Charles Leonard Birmingham, AL. Some escape, but most dont. Were also the last of a breedand this applies to all of Appalachia. Basil was a neighbor of ours when I was a kid, so I know he was real. 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. Life in the mountains is easy or hardvery little in between. Also attended and graduated from Loyall High, where I was cheerleader and fairly popular. If someone tells you that he or she is from Harlan, they could mean any town from Pathfork to Holmes Mill to Cumberland to Cranks. Theres no future. I remember an encounter with the business end of a 38 special at the Smith lake boat ramp late one night. Raised up on Happy Top, Back Street and Creechs. Maybe they never left. I feel like they are missing something that we experienced, but so is life. It reeked of Pine Sol. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . There are gun thugs in Harlan County, U.S.A., in particular a mean, squinty-eyed, jackal named Basil Collins, his pistol sticking out of his Dickies like a goofy cap gun. 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. Graduated from jach in 78. 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. Robert Basil (Bob) Sydney, NS. Age 82. Its too dull. 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. Harlan's mother was a music teacher. You hit the nail on the head. Andas for the grid: Morehead is east of Middlesboro. And we DID bathe just like people from up north. I was able to buy it when we lived in the Corbin area for $20 a box. I must admit, however, that we have had few issues adjusting to Tennessee except for the color orange. Yes, Big_O,, I remember the man you asked about. I have always considered Harlan my second home. I had friends in Pathfork. February 24 . Born on. U can take me out of Ky. but u cant take Ky out of me!!!!!! I found a place to turn around and get back down the road and get my act together. Oh yeah, one last thingI am a coal miners daughter..and damned proud of it. We mispronounce light, fight, white and night. It was gray and you had to add the coloring to it. Very proud of my heritage. Police said in February 2013, Shell murdered Ronnie King, a former Evarts mayor, and set his house on fire . He was retired from the Harlan Co. Board of Education with 35 years of service in the maintenance department. 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. My cousin posted the link on Facebook and I have not been able to move till finishing the read. 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. Caroline Andrieu for Variety. They dont like being from Harlan. Being a descendant of such a controversial character of those times I may be asking for a social beating on here. And the tell me they can always tell when Im talking to a relative on the phone for the same reason. If you dont believe me, I just might have to kill you. Dad used have him mow for us sometimes. 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. This excludes Boyd, Greenup, Lewis, etc. LO Hi aurea, Ive helped ur grand paw make many many gallons of moonshine just over the hill from ur mom n dads house. Take care. , well leave the porch light on. There is no Holiday Inn Express in Harlan. I have a heavy heavy accent. Enjoyed reading your blog. If I knew them personally I would surly let them know about it too. He was the hardest worker I have ever known. The obvious beingwe are just like you and every one else. Ive also been criticized for making Eastern Kentucky sound too goodand that came from a guy who lives there! He is easygoing for a security guard and handsome in a salt-of-the-earth way. Thanks again for the trip back to the Harlan of my youth! Now kids go to Harlan County High School which consumed Cawood, Evarts and Cumberland High Schools. The experiences never leave me about growing up poor and the shame and humiliation that I felt as a child. Never mind. Irene Whitehead Clark. My mother moved to Harlan County from Pike County at around age 12 and never left except to attend college. The school closed. Contents 1 County Information 1.1 Description 1.2 County Courthouse 1.3 Harlan County, Kentucky Record Dates 1.4 Record Loss 1.5 Boundary Changes 1.6 Populated Places 1.7 History Timeline I suggest you search my blog for my many other posts about life in Harlan County. Like inner cities, there are generations locked into a poverty cycle. 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. I found the search function and found the story. Both my Grandfathers worked in the mines their younger years and I still have a 1st cousin working the mines. Most of us pass through this phase at some point. 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 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. But I have lived in Harlan Co. since 1986 & now I couldnt imagine living any where else. I moved to the Tampa Bay area as a teenager and it was a bit of a culture shock. My Dad was born in Evarts andexpect for military service and collegenever lived anywhere else. Harlan County is not on the way to anywhere. We moved here from a comfortable city life to having no electricity (a new three bedroom house with one bath and hardwood floors. We like that its called Bloody Harlanby some folks even though that name is based upon events which occurred 70 years ago. 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. You havent had a grilled cheese sandwich until youve had one made with govment cheese, govment butter and fresh Bunny Bread. 66, originally of Loudoun County, VA passed away January . I do not claim to be from there so I am not in any of your groups. 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. Have you checked out Welcome To Watts Creek site? He lived there with his wife my Aunt Hazel and their children Laura Jean, Stanley and Mickey. Why? No one from Harlan . She was born March 29, 1940, in Oakley, Kansas, She was preceded in death by her parents; Laurence and Leona . 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. You might even become a best-selling author or reality TV producer. I called some place the other day, got an automated machine.your name, address, (Im sorryI didnt get that could you repeat that again. November 20, 1931 - January 8, 2023 Harlan Price passed away peacefully at the age of 91 years with his wife Harriet at his side. We mine coal and have for over 100 years. Barbara Kopple as Director. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. We also have accents, heavy mountain accentsthe kind that can be indecipherable even to natives of the area. Coal Mining. Basil was a neighbor of ours when I was a kid, so I know he was real. Kentucky Death Records 1911-2000 over 2 million records. I live in Lee Co,Ky. I attended LoyallElementary and Junior High and James A. Cawood High School. Im pretty sure Lanes Cliffhanger was in the old Mount Aire building. The rest of us (that includes me) hate the image of Harlan Countians as violent, uneducated hooligans. Arthur died when his house burned a few yrs ago. Theres nothing to do. Like to have all the money I spent in those places back! My sister in law was born over in Leatherwood. We hung out at Denny Rays, Kens and I cant remember the drive in on the road to Loyall?? Unless you lived in the town of Harlan, you dont go to the city schoolsHarlan High Elementary and Harlan High School. Havent lived there since the late 70s, but Harlan is always home. I knew no one married to his own sister and just a handful married to their cousins. I grew up in Eastern Kentuckyborn and raised as we say. I raised my daughter hereBTW she has owned a successful swimming pool and fence company here for 35 yrs. January 7, 2009 Harlan R. Collins, 89, of Fulton, died Wednesday at his home following a long illness. Kentucky. BTW I live on Watts Creek and have most of my life..off and on. I was one of the Hensley girls that lived on the strawberry farm. born & raised Pathfork Ky~, Thanks. but was always glad to talk to her by phone. Growing up, I didnt feel particularly tough. March 23, 1977. My roots and my heart are there and for me thats important. Im happy living here. For instance, threats didnt faze me. We had a wonderful daughter and divorced when she was nine. In Barbara Kopple 's 40-year career as one of America's . I happened across this blog through a friend. I guess Ive waited too many years to ask, but it would be nice if someone knew of him or my other Grandfather Bill Randolph. Alan Creech, such nice thoughts and memories of this beautiful part of God earth that I am proud to call home. I loved reading your blog and all, or at least most of the comments! 6. We know at least one person whose mother was really their grandmother, and sister was their mother. "Harlan County, U.S.A," opening today at the Outer Circle 2, suffers from some makeshift structural devices and occasional lapses of judgment, but it's an ardent, absorbing work of . The accuracy of the index varies according to the quality of the original images. I too are from Harlan I left in Jan. 1975. When we went to high school, we identified as being from Loyallor Hall or Wallins. We visited my grandparents every summer. John Even though I had been lots of places, leaving Harlan took me out of my comfort zone. If someone tells you that he or she is from Harlan, they could mean any town from Pathforkto Holmes Mill to Cumberland to Cranks. Ralph Osborne, Jr 58 of Bledsoe, KY passed away Tuesday evening of February 14, 2023 at his home. Now, people in Carter County pretty much sound like us, but they have that Interstate. There arent any hotels to speak of, really. Therefore, the kids of this county today only have to step out theyre door and into a pool. . Sometimes you hear gun fire in the distance, but thats in the woods. It will always be home to me. If you need to go someplace that can be accessed through Harlan County, I guarantee that theres an easier, quicker way to get there. If not, you should. Have lived in SC for the past 25 yrs but everyone who knows me knows where I come from. Then, I moved to Lexington, Kentucky and found out that I was pretty tough by Lexington standards. She talks about growing up in the Brookside mining camp. Born and raised as you said in Lynch You pretty much hit the nail on the head.. great write-up. I love your wifes Loll great story! What did he end up doing after the strikes? I can relate to alot of it. My Mom moved to Cumberland from Pike County when she was 10. I have many good friends I have met through the Hall High Gamecock web site. She laughed. Basil Collins Harlan County Obituary, He also served in the 4th Supply Company, in Stockton, California. I live in Lexington now as well have since 1990. Harlan County, Kentucky: UMWA on a 13-month strike at Brookside mines and on the pick line at Highsplint mine. Region. You are so right, except I dont know anyone named Lonzo. You hit the nail on the head ~ Love this! Crackin me up. 7. If you read it carefully, youll note that I said I havent lived there in 30+ years. Brought back some memories. The Fuzzy Duck, the Corner and the VFW. Ruby did you know a family named Clark? I left a long time ago and went back to live there once for a few years. Hollywood Bledsoe from the mouth of Cloverlick in HC, once wrote a song about Government Cheese. 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. Thats when people get their checks. Its nice to remember, though. Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries Search; Sponsored by Ancestry. Bell county baby.We got the mountains here too. We hiked deep into the woods for good sled trails in the winter. I go back to Ky at least once a year. 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. They might have gone to college or joined the military. Entertained by the tendency to call you a mooron and ignorant while not fully grasping the importance of grammar and spelling. I lived in Cumberland for 2 years from ~ 1974-1976. Thank you so much for sharing. | Coal Troll's Blog. There arent running gun battles anymore like the famed Battle of Evarts many decades ago. Fine set of words here! Obituaries may be a good source of information about a person and may also include information about family members. I didnt mean to turn my comment into a mini blog, but you inspired the flood of memories! Before Justified, many people got their image of Harlan from the award-winning documentary Harlan County USAwhich followed the Eastover coal mine strike at Brookside, Kentucky. Sadly, they didnt seem to be doing well. He points a gun directly at the camera in one scene. I am a Harlan Countian, born in Harlan at the old hospital as they call it. They might as well have been in different states. Funeral Home Phone Number Website; Barnes Funeral Chapel: 419-822-5995: www.barnesfuneralchapel.com: Grisier Funeral Home And Cremation Center: 419-822-31 Ive often heard that anywhere you go on Earth you can find someone from Harlan county. First, much of what I wrote is tongue in cheek. 22 years old. I must say it is a great read. Collins starts flinging the N-word at a black miner at one point, apparently to make himself come off as that much more evil. Managed by: Carlton William . I remember when you had to take a gravel road from Pineville to Loyall when they were building the new 119. He was born April 13, 1930, in the town of Kickapoo, Vernon County, Wis., to James and Helen (Larson) Drake. I am an outlander. In fact, I got up this morning with the intent or renewing my research. You werent one of us. I believe they graduated for there on 83. Loved reading your blog and reminiscingI was raised in Harlan County both parents having been from there. Death Notice. It will now be in Bell County Circuit Court starting Thursday after a change of venue. Thanks! We didnt all drink Mountain Dew as babies. Read my post about growing up in Loyall sometime. I dont live in Harlan now, but Im still a Harlan Countian. your a fuckin mooron ive lived here all my life ,my family pioneered this place ,both sides, why arent u still living here? She was one of my favorite. 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. Im class of 83. As for accent and all that, I never noticed having any problems understanding anything anybody said, strange utterances, etc. She was a great homemaker and was full of wit, wisdom and love. I was raised over the mountain at Little Laurel. This, so they say, makes them mountain people. Thanks. The late Norman Smith was a classmate of mine at JACHS. Oh the cheese made the best grilled cheese, My wife from Ohio and my 2 children even loved it. Next, everyone is not here because we cant escape. Happy to be an Outlander! Moved to Indiana at about 15 or 16 years of age. 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. Right now, its in a big down turn. He was born on August 21, 1964. Born and raised in Harlan, graduated from HHS in 1974, and UK in 78.went to work in Washington DC.talk about culture shock! Are we still allowed to be in Appalachia? His name was Arthur Johnson, he was from Cumberland, but lived at Sometimes, these people would show up to help us. My much loved step daddy moved us to his hometown after he was discharged from the Army. Memorials. We went to the movies most weekends and to every football and basketball game. 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. Well written and interesting. I dont know exactly when died, but it was sometime in the 1980s. I guess teenagers everywhere just hang out. Im pretty sure I remember Lance. By the way, Cumberland had the Novo Theater and the drive-in theater as well. Funny thing is, thats what my kids do, even though they live in a small city with a million things to do. I couldnt quit reading it. Harlan County, USA is a 1976 American documentary film covering the "Brookside Strike", [1] a 1973 effort of 180 coal miners and their wives against the Duke Power Company -owned Eastover Coal Company's Brookside Mine and Prep Plant in Harlan County, southeast Kentucky. A meeting of the Brookside women's support group. Any of that sound familiar, Pingback: SoWhere Are You From? 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. I rarely saw Janice after I left the hospital, Harlan County, Kentucky: UMWA on a 13-month strike at Brookside mines and on the pick line at Highsplint mine. Now, dont confuse Harlan County with the town of Harlan, our county seat. A mouthy little man like me finds out the hard way that bad is good, but big is better. That bastion of journalism, Hustler Magazine, once listed Harlan (the town) as one the three meanest towns in America. 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. Rest assured that no one in my family considers me a disgrace or embarrassment, but your concern is noted. I miss Government Cheese. 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 . When I went to college, I befriended other Eastern Kentuckians. I knew Lisa vaguely. I graduated from Cumberland High School in 1975. My Uncle Ralph Leonard was Pastor at the Baxter Methodist Church before it was moved. Now, far in the past, at least until I visit. They didnt know what to do with me! Born and raised as you said in Lynch you pretty much sound like us, but have. Away Tuesday evening of February 14, 2023 at his home who knows knows. 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