Thanks for the kind words. I-64 runs through Montgomery, Bath, Rowan and Carter Counties. NOTE TO SELF: Dont move to Ages,Ky,Home of Brookside Mine, during a strike. Andas for the grid: Morehead is east of Middlesboro. One guy said we were like Indians who left the reservation. Oh the cheese made the best grilled cheese, My wife from Ohio and my 2 children even loved it. My Dad was born in Evarts andexpect for military service and collegenever lived anywhere else. Pingback: Im Baaaackmaybe | Coal Troll's Blog, Loyall kid hereloved finding this. I was raised in Wallins Creek and Cumberland by my Mamaw as a child. Ive got a few more Harlan County memories. Fantastic post, though. These are the folks who stayed in Harlan. I will list it here. We often visited Harlan as most of our relatives were there. It was a movie experience like no other. Enjoyed the article. I left here when i was 15 came back in my late 20s. Hey, I actually remember the Cliff Hanger (by reputation only), but it was not for my younger crowd. My dad taught there from 66 96. loved her. Myself, Im from Loyall which is three miles from the town of Harlan. . My maternal grandparents grew up in Black Star coal camp and Papaw taught at Hall High. I have been gone for 40 years I still have my Harlan Co accent and the kids have lost their Eastern Ky accent. My husband and I are the black sheep as I am an attorney and my husband is an accountant. Loved the blog Ive told many people about the govment cheese. Others leave to find better opportunities. as differences, real ones, but the rest is a little over stated, like JUSTIFIED, eh? The coal industry known for its boom and bust cycles was in a slump. What Mountains besides the one on the border with Virginia, Black Mt.(?)? In Harlan County, tensions were high between the striking miners in Kentucky and the mine owners. I KNOW A LOT OF REALLY GOOD PEOPLE AT CAWOOD AND SMITH, KY. Mrs Abraham was my Home Ec teacher @Hall High. So, watch your step. A few notes: The qualifications for Eastern Kentucky status include: I hail from Harlan County, the Eastern Kentuckiest of all counties. Being 60yrs old now, I am very proud of my ancestors and family heritage. I just cant get enough of the haters. John,I also remember those 1st grade field trips. I graduated in 71 from JACHS. We moved here from a comfortable city life to having no electricity (a new three bedroom house with one bath and hardwood floors. I lived through that strike, my dad was in charge of security for Eastover, so I guess that made him the head gun thug to many. Most of my old mean crowd are dead. 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 Her husband had been killed during the war. My grandfather worked in the Sunshine mines in the 20s and 30s. My Mom was a nurse at the hospital there (where I was born in 66). Great article!! We outlanders like our Harlan roots. While not as corrupt as his predecessor Boyle, he seems on his way down that pathor not. Girl fights were always the best. They had four children..and not once did he ever treat me nor my older brother like step-chilldren. Very isolated. It even had an old balcony whererumor had itblack folks used to be seated. Director Barbara Kopple lived among the miners families and captures an intimate portrait of a movement. Moved to Indiana at about 15 or 16 years of age. The truth, of course, probably lies somewhere in the middle. And should I know you? He worked at Eastover for several years after the strike until Duke closed the mines. Dad used have him mow for us sometimes. One day I kidding with a guy about something he was buying and at some point he says that hes from Mingo, West Virginia. We didnt have that problem when I lived there. Bad and small isnt a recipe for success. Glad I did not move here and my kids there, My children have been able to say they are from Eastern Ky as both were born down there. 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. 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. Maybe they were hoping to see (or experience) some kind of catastrophe. I am an Outlander (orlando), looking to be a Stalwart. 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. It was quiet then. We hung out at Denny Rays, Kens and I cant remember the drive in on the road to Loyall?? Mountains. I used to try and derail the presumptions, now I just embrace them. Anyway, I just had to leave a note. I REMEMBER govt. I was rather disappointed to read all about my competition Garys Lounge. My parents were stalwarts. Oh, and we moaned and complained about not having anything to do. Most OUTSIDE THE COUNTY shopping, doctors visits, etc were in Tennessee In that regard, Harlan is Small Town, USA. You dont see that every day. Thanks for the article. We were not eligible for the government cheese, but my aunt was, & she would always bring us some, every month. One can argue that its always been over-populated what with the chronic high unemployment and high poverty rate. His first feature film was Harlan County U.S.A. (1976, as Himself - mine foreman). But you also are basically running down the place you were born. Abe was in my class @Black Star when it was an elem. My little brother had a knife pulled on him at Cawood. I remember it seemed like every time my high school played Cawood there was a knife fight. Me, my brother and sister went to church every Sundaywe werent allowed to even go to the toilet until after church. Ruth Ann was my older brothers age. Alan Creech, such nice thoughts and memories of this beautiful part of God earth that I am proud to call home. My mother grew up in Cumberland and knew tons of Creeches from up that way. If not, you should. I wonder why they went to Harlan to get married. Therefore, the kids of this county today only have to step out theyre door and into a pool. I have been told that he worked harder than 3 men. I was mostly raised In Floyd Co. KY & did live in Grundy , Va. at one time. 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. 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. My much loved step daddy moved us to his hometown after he was discharged from the Army. Many people watch the FX series Justified. Ive been trying to read up on as much as I can on the people in the documentary. You are so right, except I dont know anyone named Lonzo. No worries. 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.) Then it was quiet except when the trains ran, which seemed like every 15 minutes or so. Just kiddingabout the hate part. The menacing There is no Holiday Inn Express in Harlan. We always found lots of mutual interest things to gab about. Dad was born and raised there. Maybe they never left. Cawood was named after James A. Cawood, long time Superintendent of the Harlan County Schools. Now, people in Carter County pretty much sound like us, but they have that Interstate. Norman was good to my dad, especially during my dads troubles with alcohol yet another commonality of that age. We had a wonderful daughter and divorced when she was nine. I do find a lot of people think Harlan is Hazzard from the TV show, so they ask me if Harlan is in Hazzard county and if I knew Luke and Bo Duke???? Youre probably thinking of Arthur Johnson. Also attended and graduated from Loyall High, where I was cheerleader and fairly popular. If he is still living can you ask him about any Leonard relatives he know about or put him in touch with me. Were you in danger? If you ever lived in Harlan you have been gone so long you dont know what the hell is going on. My grandfolks, originally from Johnson Ct. lived up at the end of a holler. Someone told me that the best way to commit suicide was to stand around in Smith and act like youre counting money! Dont say we are not eastern Kentuckians because we dont speak your slang, or live the life that people from harlin county do. These books are listed as History and Genealogy reference only. They deal with a drug problem that I cant imagine. This film documents the coal miners' strike against the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky in June, 1973. Sweet. Pingback: Hometown Loyall-ty | Coal Troll's Blog. My husband is a retired coal miner. First, there is a Holiday Express in Harlan, and a few other places to stay if you want to visit our town and county. Read my post about growing up in Loyall sometime. They lived near Dionne along the river there. I miss Government Cheese. They are either Harlan by birth or moved there at a young age. My Grandfather/Grandmother was Floyd/Janie Clark. I have to say, I know of nobody named Lonzo. I was even sent back to Atlanta to attend Agnus Scott College, and didnt stay because I actually missed my family AND Harlan County. Jan had so many stories about the hospital. Disability checks. Now kids go to Harlan County High School which consumed Cawood, Evarts and Cumberland High Schools. Happy to be an Outlander! Who are we? 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. =). I graduated Harlan HS, UK, then moved to NYC, culture shock! No wonder I was overwhelmed. Hell, it was the best cheese everthe only thing the Federal Government ever perfected! Christy, I believe we may know each other. I dont know. Ive lived a few places in east ky, but never been to Harlan. wilson combat magwell p320 Thats righttheyll pretend. Theres no future. I have enjoyed these old memories!!! 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. We used to sprinkle sugar over the cheese, before grilling them! You can see it in Google Street Views here: https://goo.gl/maps/QoyKa, Hey my cousin owned the fuzzy duck my papa had a poker house there and boot legged beer iwas raised in the first house coming down black mountain love it go back all the time, Right before you get to lynch golf course coming down black mtn there was a house to the right my great great grand pa had a saw mill there and built the house where my great grand pa lived then my mama got it love it there if I ever hit the lottery ill be back to live and put alot of people to work I love the mtns go there every christmas and summers thanks for the memories cool blog sorry for the grammer lol periods commas all the same to me it. Thank you so much for sharing. Although we certainly werent poor, Government Cheese is excellent, and my Dad would get us a block whenever he could. 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. We knew Jimmy Meeks very well. He said that I was making the county look bad. . I love your blog, it is a great read. Check out some of my other posts. My dad was one of them, outside Tommy Lees barbershop. 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! loved this. My mother moved to Harlan County from Pike County at around age 12 and never left except to attend college. I was born, raised and still live in Pike County. 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. Second, my parents lived in Harlan County their entire lives, as have aunts, uncles, cousins and many of my closest friends. Food stamps, too. I am a Harlan Countian, born in Harlan at the old hospital as they call it. We lived the last house in the head of the holler with my poppy and granny our only neighbors. It would occasionally be condemned but re-open at some point. Im on the state Corrections Commission, so Ive seen her name. Most of us pass through this phase at some point. Im definitely a Harlan County boy. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. (She died in 1995, and I am so glad to have such good and often funny memories of her.) . Pingback: ALL ABOARD THE NERVE GAS TRAIN! I will never be ashamed of where I grew up. They may be from such places as Shields, Jones Creek, Smith, Cranks, Punkin Center or Happy Top, although I can name you folks from all those places who have done quite well for themselves. I left to go to school at EKU, meet my wife there, she is from Ohio. I was born and raised in Harlan County and we moved to Alabama in 1952 when I was 12 years old. All thats left is the yard and that light. So translation you perhaps do not have no prospect of progress which would mean you do have prospect of progress.. you are right few have paid you such complements. I LOVE where i am from and am harlan county proud even when i dont have much to be proud of.lol. Right now, its in a big down turn. The good ones liked my Dad if not, oh well. I graduated from Cumberland High School in 1975. Then, they can come back and pay admission to see where they used to live. It has always been home for me. I dont need tattoos, i have scars. I have been gone from Harlan now for 40 years, One thing I will say is you are accurate in your writings of Harlan. Just so ya know Boyd County is further east than Harlin!!!! Crow Drums 70 (CHS). He had a taxi service called Do me right He was found on the side of the mountain with many bullets in him and his taxi. Theirs will be more like trips to Kings Island, etc. All my mothers family is from Harlan (Baxter, Big Laurel, Loyall) and my heart is there. Its called age, my friend. My name is Julie Crowder-Ward. Been back very few times. I knew a bunch of Napiers (Napper). 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. Jeanette McKendrick Leonard was my Me-maw and the best lady you to have ever been born! Art worked in one of the maintenance departments (cant remember which one). I guess you can tell by my rant that I CANNOT stand anyone putting this beautiful part of Gods earth down. 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. No complaining here though. 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. We only periodically had a movie theater, the fabulous Margie Grand in Harlan. Harlan is mean. It was a thriving community in the 60s-70s. Your mother was my teacher at Hall High for four years. There arent any hotels to speak of, really. Very funny (and true). They had two fabulous sons who have college education with degrees in medical field and other fields. When I went to college, I befriended other Eastern Kentuckians. It is not, as you might think, simply the eastern half of the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. It might have been the wrong side of the tracks, but I knew some good folks from there. U take car cuz. Did you live here? They just inflict harm. 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, Sadly, they didnt seem to be doing well. Although I left Harlan County in 1968, and grew up in Florida, I am still proud to say, I am from Harlan County! Charles Leonard Birmingham, AL. One of the women told her story about him telling her about the gun he had on the seat next to him, under a rag and that if she brought that stick down on his car, he would use it. When I first saw the documentary, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering how my dad would be portrayed, but his name was never mentioned. Still consider Harlan County as home. Some escape, but most dont. Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com. Like anywhere else, you have to hope to you dont cross paths with the bad ones at the wrong time. 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. Loved your blog and thought it to be an accurate description. Were about the same age. Im an outlander, living in Pulaski County. Absolutely loved this!! Like much of Eastern Kentucky, the population has declined for decades. Restoring any closed widgets or categories. I am a faithful Kentucky Basketball fan and follow them year in and year out, through good and bad GO BIG BLUE.. I instructed her to be on the lookout for a Harlan countian. Your ignorant, evidently you dont much about Catlettsburg in the early 1900s . Thanks. Theyre usually the folks who dream of turning all of Eastern Kentucky into a massive tourist destination by having all the people who live there pack up and move. Parents moved to Dayton, OH in 63. I am a born and raised harlan countian. That hurts everyone. Yes, Big_O,, I remember the man you asked about. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . I have many relatives there, but Ive been gone since I graduated from high school in 1979, when my family moved to Corbin. Thanks for letting me rant. I can connect with outlanders here in Georgetown by telling them, I was there the day that McDonalds opened..great times! He was the hardest worker I have ever known. None of my schools still exist. It is a tragedy what Black Jewell Coal company has done to honest, hard working coal Growing up, I didnt feel particularly tough. Then we moved up on Park Hill in Loyall. Janice and I were both switchboard operators and admissions clerk. It reeked of Pine Sol. I raised my daughter hereBTW she has owned a successful swimming pool and fence company here for 35 yrs. How do we know they dont live in a ghetto. When Sheriff If you need to go someplace that can be accessed through Harlan County, I guarantee that theres an easier, quicker way to get there. 63 the Home daily of the 1174, Really enjoyed the read. Even though life was very hard at times, it was filled with family and friends and its been fun thinking about them this morning. You nailed it. I know that area, well, too. 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. 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. Loved reading your blog and reminiscingI was raised in Harlan County both parents having been from there. WebSynopsis. NEAR CLOSPLINT KY AND I AM PROUD TO BE FROM HARLAN CO THAT IS HOME ALTHOUGH I LIVE IN CORBIN KY NOW. As usual John you nailed it!! My older brother and sister were both born at Lynch Hospital. . I am an outlander. I worked as a car hop from Denny rays rite out of high school. Im sorry my great-grandchildren dont have such memories. Outlander here Born at HARH, raised in Grays Knob- attended Hall Elementary and Junior High, JACHS and then got out to attend UK. These are small town people just like in every small town. I do not intend to change it now and I am NOT ashamed of it. I lived in Rio Vista until I was 12. 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. There arent running gun battles anymore like the famed Battle of Evarts many decades ago. My Mom then joined the WAC. I was able to buy it when we lived in the Corbin area for $20 a box. I thought Harlan was great as a kid but my wife told me if I ever wanted a divorce all I had to do was move here to Harlan. But my roots are still strong an a country girl. We like that its called Bloody Harlanby some folks even though that name is based upon events which occurred 70 years ago. I will say Harlan is a great place to be from, I would not want to raise my kids there because of all the struggles I went through, and all the people I knew while growing up there. I have neglected my research of the Leonards and McKendrick for some time because of my health problems. She would forever remain his Georgia Peach. As I was merrily driving along, I was suddenly chastised soundly for missing the road. When attempting to explain to someone where I grew up it was easiest to say somewhere between Harlan and Hazard. I actually grew up on Beech Fork in Leslie County. Coming Down The Cumberland: History of the Maggard Family-- V. N. Bud Phillips 2. He was 85 when he starred in this movie. We drive Chryslers, BMWs, Honda Van, Subaru sports car, Chevy pick-up, Harleys, Hondas, Yamaha V-stars-4-wheelers. Well, I have rambled enough. Eastern Ky is not privvy to divorce is it?? Earlier strikes had resulted in a great deal of bloodshed on both sides. I wanted more for my kids and wife. Rest assured that no one in my family considers me a disgrace or embarrassment, but your concern is noted. Remember all the men that used to hang out around the courthouse, sitting on the little wall? Even though they know whats best for Harlan, we dont really like them. Have a cousin who lives in Evarts and cousins in middle KY. She was a great homemaker and was full of wit, wisdom and love. Hi Julie, Yes I know your mother. You went up 119 to the Loyall turnoff, and youre absolutely right: Any Harlan Countian who turns the corner at Pineville changes languages! SOMEONE MENTIONED SMITH. Basil Collins is recorded in slow motion firing a gun at the camera while members of the strikebreakers beat Ms. Kopple and her crew. | Coal Troll's Blog, https://thetrivialtroll.com/2012/03/10/adventures-in-hitchhiking/, ALL ABOARD THE NERVE GAS TRAIN! If its easy, theres nothing better. They tease me that my accent changes when I cross the county line going back home :-). I got away. I still get over through there for work sometimes. I even remember who it was, but lets let bygones be bygones. They find it hard to believe we had no fast food restaurants. Most of them have never even been to Ky let alone Harlan. The other motel in Browning Acres is Mount Aire Motel. He evidently hasnt been to Harlan lately. Yes, we have folks living in povertytoo many (as though there is an acceptable level of suffering) but most folks live just fine. Hi aurea, Ive helped ur grand paw make many many gallons of moonshine just over the hill from ur mom n dads house. He was a clerk there. Oh, and that knife fight deal down there: I saw a big one at Hall once, in the yard in front of the school crazy watching the teachers try to break that one up.
what happened to basil collins harlan county