Monday, July 27, 2009
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, the Beckley Exhibition Coal journeys deep into the earth and far back in time. Fifteen hundred feet of underground passages have restored the mine operated by the Phillips family in the late 1800’s in West Virginia. You ride man cars from the mine entrance to the old working area of the coal mine. On the site of the historical coal camp is situated the Ranhal Company Store, Coal Company House, Superintendent’s House, Pemberton Coal Camp Church, Helen Coal Camp School and a one room house for a single miner. The tour itself was excellent and we learned a lot about coal mining. The tour guide had spent 47 years in the mines dating back to the 1950’s. It was, and still is, dirty and hard work to mine coal. In the beginning, a miner supplied his own hand tools, bought his own powder and worked a specific section of the mine. The coal company supplied the means to remove the coal from the mine in a cart on railroad tracks pulled by an animal. The miner worked 16 to 18 hour days in order to remove 10 tons of coal. They were working in 10 foot sections and the lift could have been as low as 25 inches. The miner would undercut the coal seam using a pick. He, then, would drill 4 foot holes, with a hand auger at 3 locations at the top of the seam. He would then load the black powder and blast the coal. One shot would give him 10 tons of coal. He would then hand shovel the coal into the carts and the next step would be to shore the ceiling with wood posts which was done every 4 feet. The animals would go blind working in the mines. They would hire children to lead the animals in and out of the coal mines. It is obvious that it was long hours, dirty work and very dangerous. You can understand why the labor movement began in the coal mines. Bob had spent some time in the coal mines in 1970 but found this tour very informative. Kettle bottoms were petrified stumps of trees that would be in the coal seams and if they were to fall unexpectedly on a coal miner they could kill him as they weighed hundreds of pounds. Miners pushed along the rail on 2 wheel scooters and the problem was if the scooter were to hit anything in its path the miner would go flying.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, the Beckley Exhibition Coal journeys deep into the earth and far back in time. Fifteen hundred feet of underground passages have restored the mine operated by the Phillips family in the late 1800’s in West Virginia. You ride man cars from the mine entrance to the old working area of the coal mine. On the site of the historical coal camp is situated the Ranhal Company Store, Coal Company House, Superintendent’s House, Pemberton Coal Camp Church, Helen Coal Camp School and a one room house for a single miner. The tour itself was excellent and we learned a lot about coal mining. The tour guide had spent 47 years in the mines dating back to the 1950’s. It was, and still is, dirty and hard work to mine coal. In the beginning, a miner supplied his own hand tools, bought his own powder and worked a specific section of the mine. The coal company supplied the means to remove the coal from the mine in a cart on railroad tracks pulled by an animal. The miner worked 16 to 18 hour days in order to remove 10 tons of coal. They were working in 10 foot sections and the lift could have been as low as 25 inches. The miner would undercut the coal seam using a pick. He, then, would drill 4 foot holes, with a hand auger at 3 locations at the top of the seam. He would then load the black powder and blast the coal. One shot would give him 10 tons of coal. He would then hand shovel the coal into the carts and the next step would be to shore the ceiling with wood posts which was done every 4 feet. The animals would go blind working in the mines. They would hire children to lead the animals in and out of the coal mines. It is obvious that it was long hours, dirty work and very dangerous. You can understand why the labor movement began in the coal mines. Bob had spent some time in the coal mines in 1970 but found this tour very informative. Kettle bottoms were petrified stumps of trees that would be in the coal seams and if they were to fall unexpectedly on a coal miner they could kill him as they weighed hundreds of pounds. Miners pushed along the rail on 2 wheel scooters and the problem was if the scooter were to hit anything in its path the miner would go flying.
New River national River
New River Gorge
The Southwestern part of West Virginia was, and is, known for coal mining. Congress established the New River Gorge in 1978. Today 53 miles of the river and its gorge and 40 miles of tributaries are preserved as New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area and Bluestone National Scenic River. In 1873 the railroad opened this isolated part of West Virginia and the landscape began to change. The railroad bordered along the river making possible the shipment of coal to the outside world. Coal mining grew and there were many towns and mines along the River Gorge. We were able to get a good feeling about the way that coal mining was in the beginning by visiting Canyon Rim Visitors Center, Thurmond Historic District, Sandstone Visitors Center and the Grandview Area. Bob, on a 5 mile hike from the Grandview area, was able to hike down into the gorge and see layers of coal in the rock formations. We were able to visit with a number of present day miners and some veterans who were in the mines for over 47 years and mined back in the 1950’s. Coal mining was a hard life in the beginning and still is a hard life. Miners must work long hours to make a good living. The effects on the land from coal mining are apparent as you wander through this part of West Virginia.
The Southwestern part of West Virginia was, and is, known for coal mining. Congress established the New River Gorge in 1978. Today 53 miles of the river and its gorge and 40 miles of tributaries are preserved as New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area and Bluestone National Scenic River. In 1873 the railroad opened this isolated part of West Virginia and the landscape began to change. The railroad bordered along the river making possible the shipment of coal to the outside world. Coal mining grew and there were many towns and mines along the River Gorge. We were able to get a good feeling about the way that coal mining was in the beginning by visiting Canyon Rim Visitors Center, Thurmond Historic District, Sandstone Visitors Center and the Grandview Area. Bob, on a 5 mile hike from the Grandview area, was able to hike down into the gorge and see layers of coal in the rock formations. We were able to visit with a number of present day miners and some veterans who were in the mines for over 47 years and mined back in the 1950’s. Coal mining was a hard life in the beginning and still is a hard life. Miners must work long hours to make a good living. The effects on the land from coal mining are apparent as you wander through this part of West Virginia.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Revolutionary War
Salisbury, NC was our next stop. From here we were able to visit 2 battlefields from the Revolutionary War. Kings Mountain and Guilford Courthouse were battles which helped turn the tide of the war. We had stopped at Cowpens Battlefield on our way to Mount Pleasant in October. When us Yankees think of the Revolution we think immediately think of Concord and Lexington, MA. We have taken the opportunity to learn of the Southern campaign which led to the British surrender at Yorktown, VA. When one is raised in the north it seems that the focus of American history was always centered in the Northeast. Our travels have enabled us to see the other involvement of the growth of our country in other areas as well.
Motorhome Service
We left Mt. Pleasant on July 8 and headed to our friends', Joyce and Larry's house, in Swansea, SC. Joyce's cousin has a diesel service right next to our friend's farm and works on motorhomes. Vern was able to service the chassis, engine, transmission and generator. He went right through the coach finding also a couple areas of concern which he also corrected. His price was very reasonable and will use his services again for sure. Joyce and Larry have a full 50 amp full hook-up spot on their property so we stayed with them until July 13 and had a wonderful visit. We were able to meet their daughter, Cathy, and her 2 children as well. We were able to see our other friends, Trip and Dean Anderson, as they took Sue blueberry picking and then stopped by to say farewell to Bob.
Sarah Elizabeth Webber (Fluffy)
Sarah Elizabeth Webber arrived on March 19 at 3:14 a.m. She weighed 6 lbs. 13 ozs. and was 20 inches long. Sue was recovering, at the motorhome from back surgery, and Bob stayed with Noah at their house. Sarah, as with Noah and Lucy, has brought great joy to both Sue and I. Since we were able to be in the area for 8 months we have had the opportunity to get to know Noah and Sarah well and were able to help Amy and Jason as well. Lucy's visit from California gave us the chance to see and get to know her as well and to see the 3 grandchildren interact with one another. Watching your children become parents is a joy to witness too.
Sue's recovery
Sue is recovering from a series of surgeries. Knee surgery for a torn meniscus was done on January 22. While she was recovering from this she had a basil cell growth removed from the same leg. While getting over that she was starting p.t. The physical therapist noted that she was dragging her left leg. He was concerned and urged her to seek medical advice. She called Amy, our Nurse Practitioner, who then spoke with Dr. Apple whom she works with and Dr. Apple saw her on the same day which was February 25. She had an MRI on February 27 and a neurosurgeon operated on her back on March 5 to repair 2 lumbar herniated discs. It has been 4 months now and she is doing well. It will be a few more months before the nerve sensation is as good as it ever will be. She seems to have the strength but is unsure of her balance and is using a cane when walking long distances. We have been able to get back on the road and she is walking well and we did a 1.5 mile hike and she did it with minimal effort.
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