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Troll_For_Truth t1_iz61udx wrote

I grew up in harlan. My grandfathers worked those mines in the early 1900s from seven years old. It was not a happy time. My parents were born in the coal camps in the 40s. Further, the strikes in the 70s, shown in the movie harlan county usa, have people in it who remember the war. Excellent topic to research, write an essay, and bring again to the forefront. Bloody Harlan should never be forgotten. Harlan always had rebels. Courthouse was burned down around seven times.

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honeyintherock t1_iz6qi9e wrote

My family is from Harlan, too! A few relatives still live there. It's wild to me that an area dotted with such very small towns has such a very rich and intense history!

The oral history OP referenced is absolutely, overwhelmingly fascinating, if you've not read it I highly recommend it! I don't know what drew that Italian man to compile such a thing, but it's a good thing he did.

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informativebitching t1_iz70b9m wrote

My dad was born there too in the 40’s. Around 49 my grandfather moved the family to quiet valley near Abington while he stayed behind to work. Coal is all he knew. He was a mean mf. I always suspected he moved them out of there to stay clear of the danger.

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Troll_For_Truth t1_iz70qd8 wrote

Chevrolet coal camp for us. Do you know which was for him?

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informativebitching t1_iz73urz wrote

My feeling was granddad moved camps a lot from fighting so much but I’m not 100% sure. We do have a photo from Black Wolf WV when my dad was about 1 year old. I only have one living uncle who could answer this stuff so I better get to asking.

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Troll_For_Truth t1_iz742bd wrote

Before it is lost yeah. Ive been doing the same. Talking to my dad a lot and recording it. He doesnt have much time left.

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Hammer_of_Light t1_iz7rta9 wrote

My family's from Harlan, founded one of the towns there. From the Civil War until about the '80s, most males on the family tree spent time as an outlaw.

The James Gang used to stay at my grandma's farm after they moved to Missouri, and at her house in Texas after they moved.

Two of my distant Confederate cousins murdered another cousin when he came home because he had served as a recruiter for the Union.

I'm not from there (visited once), but I've always gotten the feeling that the men from that time and place were men of action.

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theta_d t1_iz7na4s wrote

My mom is from Harlan. Spent about a month each year of my childhood there visiting all her family.

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AmcillaSB t1_iz8f17c wrote

This is wild. I wonder how many of us posting here might be related, or at the least, had ancestors who knew each other.

My family surnames from that area are Bryant, Bird, Baute, and Alred. I know several were coal miners and lived in both Evarts and Red Ash (75 miles away.)

My 2nd Great Grandfather Baute was the manager for a railroad, but also liked his alcohol a bit too much. They told him he needed to choose between drinking and his job. He chose the booze. After that, he worked in the coal mines. He'd bring his children with him to work, as their eyes were better at seeing in the dark. He became a widower in 1906 with 12 children to take care of. I can't imagine how hard that must have been.

None of what happened in this essay got passed down to me -- I need to speak to my mom and aunts and uncles about it -- maybe they're aware of some family stories.

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sd51223 t1_izd30tc wrote

One of the coolest moments in Harlan County USA is the original creator of Which Side Are You On from the Harlan County War (Florence Reece) singing it in support of the 70s strike.

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Troll_For_Truth t1_izgi68j wrote

Yessir. Another cool moment for me at least is "hey theres my cousin!" :)

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