made up for my mother,
Vivian D. Wilson for mothers day 2009
the web version is a pdf file, click here.
Underground song
Kentucky Coal Miner-Roger Philpot gallery pics
Underground video made 2009
Russell Lee Pictures of coal field
Images © David Thompson - 2012
Photos 50 plus years old private pictures intended for viewing pleasure
To honor a working American community
Edna Mae Foley passed away January 5, 2013 at 81 years old Knox County Registered Nurse preceded in death by husband, 1995
REMEMBER LABOR DAY WEEKEND SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3rd AT BALKAN SCHOOL. REUNION START GATHERING AROUND 10 AM THE SCHOOL WILL BE OPEN BRING LUNCH & DRINKS SEE YOU THERE
When I think of Labor Day, I think of the Working Man/Woman and what better describes Balkan's people. Hard working people practicing the American Dream by improving our lives and our childrens lives.
Is there any doubt that our families have improved their lives and childrens lives.
It is why we celebrate Labor Day with the Balkan Reunion. May God bless everyone that had a dream and was part of the Balkan history. DMT
The exception has been businessmen like T.J. Asher who in the early 1900s built a railroad to a remote coal mining site called Balkan, against the recommendations of a major railroad company. That company said it could not be done.
The railroad provided good paying jobs for rural people of Bell County and good paying coal mining jobs. At one point coal miners were paid the best wages in the County.
Asher leased his land to the Coal company or operators and in this case the first for Balkan was Southern Mining Company.
The coal industry experience its hay day and slow days, due to the fact that coal sales is based on the demand. The slow days could be long. as during "The Depression".
Some would focus on the relationship between the "company" and the miners.But I would prefer to focus on the people and how they worked together to survive in slow times
Balkan had a population of around 1000 people at the height of coal production.
During slow times, when workers had minimum work hours, gardens plowed and were used extensively. Farm animals were raised on community cleared land and housed in farm buildings.
The last slow time came in the 1950s with miner hours cut to the minimum, workers started moving to northern states that provided a better pay and opportunity.
