Itd be hard to sneeze and not hit a Creech with the spray. Still have a few family members there and many friends. Ive often heard that anywhere you go on Earth you can find someone from Harlan county. I wonder if youre related to Clarence Leonard who lived near Evarts. 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. Born and raised as you said in Lynch You pretty much hit the nail on the head.. great write-up. I lived in Cumberland for 2 years from ~ 1974-1976. Im not from Kentucky saw this blog post through a friends facebook but Ive really enjoyed reading it and the comments! Now, people in Carter County pretty much sound like us, but they have that Interstate. Well written and interesting. So, watch your step. I have enjoyed these old memories!!! I go back to Ky at least once a year. I graduated from Cumberland High School in 1975. I was rather disappointed to read all about my competition Garys Lounge. Next, everyone is not here because we cant escape. You nailed it. Okay, now Im homesick! It was a movie experience like no other. 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, I grew up in Browning Acres, just down the street from both the hospital and Cawood High School. There were several Leonard families in the county in my day. The wrong side of the tracks to the town school crowd of the 1960s. We hung out at Denny Rays, Kens and I cant remember the drive in on the road to Loyall?? He died in 1978, I dont remember the year Basil died, but early 1980s is right. Im from a family of 12, but no inbreds here, but I do know cousins who married. 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. the Ackley Hotel in Harlan until he retired and moved back to Cumberland. TOP 10 what happened to basil collins harlan county Director Barbara Kopple lived among the miners families and captures an intimate portrait of a movement. A mouthy little man like me finds out the hard way that bad is good, but big is better. They might have gone to college or joined the military. They go to other parts of the state or country and live as ex-Harlan Countians. I live in Lexington now as well have since 1990. Although I left Harlan County in 1968, and grew up in Florida, I am still proud to say, I am from Harlan County! I am from Wynntown, went to Evarts High School and live in Richmond Ky. Helped me so much when I worked there. Thanks for the kind words. We knew Jimmy Meeks very well. Nobody has ever even looked at me sideways up there; theyve always treated me well. Lived in Hazard then, after Hazard we came to Ohio. 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. 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. When I went to college, I befriended other Eastern Kentuckians. Im happy living here. The only tv stations the antenna could pick up were out of knoxville Our teeth arent all that bad, although mine arent great. They had two fabulous sons who have college education with degrees in medical field and other fields. My husband has worked in low coal where one had to crawl to get to your section. We currently have a lot of re-fencing to do, interested :). We didnt have that problem when I lived there. Government checks. That I can remember but I cant find my car in the parking lot? The other side was the Lounge, a long, narrow open room with a dance floor. Basil Collins Harlan County Im from Loyall. I would have loved to have had that McDonalds there when I was kid. Im from Tennessee (save your boos for later, lol) and grew up in a very small, rural town with a lot of off the grid inhabitants. Very funny (and true). We are our own world. I live here because I truly love this beautiful part of Kentucky and America. I guarantee you that my Dad knew your father. I do think this is good stuff. His name was Wiley Holmes. 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. After all no one I know would go north of the Ky border to see. It will always be home., Thanks. I lived in Harlan and Loyall. Welcome to Harlan County! As you know we lived near Evarts. 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 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. 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!! There are good people and bad people. Interview with Lois Scott, August 27, 1986 SPOKEdb I loved living in Ages,Ky for the 2 years I was there!! I was born in Pike Co. in 1960 and in my 53 yrs. It was an old theater whose best days had long past. Nimrod Workman. We cant include any counties on the Ohio River. Born and raised in Harlan, graduated from HHS in 1974, and UK in 78.went to work in Washington DC.talk about culture shock! Girl fights were always the best. I have three amazing great-grandbabies. I am a faithful Kentucky Basketball fan and follow them year in and year out, through good and bad GO BIG BLUE.. Im not sure where you found this, but most folks realize that some of it is tongue-in-cheek. John. I was raised on Rhea straight, where the old airport was. 6. We knowthat houses have winders and chimleys. He tell the difference between bills by touch. I remember commodity butter. Ive also been criticized for making Eastern Kentucky sound too goodand that came from a guy who lives there! It is funny how people from all over the Country know where you are talking about when you say you are from Harlan Co. and many of them visibly tense on that statement. LOL LOL..enjoyed the article, One way to prove that someone is from the mountains is if they know someone named Lonzo! 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. And we DID bathe just like people from up north. Pingback: Hometown Loyall-ty | Coal Troll's Blog. Used to go to Cumblin every Fride and satdy nite. That is certainly true, but I must say that those unfortunates (if thats what they are) are the in minority.. I know that area well. Still consider Harlan County as home. Your ignorant, evidently you dont much about Catlettsburg in the early 1900s . I was raised in Wallins Creek and Cumberland by my Mamaw as a child. They might even live in Harlan, but it doesnt suit them. Jeanette McKendrick Leonard was my Me-maw and the best lady you to have ever been born! Edit. Its nice to remember, though. My first trial was in Elliott County. Good stuff, John. 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. The rest of us (that includes me) hate the image of Harlan Countians as violent, uneducated hooligans. Even though they have visited my homeland many times, they remain baffled by it. He died in a house fire a few years ago. You shouldve had to breath half a can of hairspray in the morning after he got out of the bathroom. No complaining here though. How do we know they dont live in a ghetto. Rich Montjoy, I am replying to your post because you didnt say anything bad about Harlan, (Harlan County), Ky. Earlier strikes had resulted in a great deal of bloodshed on both sides. I knew your father-in-law, and mother-in-law. Sudie Crusenberry. I need a shirt like that. Nothing came easy for Dad but he never complained. I was blessed to have been raised in the mountains. To add to my previous comment above, my other Grandfather was Elijah Depew (nicknamed Lidge? 62 (10) 1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1921. I know that area well. Im fortunate that my job regularly takes me to Eastern Kentucky. One person wrote that people visiting here didnt have hotels or anywhere to stay unless they stayed with family. Well.. My Mom and grandparents are gone now but I have always continued to visit with relatives in Harlan every summer. LOL. I KNOW A LOT OF REALLY GOOD PEOPLE AT CAWOOD AND SMITH, KY. Thanks. Murdered while running against Boyle. I was able to buy it when we lived in the Corbin area for $20 a box. Only if were talking to another Harlan Countian would we narrow the description to the town. Now, far in the past, at least until I visit. Many who knew of the hair would be shocked to know he wears it pretty much buzzed these days. I remember when you had to take a gravel road from Pineville to Loyall when they were building the new 119. It is my hometown by choice.I love it, I retired from Ky Dept of Trans (engineering). I used to sleep on the bread racks. A friend of mine once drank a beer from a girls cowboy boot at the Lounge. There are a couple of places to stay, and theyre okay. She was one of my favorite. My dads cousin J.R. Williams owned a shoe shop (cobble shop) in Cumberland. Good old Mikes drive in, where one of Harlan Countys finest young men threatened me with a belt when I stepped in to defend a younger friend. My momma cooked on a coal fired cookstove. Just so ya know Boyd County is further east than Harlin!!!! Yes, Big_O,, I remember the man you asked about. Im very impressed by your writing. 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. U take car cuz. The general store, a thriving Coal community. I bet I heard them talking about you. Happy to be an Outlander! Do you remember the Chappells Dairy slogan? Justified portrays Harlan as a lawless frontier of wanton violence. My grandad lived and mined Stone Ky, in Pike County. They might as well have been in different states. If you dont believe me, I just might have to kill you. Greenup is east of Harlan, Ashland is east of Whitesburg, and if Catlettsburg gets any more east it`s going to be West Virginia, are you seriously arguing with the lat/ and longitude? I appreciate your comments but must, of course, defend myself. jack brock ha d 21 dogs and 21 kids, he got kill by a drunk man he was taking home that was about like the earth quake in los ang years ago it was bad , for those who know my grandpa honey bill saylor and my dad and my friend big al ,arnold lee saylor he was a damn good man i miss alot cause he is in all my boys alot i see him every day yours trunly ronnie gene saylor of molus ky aka molus hollow. John For you truly arent a Harlanian, to show such disrespect. She always bought some, even though she was never sure if doing so was legal. Bad and small isnt a recipe for success. You havent had a grilled cheese sandwich until youve had one made with govment cheese, govment butter and fresh Bunny Bread. My mom (Joyce Abraham) was a home ec teacher at JACHS at the time of government commodities, and she had students who always offered to sell her their cheese for $5.00 a block. Some escape, but most dont. 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? Proud to be from Harlan County.. man now im so homesick!! What Mountains besides the one on the border with Virginia, Black Mt.(?)? My Grandfather/Grandmother was Floyd/Janie Clark. 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 It might have been the wrong side of the tracks, but I knew some good folks from there. Since Ive been gone, Harlanlike all of Eastern Kentuckyhas been devastated by prescription drug abuse. I saw a little of all of it. I USE TO WORK IN THE COAL MINE AT THREE POINT, CRANKS AND HARLAN. Moo-ron. My younger brother and I were born and raised in Dayton. What did he end up doing after the strikes? I am an Outlander (orlando), looking to be a Stalwart. Today, theres not much there for anyone, unfortunately. We have corresponded back and forth for several years about our Leonard connections. I left to go to school at EKU, meet my wife there, she is from Ohio. Mikes Drive In was in Loyall. Pingback: My Life in Harlan County | Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC. We know trash when we see it, and Im not talking about garbage pick up. Harlan County The school closed. Born and raised in Cumberland.I live in Florida now loved your article.Proud of my roots! My Aunt Pauline is 95 now and still lives there. Sweet. Finished my last year in high school from there. The folks in Brookside were surely Harlan Countians as was the chief gun thug, Basil Collins. Trust me on this one. Fine set of words here! Its bleak. He was 85 when he starred in this movie. The Harlan County Way | Coal Troll's Blog Maybe its the camo/orange. The other motel in Browning Acres is Mount Aire Motel. They deal with a drug problem that I cant imagine. Really enjoyed the article. I just know that by writing all this misinformation as if it were this day in time, you have disgraced and embarrassed your people, an you should be ashamed of yourself. HARLAN WILL ALWAYS BE HOME TO ME. I was born in Pineville, Ky but grew up in Pathfork. Harlan County, Kentucky: Basil Collins miner foreman and leader/manager of the scabs confronts picketers with a 45 in his right pocket. Harlan County USA We also have accents, heavy mountain accentsthe kind that can be indecipherable even to natives of the area. Barbara Kopple Reflects Oh the cheese made the best grilled cheese, My wife from Ohio and my 2 children even loved it. Ben Joe Harris disarmed the guy so that it would be a fair fight. My mother grew up in Cumberland and knew tons of Creeches from up that way. Black lung finally got the best of him but legally these days black lung doesnt exist. Women took over the picket lines. On future blog give Watts Creek a mention. Im on the state Corrections Commission, so Ive seen her name. One of the only times I used my dads reputation, telling the guy to go ahead but it was going to be his last night on Earth, because if I didnt kill him, my dad would. It was a thriving community in the 60s-70s. I pass by there to go to my mothers home, it is amazing to see in Harlan Co. 360NG - Basil Collins Harlan County Obituary - Facebook It still is in some ways, although it has been many years since the United Mine Workers Association held great sway. Funny thing is, thats what my kids do, even though they live in a small city with a million things to do. Thanks! 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. We used to be territorial based on our schools. Bell county baby.We got the mountains here too. 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. You do remember he is my step-daddy?? 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. Black Diamonds In My Own Backyard-- Rufus J. Bailey 3. Our football coach , Ed Miracle, was shot in the foot playing golf three weeks later . Of course you have to wash it all down with whole milk from Chappells Dairy! I dont know. Weve been in the Lexington area since then, but we still say back home when we are talking about Neon and Jenkins. It was tough to find two functioning seats together. We drive Chryslers, BMWs, Honda Van, Subaru sports car, Chevy pick-up, Harleys, Hondas, Yamaha V-stars-4-wheelers. I was one of the Hensley girls that lived on the strawberry farm. My Dad used to talk about when they distributed commodity margarine. basil collins harlan county obituary - doranekobass.com Overall, we like the stereotypical portrayal of Harlan. Im sorry that I didnt do more to keep in closer touch with them both as we grew older. I was mostly raised In Floyd Co. KY & did live in Grundy , Va. at one time. There arent any hotels to speak of, really. If you read it carefully, youll note that I said I havent lived there in 30+ years. Enjoyed reading your blog. I am VERY new to the blogging world. 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. Theyre still there. It was gray and you had to add the coloring to it. Even though I had been lots of places, leaving Harlan took me out of my comfort zone. It has to be kind of tough to get there or at the very least its just on the way to somewhere else. My great aunt Alafair lived there till she died and her beauty shop was still there, run by one of daughters the last time I was there. I have to say, I know of nobody named Lonzo. She would forever remain his Georgia Peach. He evidently hasnt been to Harlan lately. If you have a book related to Harlan County and it's people. I am a brand new grandma and I am Mamaw to that beautiful baby. I am sure he is talking about when he grew up and how times were then I am from Harlan live here now .I loved the article and havent read anything disrespectful . By the way, I think grilled cheese sandwiches made from government cheese were the best! Thank you. I have been told that he worked harder than 3 men. I know exactly where you were driving. The result - Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976) - was an astonishingly intimate and passionate work that won the Oscar for Best Documentary and recently was selected as one of twenty-five films by the Library of Congress to be placed on its Film Registry. 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. Basil Collins; Did you know. I LOVE where i am from and am harlan county proud even when i dont have much to be proud of.lol. We lived the last house in the head of the holler with my poppy and granny our only neighbors. Among this crowd are those that my father called off the grid. He said we had a sub-culture of people so far off the creek that they werent plugged in to the modern world. Others leave to find better opportunities. Some of these folks do leave Harlana lot of them, in fact. Brings back so many memories. Welfare checks. ha! Each letter she wrote me held the news. Join us . Like you, I loved growing up there but couldnt see myself living there now. How can I contact your Uncle Clarence E. to find out if he has any information to help with my research? We got spanked when we needed itdidnt hurt us one bit but sure made us better kids growing up and better adults today. My great granny and grandpa lived in Harlan when they first married but moved to Leslie county. =). I love your wifes Loll great story! Ive lived a few places in east ky, but never been to Harlan. Always. 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. Love love love Harlan County Kentucky and the people. 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 he passed away in 2013. his wife, jan, passed back in february of this year. There are a lot of us spread over the country, but we still think of ourselves as being from Harlan. He used to go visit with Norman during the strike. Have you checked out Welcome To Watts Creek site? In talking about monthly checks, I can remember visiting my family in Louellen, a coal mining camp in those days, and going down to the the company store and watching people get their cheese in blocks and their commodity meat which was actually spam. I used to try and derail the presumptions, now I just embrace them. And the tell me they can always tell when Im talking to a relative on the phone for the same reason. It was the latest violent incident in My Mom graduated from Cumberland High School. The experiences never leave me about growing up poor and the shame and humiliation that I felt as a child. loved this. Lots of memories from Harlan. Our reputation precedes us. Just curious, if you struggled with the inclusion of Whitley county..what was your rationale for the inclusion of mccreary county? Harlan My dad was certainly a bad ass, growing up in a time and place that required that to survive. wilson combat magwell p320 I was born in Harlan County, Louellen specifically, but moved away when I was little due to my dad being in the Navy. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . I was looking for the turnoff to Loll. I do not intend to change it now and I am NOT ashamed of it. My dad taught there from 66 96. Everything is right on! In the summer a friends Dad (The Blantons) would take us up the river in his pickup and wed spend the day floating back in rafts in the summer or wed spend all day at the city pool. Also, I find the surest way to know someone is from SEKY is after telling them where Im from they follow up with, do you know so-and-so? I love that. One guy said we were like Indians who left the reservation. Coal Mining. Loved Justified. I dont live in Harlan now, but Im still a Harlan Countian. Besides the accident of birth, we have certain commonalities: Harlan Countians can be found everywhere. Harlan Countians like Justified. Thanks for reminding me of a great memory of my mother! I lived there 6 years and worked in the mines . Clarences family was pretty small. This has been the driver to be obsessive about work and a career. I am a born and raised harlan countian. Eastern Ky is not privvy to divorce is it?? Thanks again for the trip back to the Harlan of my youth! 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. My parents didnt ever say much about their lives or or about my Grandfathers as both of them met violent deaths back then. We live in McCreary Co now, so still SEKY. I was born and raised in Liggett. It has always been home for me. alabama state tax refund status I just tried a case in Illinois. | Coal Troll's Blog. If not, you should. Thats pretty cool. Great story and oh so true, every word of it. I have no information on a Clarence Leonard in our family tree. THIS is just funny. I need to work Watts Creek in to a future post, for sure. Harlan County If we had a problem like that today in my slice of Suburbia, there would be a full-blown panic. Its nice to read good thoughts of Harlan County. We still miss it! WebHarlan County U.S.A. 8.2. Were isolated. what happened to basil collins In reference to going swimming in the river and the city pool, we did that too. All my mothers family is from Harlan (Baxter, Big Laurel, Loyall) and my heart is there. Loyallalso had a theaterthe Roadenuntil I was about 6 years old. Were from coal mining stock. .I didnt think to ask them while they were alive. Coming Down The Cumberland: History of the Maggard Family-- V. N. Bud Phillips 2. And of that i am very proud. Ive really enjoyed reading this article. Unless you lived in the town of Harlan, you dont go to the city schoolsHarlan High Elementary and Harlan High School. If you ever lived in Harlan you have been gone so long you dont know what the hell is going on. I remember it seemed like every time my high school played Cawood there was a knife fight. 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. This film documents the coal miners' strike against the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky in June, 1973. Also attended and graduated from Loyall High, where I was cheerleader and fairly popular. My mother drove through Brookside to go to work every day, so I also know the strike was real. ITS GOOD TO HEAR FROM OTHER HARLAN CO PEOPLE. Didnt know him well, but I remember him. I visit very often, as my father still lives there. In Harlan County, tensions were high between the striking miners in Kentucky and the mine owners. No Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, etc. Raised up on Happy Top, Back Street and Creechs. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Art worked in one of the maintenance departments (cant remember which one). You brought back a lot of memories. Would I be a pretender? HA! I knew a bunch of Napiers (Napper). One can argue that its always been over-populated what with the chronic high unemployment and high poverty rate. Edit. I just cant get enough of the haters. After hours we would head to the American Legion behind the Post Office. John,I also remember those 1st grade field trips. My mother taught Home Ec at Evarts for 28 years. I am an outlander from Bell County and so enjoyed reading this! I also have no desire to change this wonderful region.am I forgiven? Sometimes, these people would show up to help us. Basil Noel I told him apparently his computer didt speak Hillbilly.I am proud of my head of the holler rasin. cheese. | Coal Troll's Blog, My Life in Harlan County | Williams Kilpatrick, PLLC. These are small town people just like in every small town. Are we still allowed to be in Appalachia? And they were well respected. My Uncle Ralph Leonard was Pastor at the Baxter Methodist Church before it was moved. I left Ky in 1990 but go back very very often. Arthur died when his house burned a few yrs ago. I didnt mean to turn my comment into a mini blog, but you inspired the flood of memories! Ive never known anyone who didnt wear shoesand I knew some pretty rough characters. Construction on the house beat the power company by a few years. My mother is Drena Crowder-Leonard. My Dad and his six siblings were all raised in Evarts. Im pretty sure Lanes Cliffhanger was in the old Mount Aire building. Take care! 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. IM RETIRED AND LIVE IN TN NOW BUT I GO BACK TO HARLAN ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. Jenny, I worked in Harlan Co. in the 90s on the railroad and worked with a Saylor but cant remember his first name. Its too dull. My grandfolks, originally from Johnson Ct. lived up at the end of a holler. Oxford American | The Ballad of Harlan County Thanks. About 1,000 people lived there when I was a kid. I do not claim to be from there so I am not in any of your groups. Look at my blog post Adventures in Hitchhiking, and youll see a story about JImmy picking me up hitchhiking one night. You hit the nail on the head. Just discovered your blog. Anyway, thanks again. I have more memories of the younger Brittons that are closer to my age. You mustve been a good student, John.

Michael Alan Singer Daughter Durga, Where Is Meghan Markle's Mother From, Lincoln Regional Center Staff Directory, Police Departments Using Benchmark Analytics, Gold Hallmark Date Letters, Articles W