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PAINTSVILLE COAL FIELD

Nov. 2007 image by author

Coal camp houses in Auxier, KY that used to be rented by coal miners from the North East Coal Company.

Image courtesy of Rose Cox Ramey

Vintage photo of Auxier, Kentucky coal camp. Note the large trestle running through the town.

Nov. 2007 image by author

Former C&O (now CSX) rail yard in Paintsville.

Nov. 2007 image by author

Company houses in Van Lear, KY. This town, constructed and owned by the Consolidation Coal Company, was the largest and most well known town in the Paintsville Coal Field.

Nov. 2007 image by author

The former offices of Consolidation Coal Company in Van Lear are now used as headquarters of the Van Lear Historical Society.

Nov. 2007 image by author

Behold the craftsmanship of the cut stone on the former gymnasium in Van Lear.

Nov. 2007 image by author

Detail of the Van Lear gymnasium.

Nov. 2007 image by author

Sealed mine portal in Van Lear. The opening was probably left for bats, which is a good thing.

Nov. 2007 image by author

This was still an operating grocery store in what used to be the company store for Consol Mine No. 155 in Van Lear.

Nov. 2007 image by author

One of the more famous structures in the coalfields, this is the "cabin, on a hill, in Butcher Holler" that Loretta Lynn sang about. Butcher Holler is in the "back" of Van Lear.

Nov. 2007 image by author

Another style of homes in the town where Loretta Lynn's "daddy worked all night in the Van Lear coal mines."

Nov. 2007 image by author

Structures remaining from the coal mine that used to be located in David, KY. I also noticed an intact colliery in David named "Beverly Ann", but it was unclear if it was still active.

Nov. 2007 image by author

Detail of a sign on at David, KY. Evidently the mine, once owned by Princess Elkhorn Coal Co., passed into the hands of Middle States Coal Co., Inc.

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