#Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

[dangerouscakes]

[bethyyoung]

"The Sandlot," she offered, apparently pointlessly. "What makes them a waste of time?" Beth had no interest in arguing, but was curious if he was doing more than just being contrary for the sake of it.

She gave his question genuine consideration. Many of the base needs were provided for; socializing, shelter, food, protection from physical threat... But not one space to exhale trauma and thoughts and feelings without it being tomorrow's gossip or getting judged or having someone hand you advice. Couldn't even go scream at trees these days. "I expect what I'd like to see doesn't exist."

The share about his various living arrangements certainly explained the difference in accent between the brothers. "Mm. Holler near about?" The question of her own origin caused Beth to laugh briefly. "Beckley - hour south of Charleston and home to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine." The title was enunciated like a carnival barker, Beth's hand placing each word in the air between them. How many times had they gone there on field trips? Beckley's big contribution to culture.

Honestly, Beth hardly noticed her own use of the word. It came as common as commas. "Some'll use shug, but honey was always my personal tic."

Mike caught on that it was a reference to something, but he mostly just stilled while he pondered it and then shook his head. "That from some movie? I never watched too many movies. Waste of time." He liked what he took to be a critique of the town, though, saying, "What would you put in to ol Redwood, then? Guessing that the diner and baseball field ain't realistic."

She explained that she wasn't from around these parts, and Mike made a faintly disappointed sound. "Aw, now -- that's a shame. My secret is I ain't neither -- was born down in the bayou, which you're like to know if you know my baby bro -- but spent most of my life in the holler."

He didn't protest Beth taking the raccoon hand from his grasp, though his forehead lifted when she scolded him for it. "You sure you ain't been picking up no wordplay from these here parts? Didn't reckon for nobody calling me 'honey' except in the Southern use of it."

[wonderlesch]

A Stands for Amazing Travel Adventures - West Virginia

Amazing Travel Adventures - West Virginia shares my destination guide of places to go and see West Virginia style. Let's Travel!

Hello and welcome to Amazing Travel Adventures – West Virginia. Here I am sharing my Travel Destination guide to New River Gorge, Cass Scenic Railroad, Babcock State Park and so much more. Let’s explore and discover amazing travel adventures Washington style. New Rivers and River Bridges and Water Falls – West Virginia 1. New River Gorge is the oldest running river in the United States. New…

[goris-the-friendclaw]

bro you posted beckley exhibition coal mine goodman cutting machine

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[trippintraci]

These are photos I took underground at Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine.

WATCH MY VIDEO VIA THE LINK BELOW

https://youtu.be/VQHvldvYvMk

Stay 🤪 TRIPPY!

[robobrainmurdermysterytheatre]

This post keeps appearing as "Cool Guy Gay Club" in my notes because it doesn't register the crossed out part and you know what? Valid. Beckley Coal Mine Exhibit is now the Cool Guy Gay Club 👌

Cool Guy Gay Club

[nowheretobeproject]

What an experience we had visiting Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine in West Virginia! Retired coal miners taught us about the many hardships faced by coal miners...8-10 hours a day spent on hands and knees working with just hand tools to earn about $1 a day!😓 We were even able to camp overnight on the grounds for $30! #westvirginia #travelblogger #rvlife #history #travel https://www.instagram.com/p/ByDgxqYB6fG/?igshid=538wq6dnnber

[supersupersillyus]

#Repost @photographmag with @get_repost ・・・ From Appalachia USA by Builder Levy ❄️ ⠀ ⠀ Builder Levy has been documenting the life and labor in coal mining communities in Kentucky and West Virginia for over 40 years.⠀ ⠀ His project Appalachia USA will open in less than ten days on February 24 at the Beckley Art Centre in West Virginia. ⠀ ⠀ Mark your calendar if you’re in the area to not miss this striking documentation of humanity. The exhibition will run through March 29.⠀ ・⠀ 📷Builder Levy, Osage Window, Osage, Scotts Run, Monongalia County, West Virginia, 1970. Courtesy the artist⠀ ・⠀ #builderlevy #appalachiausa #beckleyartcentre #westvirginia #photography #photographmag https://www.instagram.com/p/BuAWeIXB873/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1l9eg5gu51ke2

[sightseeingsociologist]

Day 2 – Coal Mine (2017)

The next morning, we drove through the rain and heavy fog to Beckley, West Virginia to visit the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, Coal Camp, and Mountain Homestead. Also, on the same lot of land, is the Youth Museum which is included in admission. We were so wet and tired by the end of the day that we just passed through it to get to the homestead area which was also a quick tour for us.

Outside the main entrance to the exhibit, there is a sign for Rahall Company Store. Years ago, companies had their own stores for supplies. To avoid any kind of competition, the workers had to buy things in the company store using company scrip, money owned by the company, was used as a way of cash for employees. It could only be exchanged at the company store. Think of it as store credit. Personally, and as a sociologist, I think it was a shady thing to do. It was a way of dehumanizing the workers; taking away personal control, price gouging, monopolizing and more.

Tours of the mine are given every half hour, and you can purchase the tickets in the gift shop. While you are waiting, there is a museum on the first and second floors of the building. On the first floor, there is a detailed replica of how the mine and coal camp looked like at the time. I have always loved those miniature replicas like the train sets my Uncle used to have. There are also boxes of items that people would have used in the coal camps. You can see the video of it on my Instagram.

On the second floor, there are miners’ hard hats, originally, they were soft hats, like a baseball cap. The miners would put a candle on the lip of the cap for light! They also had lunch pails, and a wall full of mining tools. When I pause and think that those were used by someone, it really fascinates and humbles me. I start wondering what their lives were like. My favorite section was a case of medical equipment. Being a medical sociologist, I love medical antiques. You can see the video of it on my Instagram.

Finally, we heard the announcement for boarding our underground tour of the coal mine. Before the city took over the mine in 1962, the mine belonged to the Phillips’ family, who mined for house coal from 1890 to 1910. We boarded a mantrip, which is a train with two carriers that have long seats and safety gates. It is like a kiddie train you would see at an amusement park. The mine was cold and wet, and because of the rain, there was water dripping down on us. I would suggest wearing a slick rain jacket inside the mine.

Our tour guide, Michael, a retired miner, was great! I learned so much about coal mining. He taught us about all the tools the miners used, and things like lighting including all the different things they used over the years, from candles to the now LED lights. And of course, he mentioned the iconic cultural canary that detected carbon monoxide and other gasses for the miners. You can see by the photo below, the canaries brought comfort to miners, and it was like the bond between a sheep dog and a farmer.

He also told us some interesting co-worker stories. You know there were many horrible co-workers. Miners did things like switching the ID tag on coal carts to get credit for someone else’s work. To remedy this, the miners began to nail their ID tags to the board. To prevent a co-worker from eating a man’s lunch, the miners would put false teeth into the lunch bin. Ha! I love it!

There were many dangers in mining– cave-ins, explosions, gas, black lung, injuries with blown up fingers, broken bones, and more. The wives of the coal miners were put through so much, too, worrying about their children and husbands in the coal mine. Yes, I said, ‘children.’ Children were allowed in the coal mines as young as 3-years-old and if a father passed away, then their sons, boys 8-years-old or older, would go to work in the mines. Back then, they did not have any child labor laws.

Rest in peace, Dorsey!

You can see the entire tour I took on my YouTube channel. (Please like and subscribe to my channel!) There are also photos (that didn’t make the cut here) on my Instagram profile.

After touring the underground mine, we toured the coal camp, the site where the miners and their families stayed. The houses consisted of only three rooms. A lot of families had a lot of kids because kids equaled labor and money. I cannot imagine having 8 or more people living in a three-room house!

If there was a single miner or a miner away from his home, he stayed in a one room shack!

Meanwhile, the superintendent had his own mini-mansion! Inside were replicas of the barbershop, post office and doctor’s office.

There was also a church and a one-room schoolhouse.

All the buildings were moved for display in the museum, and in some cases, re-assembled.

Finally, we toured the Mountain Homestead, a recreation of how people in the area lived at the time in the late 19th century. You can tour the log cabin, another one room schoolhouse, a general store, a weaver’s shop, blacksmith shop, and a barn. There was also an outhouse, where we took pictures. Ha! This homestead really reminded me of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.

Sharayah loved the coal.

What a full day! I could easily have made this blog longer, talking about all the history and culture of coal miners. I encourage you to look it up for yourselves!

Until next time, this is the Sightseeing Sociologist, signing off!