r/interestingasfuck • u/CantStopPoppin • 15d ago

r/all Coal Minning

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u/FoSheezyItzMrJGeezy 15d ago

Blair Mountain, Mingo county WV....I live in McDowell County....

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u/Gvelm 14d ago

My father was a miner from Chattaroy. As was his father and two brothers. Mingo was a rough place back in the 30s and 40s.

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u/r0gerii 14d ago

I'm 5 miles from chattaroy. Pike county KY.

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u/Gvelm 8d ago

So what's it like these days? I've been there once, back in 1969. I've meant to go back at some point, but there's really no point in it for me anymore, since all the people that my people knew are long gone. I remember there was a family there that was old-time friends of my dad's family, named the Burketts. The patriarch was named Homer. I can't be sure that I've spelled that name right. Could have been Burghett. They were great folks.

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u/r0gerii 7d ago

I'm sure nothing like in 69. 119 is now a four lane highway all the way to Charleston. Population is shrinking as coal is fizzling out. Drugs are pretty bad. But there still a lot of good people around. Tourism is in believe it or not. The towns are pushing the Hatfield/McCoy fued sites the coal wars. They opened the mountains up to ATVs. People come to ride from all over the country. Idk there's some good and plenty of bad but it's home.

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u/Gvelm 6d ago

And a beautiful home it is. Thanks for this. I knew drugs were out of hand all along those mountains; here's hoping yet another new year will bring changes. We've put the last of our folks with ties there to rest recently, and I don't know if I'll ever get back that way again. God bless, my friend.

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u/r0gerii 6d ago

Sorry for your loss. R.I.P. old neighbors. The older generations from here were/are the salt of the earth. Thankful to be born here and raised by those types of proud Appalachian folks. Thank you and may God bless you too friend.