However, it is likely that the presence of the camera kept the level of murder down during the strike. Great description. Yes, we have folks living in povertytoo many (as though there is an acceptable level of suffering) but most folks live just fine. It was an old theater whose best days had long past. 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. I first saw the light of day in Oneida, tn because that was the closest hospital & the road l.P. looPwas better Charles Leonard Birmingham, AL. It definitely has an Eastern Kentucky feel to it, but its out. 62 (10) 1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1921. One can argue that its always been over-populated what with the chronic high unemployment and high poverty rate. . Lived in Hazard then, after Hazard we came to Ohio. Sherry Jones Hall. I am also a faithful Alabama Football Fan ROLL TIDE. Youre probably thinking of Arthur Johnson. Your ignorant, evidently you dont much about Catlettsburg in the early 1900s . Eastern Kentucky isnt for everybody, it isnt even for a lot of the people who live here their whole life. Theres no future. Wouldnt trade it for anything. Moo-ron. Oh, people still get shot occasionally but at much lower rate than wed like you to believe. My Dad taught English there for a long time (Mr. Creech). I am a badass.. I believe you will see that I have great affection for Harlan, much more than many of the people who still live there. I appreciate your comments but must, of course, defend myself. 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. She graduated from Cumberland High School. I know that area, well, too. I must admit, however, that we have had few issues adjusting to Tennessee except for the color orange. Thanks for the comments. 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. , well leave the porch light on. There are a lot of Harlan Countians that are very happy to be called just that. Its a nice place. You hit the nail on the head. 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. I still call Harlan home, and as our family decreases, we return to our home to rest in Resthaven until we are all reunited in the hereafter. 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. As I was merrily driving along, I was suddenly chastised soundly for missing the road. He tell the difference between bills by touch. Still consider Harlan County as home. I got away. My Aunt Pauline is 95 now and still lives there. So so sad to see that head of the Holler non existent now, all overgrown. I also have no desire to change this wonderful region.am I forgiven? My mother taught at Evarts for many years. (LogOut/ The wrong side of the tracks to the town school crowd of the 1960s. I was born and raised in Harlan, KY a lil place called Sunshine. I do not claim to be from there so I am not in any of your groups. We meet in Williamsburg, but I love going back to the Creek. I was born and raised in Leslie County. 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. They just inflict harm. My Mom was a nurse at the hospital there (where I was born in 66). My Uncle Ralph Leonard was Pastor at the Baxter Methodist Church before it was moved. We rarely hung out with anyone from Evarts or Cumberlandin those days, they had their own high schools. In fact, when I was down there on business a couple of years ago, I saw a couple hanging out in front of rock store. We mispronounce light, fight, white and night. Ive got a few more Harlan County memories. Grew up in Loyall. Facts about Basil Collins, birthday, facts, bio and more. The economy continues to contract and isnt likely to get much better. I made another U turn and started back toward Harlan at a much slower pace and was directed to take the Loyall turn off. In fact, I got up this morning with the intent or renewing my research. THIS is just funny. I married a Lady, born and raised in Harlan. I have been gone for 40 years I still have my Harlan Co accent and the kids have lost their Eastern Ky accent. I grew up in Eastern Kentuckyborn and raised as we say. Enjoyed reading your blog. Mostly, we didnt do much, because there wasnt much to do. I was born in Pike Co. in 1960 and in my 53 yrs. I lived in Harlan and Loyall. I have three amazing great-grandbabies. This is the first time I stumbled across you blog. Check out some of my other posts. Brought back alot of memories. We are related to at least one coal miner. She went back to Harlan as soon as she was discharged. alabama state tax refund status He made shoes. I was blessed to have been raised in the mountains. Coal Mining. I think we overlapped at Cawood for a year. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Welfare checks. After all no one I know would go north of the Ky border to see. 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. I dont get back as often as Id like but always thoroughly enjoy coming back to visit. Where you from?..Pike Countylol. Your article is awesome! I used to try and derail the presumptions, now I just embrace them. My people have been there for over 200 years, since before it was Harlan. And of that i am very proud. I volunteer as a cashier at a nonprofits ReStore. Then it was quiet except when the trains ran, which seemed like every 15 minutes or so. Thats righttheyll pretend. We mine coal and have for over 100 years. LO We often visited Harlan as most of our relatives were there. Our reputation precedes us. Pretty accurate for McCreary Co, as well. You hit home with many of your comments being born and raised in Eastern Kentucky, Sandy Hook, Elliott County to be exact. Bloody Harlan is just badass. Many who knew of the hair would be shocked to know he wears it pretty much buzzed these days. Never making any differences in us. Ive been gone for 20+ years now. . My husband and I are the black sheep as I am an attorney and my husband is an accountant. Oh, you might go to Garys Lounge and Roller Rink sometimes. 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. Very isolated. The rest of us (that includes me) hate the image of Harlan Countians as violent, uneducated hooligans. My mother is Drena Crowder-Leonard. I was able to buy it when we lived in the Corbin area for $20 a box. Tons of great memories and good friends. I worked with them both at Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital in the late 60s, early 70s. I had to laugh at your reference to government cheese. It really was good stuff! Although its closer to Hazard than Harlan, I would reply, Bean Patch Holler on Irishman Creek! They loved it! Spent a lot of time at the top of the hill up Watts Creek. For you truly arent a Harlanian, to show such disrespect. John I cant believe you didnt even mention the no nothin about. What do you suppose that would translate into? Im sorry but I dont think so. 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. His name was Wiley Holmes. I live in Lexington, but always tell people Im from Southeastern Kentucky, Knox Co (not to be confused with just Eastern KY or Knott Co. This was the day that I learned that when we turned the corner at Pineville, my wife changed languages and I needed an translator.. It was quiet then. Mostly, we just hung out. We also suffer from stereotyping. . 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. .I didnt think to ask them while they were alive. I guarantee you that my Dad knew your father. Moved to Indiana at about 15 or 16 years of age. It even had an old balcony whererumor had itblack folks used to be seated. If you dont believe me, I just might have to kill you. I spent at least a week during the summer vacation every year growing up visiting the Harlan area and family enjoying every visit which included rail road tracks and slate dumps on one side of house and the Cumberland River on the other side all residing in a big holler off HWY 38. He died in a house fire a few years ago. Elliott County is an exception becausewellyou just have to visit there to see. Fleming County has beautiful, rolling hills, but they arent mountains. My much loved step daddy moved us to his hometown after he was discharged from the Army. Being a descendant of such a controversial character of those times I may be asking for a social beating on here. By the way, I think grilled cheese sandwiches made from government cheese were the best! Pingback: Im Baaaackmaybe | Coal Troll's Blog, Loyall kid hereloved finding this. I left first to attend Cumberland College, then only a two year school, and later was forced to leave and gravitate north for employment. They might even live in Harlan, but it doesnt suit them. I was born and raised in Sunshine. We were driving down the road from Pineville toward Harlan and I was looking for the turn off to get to sister Normas place. They pity Harlan. It has always been home for me. Ironically, my daughter found a boyfriend from Loyal(the ones in Georgetown are apparently not her type) so she visits him a lot. So please you out landing, loathing spectator, Keep your thoughts on the area you live in now, and the goings on there, we dont need or want you perspective of the people that actually live, work and die here. Now, far in the past, at least until I visit. My grandad lived and mined Stone Ky, in Pike County. We have exchanged information over the years. If you have a book related to Harlan County and it's people. The sinister way he talked. I was just in Harlan County this weekend. She agreed. My Dad and his six siblings were all raised in Evarts. I went to college and had personal and professional opportunities that pulled me away. Helped me so much when I worked there. You have to have mountains, not hills. Not a native but my ears always perk up when I hear Harlan. His name was Arthur Johnson, he was from Cumberland, but lived at My mom is from Cote (Evarts) I cant wait to read this to her! 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. There are doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, coaches, laborers, deadbeats and criminals. His first feature film was Harlan County U.S.A. (1976, as Himself - mine foreman). Were still Harlan Countians. And the tell me they can always tell when Im talking to a relative on the phone for the same reason. There arent running gun battles anymore like the famed Battle of Evarts many decades ago. We used to be territorial based on our schools. Were from coal mining stock. Were the last group thatcan openly derided. And so do I. I know all those places. Since Ive been gone, Harlanlike all of Eastern Kentuckyhas been devastated by prescription drug abuse. 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. Youve made me think about Harlan all day today and its been a good day. I grew up here, went to school here and am still here by choice. There has always been tension between those who work and those who dont or wont. When I was young, the Government Cheese truck looked like a scene from an African relief mission. I left to go to school at EKU, meet my wife there, she is from Ohio. My grandparents, Elve and Flaura Campbell, moved to Sunshine and eventually to Loyall. I live in the city now, and raised my daughters here. Others leave to find better opportunities. An outlander is someone who used to live in Harlan. Rest assured that no one in my family considers me a disgrace or embarrassment, but your concern is noted. Maybe they just didnt have much else to do. Thats probably why he is disabled now at a a young age. There are people who will pretend to be from Harlan or any place else in Eastern Kentucky. People gathered at the railroad tracks to watch it. I lived across Pine Mtn. I think we also went to RC Bottling Plant at Loyall. I go back once or twice a year to visit relatives. They know whats best for Harlan, though, and wont hesitate to tell you. Regardless, they came back. My dad was one of them, outside Tommy Lees barbershop. Town is flooded with people. We knew who it was, because he told my mom about the encounter, but he was quietly scary, like a lot of the men from his era. Harlan County, Kentucky: Basil Collins miner foreman and leader/manager of the scabs confronts picketers with a 45 in his right pocket. Dont say we are not eastern Kentuckians because we dont speak your slang, or live the life that people from harlin county do. Joseph "Jock" Yablonski. . They dont like being from Harlan. Howdy, | Coal Troll's Blog, https://thetrivialtroll.com/2012/03/10/adventures-in-hitchhiking/, ALL ABOARD THE NERVE GAS TRAIN! I am simultaneously entertained and offended. Thats when people get their checks. Its quiet now. wilson combat magwell p320 I just said, hey, he was my neighbor. I suggest you search my blog for my many other posts about life in Harlan County. My friends still tell me you can take the girl out of Eastern Kentucky, but you cant take the Eastern Kentucky out of the girl. Before we started, I told the court reporter that Ive been told I have an accent of some kind. Sudie Crusenberry. The children of Harlan are blessed to have such a nice school. My mother grew up in Cumberland and knew tons of Creeches from up that way. My younger brother and I were born and raised in Dayton. Daughter has owned her own business in Harlan for thirty years. born and raised in harlan ky live in northern. Im happy living here. John. To her credit this pretty city girl took these inconveniences in her stride and made this mountain man a very good wife. https://www.facebook.com/groups/WallinsCreekers/. I still tell people I am from Harlan because it brings instant recognition. We mourn with the family of Basil Collins for this great loss. Andas for the grid: Morehead is east of Middlesboro. cheese. 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? Two of my best friends were Steve Farley and Jamie Helton. I LOVE where i am from and am harlan county proud even when i dont have much to be proud of.lol. HA! When we heard a car coming we knew we were having company.we usually hid to see who it was. Harlan County was fighting for the right to have a union. Stalwarts, outlanders, pretenders, loathers you left one group out. This excludes Boyd, Greenup, Lewis, etc. Murdered while running against Boyle. 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. They are my parents. A bazillion of cousins to play with..mountains to explore..farm animals to learn about, a total difference than city life on a quiet street just across from Fort McPherson Army Base. We hiked deep into the woods for good sled trails in the winter. I am origionally from Atlanta. Sadly, they didnt seem to be doing well. My Mom then joined the WAC. Still have a few family members there and many friends. 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. The old structure is still up there on Pine Mountain. 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. Im very impressed by your writing. I had Mrs. Williams for health, would it be your Mom? WebSeveral members stabbed a local sheriff when he dragged a woman violently off the road on 28 February 1974. 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 Not at all. Like inner cities, there are generations locked into a poverty cycle. I didnt know, but thats before my time. So my family got to enjoy it even tho they never lived in Harlan. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. I was born and raised in Harlan County and we moved to Alabama in 1952 when I was 12 years old. Itd be hard to sneeze and not hit a Creech with the spray. The late Norman Smith was a classmate of mine at JACHS. We know at least one person whose mother was really their grandmother, and sister was their mother. There were several Leonard families in the county in my day. My mother moved to Harlan County from Pike County at around age 12 and never left except to attend college. Earlier strikes had resulted in a great deal of bloodshed on both sides. Its nice to read good thoughts of Harlan County. Personal details. There was nothing like sitting on the front porch swing drinking RCs from my uncles one room store. They had four children..and not once did he ever treat me nor my older brother like step-chilldren. I moved to the Tampa Bay area as a teenager and it was a bit of a culture shock. I bet I heard them talking about you. . NEAR CLOSPLINT KY AND I AM PROUD TO BE FROM HARLAN CO THAT IS HOME ALTHOUGH I LIVE IN CORBIN KY NOW. My brother and I thought we had died and gone to Heaven. I wouldnt trade my life for anyone else. Some of these folks do leave Harlana lot of them, in fact. I dont remember Chappells slogan, but I do remember: Thats what I saidBunny Bread! I also remember the 1st grade field trip to Chappells, Bunny Bread and Harlan Ice. The only tv stations the antenna could pick up were out of knoxville | Coal Troll's Blog. Stumbled across your post. I remember when you had to take a gravel road from Pineville to Loyall when they were building the new 119. There are good people and bad people. Youd be surprised how many of us moved here from other places (quite a few from other countries), were welcomed as friends, made our homes here and raised our families here. Harlan. I live in Lee Co,Ky. Thanks again for the good read. They arent isolated enough. Offended by the possiblility that outsiders will use them to measure the intelligence of my people. Do you think either one of these fits into your family. This has been the driver to be obsessive about work and a career. I knew that truly dangerous people dont threaten much. Lynch had a skating rink when I was a teenager. I was rather disappointed to read all about my competition Garys Lounge. They just hang around and complain. WebBasil Collins Harlan County Obituary | Death | Basil Collins Dead | Died | Funeral Plans - We heard about the great loss, that Basil Collins is no more and has reportedly passed away. I was raised on Rhea straight, where the old airport was. Besides the accident of birth, we have certain commonalities: Harlan Countians can be found everywhere. Glad that youre happy in whatever metro area you moved to. Dad was a good friend of Norman Yarboroughs. My Dad was a coal miner, was on oxygen from 2007 until 2010. I would make mom break me off a chunk. Really enjoyed the read. The people of Harlan are among the nicest people I have ever met and I have traveled all over the country. as differences, real ones, but the rest is a little over stated, like JUSTIFIED, eh? They had no desire to ever live anywhere else. Lots of good folks from across the mountain.. No one from Harlan . I enjoyed your blog ..I too left Harlan to find work ..I recently got turned down for a job doing private duty nurses aide for a new client because I was from Harlan ..The job interview started out very well until she ask where I was from I had an accent 24 years later I still have that accent I think she was worried I was packing a gun..to funny ..love my Harlan county roots ..from Wallins.. ..Oh yeah agree with everyone loved that Gov, cheese. By the way, Cumberland had the Novo Theater and the drive-in theater as well. I knew no one married to his own sister and just a handful married to their cousins. That brings back fond memories. miners in this county AND other states. It has been both fascinating and sad as well to learn so much about the history, struggles, strength and resilience of the Harlan countians. I love being from there. Like you, I loved growing up there but couldnt see myself living there now. Even though I had been lots of places, leaving Harlan took me out of my comfort zone. I was about 11-12 and I remember we played outside constantly. The vast majority of Harlan Countians are proud to be from Harlan. Were about the same age. Born and raised as you said in Lynch You pretty much hit the nail on the head.. great write-up. Even though they have visited my homeland many times, they remain baffled by it. You havent had a grilled cheese sandwich until youve had one made with govment cheese, govment butter and fresh Bunny Bread. We had our own post office, City Hall and fire station. If he is still living can you ask him about any Leonard relatives he know about or put him in touch with me. Basil Collins; Did you know. I knew some fine people from Smith. ha! He was a clerk there. Most of them have never even been to Ky let alone Harlan. 1. You do remember he is my step-daddy?? Hi aurea, Ive helped ur grand paw make many many gallons of moonshine just over the hill from ur mom n dads house. I love your wifes Loll great story! There are differences: we`re north east, you`re south east. The folks in Brookside were surely Harlan Countians as was the chief gun thug, Basil Collins. Web8.what happened to basil collins kentucky Author: t4wkr.ac.th Post date: 22 yesterday Rating: 3 (1965 reviews) Highest rating: 4 Low rated: 1 Summary: January 30, 1868, Basil Noel I lived in Harlan for many years just ended up there one day and loved it and stayed I was not born or raised there just lived Place is wonderfull Im 25 so I would love to go back I call it home I feel home there I moved bout a year ago to Indiana. We outlanders like our Harlan roots. I have many relatives there, but Ive been gone since I graduated from high school in 1979, when my family moved to Corbin. You talked funny. I need to work Watts Creek in to a future post, for sure. Being 60yrs old now, I am very proud of my ancestors and family heritage. 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. 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 graduated in 1964. Women took over the picket lines. U can take me out of Ky. but u cant take Ky out of me!!!!!! Both our families are made up of longtime coal miners and school teachers. I am an outlander. She married a coal miner who also was educated and chose that life. Entertained by the tendency to call you a mooron and ignorant while not fully grasping the importance of grammar and spelling. Unemployment in 2017 was 9.4 percent, far above the national average. It rated right up there with his song about Jim and Tammy Baker, pretty good actually. Born and raised in Cumberland.I live in Florida now loved your article.Proud of my roots! Now, dont confuse Harlan County with the town of Harlan, our county seat. We were just there in July , I love going back to visit. We werent eligible for cheese, either, but my Dad would get it anyway! My grandfather was from Island Creek, and my grandmother was from Harold. I used to sleep on the bread racks. Loved the blog Ive told many people about the govment cheese. Eastern Ky is not privvy to divorce is it?? Wayne brought u shea and ur mom n I think he took pictures. You hit the nail on the head ~ Love this! We always found lots of mutual interest things to gab about. I visit very often, as my father still lives there. Her husband had been killed during the war. Its called age, my friend. As you know we lived near Evarts. A rural county of 27,000, Harlan Countys average household income is about $29,000. 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. This is where Norma lives, was the reply. http://www.kentuckytourism.com/places_to_stay/holiday-inn-express/73/ just saying. He was 85 when he starred in this movie. A miner was I know you as a Harlan Countain and also as a fine person. Fine set of words here! WebA coal miner silhouetted and barely visible in the darkness of a coal mine calls out a warning three times, fire-in-the-hole, the words all run together melodiously, letting all know hes about to detonate an explosion.So begins HARLAN COUNTY USA, 1976, 104 minutes Directed by Barbara Kopple, Winner Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary 1976.
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