Thoughts And Memories
Let The Voices Be Heard
April Seifert 11/10/2011
Medford, Oregon
Apeface4@lycos.com
I'm newly trying to find information on my grandfathers family who was from Coalwood.
My grandfather was born in 1922 and his name was William Franklin Bowman. He had
a brother named Andrew and three sisters, Alice, Carrie and jaunita (not sure on
spelling). His mother was Elizabeth Jane Gilbert and I'm not sure on his father's
name yet. I'm still awaiting more information from my mother. If anyone has any information
please let me know. Thank you.
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Jerry Vannoy Swank 8/2/2011
Alabama
beachbum@roadrunner.com
My grandparents (Bill and Clifford Freeman) lived in Coalwood. My twin sister and
I spent many wonderful summers in Coalwood. I wish everyone had the opportunity to
know the good hard-
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Camelia 8/1/2011
Hudson
Florida
ckvj5h@gmail.com
Does anyone in your realm have any information about the death of a Doctor Martin Mankins who was murdered in the Coalwood mines. Doctor was his first name but he was called Doc.
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Cyndi Swinea 7/31/2011
Huntsville,AL.
My dad was born in War WV. His grandfather died in the 1940 mine accident in Bartley
WV. I traveled back to this area last summer to see my great grandfathers monument
to the miners that died and to visit Coalwood. Living in Huntsville, we are all aware
of Homer and the space program. Hope this area pulls through.
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Judy S. Walter 6/3/2011
Chambersburg, PA
I am a retiring high school English teacher and author. Each semester I have shown October Sky to my classes because I think it is a powerful and inspiring story and use it to motivate my students to set and reach high goals. The film also represents a slice of America that most don't see.
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Donna 5/20/2011
Marshall
I lived in Coalwood from 1958 (born at Stevens Clinic) until about 1976 (graduated Big Creek). I know the place well, and most everyone who lived there around that time. I wouldnt change those years in my great little Coalwood for anything. To the person asking about the cemetary, there is a very old cemetary behind my old home, gravestones were from late 1800's to about 1960 the last time I was there. The club house someone was asking about is no longer there, but spend lots of time there back in the day, and could probably find some pics for that person (had my 18th birthday party there!) For anyone wanting to visit, the best time is during the October Sky celebration around the first weekend of October, but check the website to be sure of the date!
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BETTY HUBBARD FINN 4/17/2011
STAUNTON, VA
BLHFINN@GMAIL.COM
MY PARENTS, ALBERT H HUBBARD (A.H.) AND MY GRANDPARENTS,
THOMAS ABRAHAM AND JANE JENKINS, ALL LIVED IN COALWOOD WV IN 1910-
THANK YOU.
BETTY FINN
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Barbara (Stanley) Yorke 1/31/2011
Western NC
Born and raised in Coalwood. Such wonderful memories. Coalwood was such a vibrant
little town. All the adults treated all the kids as if they were their own. So much
love and caring for each other. I sure miss everyone and the way it use to be. Don't
you wish the whole world could be like we were in this little town?
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Allen Perry 12/14/2010
Pilot Mountain, NC
iam_legend155@yahoo.com
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Janet Long King 11/28/2010
Knoxville, TN
janetsking@live.com
My grandfather lived in Coalwood & died in the mines on 1/31/35. His name was William Rowe and he was 29 yrs old. His wife, my grandmother was Roxie York (her mother, Stella York). So I know I have relatives I've never met, my mother was less than 2 yrs. I would like to vist there someday and find the old Coalwood Cemetery where he's buried & my relatives. Wish I had known him!
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Raina Myers 10/16/2010
Hope Mills, NC
I have read the book October Sky, and ever since, i have wanted to know sooooo much more about coalwood and the history and about big creek high school!
Bonnie Snodgrass Atwell 9/26/2010
Bristol, VA
bdatwell@lhotmail.com
Not enough room here to put all the wonderful memories
of the events and the people of this small coal town. I'm just so thankful to all
the people who have worked so hard to keep those memories alive! I can spend hours
looking through the websites. The books are incredible! I am very proud to be raised
as a coal miners daughter in this special little town!
Nick Helt 7/5/2010
Sugar Grove,Ohio
I am 17 years old from a small town of 450 people in South Central Ohio. I was born
in Wheeling but have lived in Ohio all my life but consider myself a mountaineer.
I visited Coalwood in 2009 and read rocket boys millions of times and also the movie.
I love the town and the history behind it.Hope it continues to grow and show life
again.
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Sharon Farris Hodock 6/15/2010
Abbs Valley Virginia
I was born and raised in middletown. I grew up in front of what is now the old playground.
My best memories are with all my friends I grew up with, Bobby, Roger and Norman
Hatmaker, Hugh and David Dillion, Cathy Cox, Donna Compton, Jay O'Neal, Frances Ann
and later Jeanne Christian.
I guess my best memories were of Mary Cassell. She was
like a second mother to me.
I played dress up in her house, she let me wear her furs.
I sold her rocks for 5 cents and ate her grapes. My dad and Ernest make wine from
the grapes behind their house. The kids in the neighborhood would raid the grapes
vines almost every day. One time they put flour all over the grapes and said that
it was poison. Like alot of kids, I would tell Mary, when you die I want this or
that. I have Mary Cassell old Jenny Lind bed in my house today. I'll never forget
the morning she left us and I think of her often.
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Dana Pettus-
Pine Level, NC
My grandmother moved to Coalwood at 7 years old on Carter's railroads, and lived there until her death at age 94 years old. I moved to Coalwood with my dad and mom when I was in 6th grade, and moved away when I was grown. I have always adored the town, and all of the old stories I would hear about when the movie theater was there, and all the things Dad did as a kid in Coalwood. When I first went to college at Bluefield State in 1994, I did a paper on the history of Coalwood, so I am especially happy to see this site establishing it's deep history for the world to see. I have all of my grandmother's old pictures, and will be going through those for good pics of Coalwood to submit to the preservation committee to use. Great job on this site, I will be sending it out to family and friends so they can see where I grew up. :)
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Robb Innanen 3/17/2010
Longwood, Fl
This is a great web site with an amazing story or stories about Coalwood WV.
The amount
of history in this little coal mining town is truly wonderful.
I would be more than
glad to offer up any help to you in preserving the buildings. That is if you are
able to convince the current owner to allow that to happen?
Great job on gathering
all of this information together.
Please keep me posted.
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Joey Daily 3/14/2010
Georgia
Rocket boys are the best.
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Randy Butcher 3/1/2010
Bluefield, Va
I grew up in Caretta, spent my summers in college working at the company store. I
taught music in McDowell County including Caretta, Coalwood, War Annex, Bartley,
Iaeger and Sandy River. I was a member of the Board of Big Creek People in Action.
I hope that Caretta / Coalwood a bright future and not just a glorious past.
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Cheri Tipton 2/1/2010
Washington
Looking for anyone who knew the Sparks family, Joseph "Tommy" or James or Helen Sparks.
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Connor Walls 1/17/2010
Denham Springs, Louisiana
Wow,I learned about this town from reading October Sky, which by the way, is my all
time favorite book. This is an amazing little town with LOTS of history. Its like
a town lost in time, trapped in the mountains...
Greg Bowman 10/30/2009
Natural Bridge, Va
I'm not from Coalwood but my dad and his family were. I used to have a good time their and hate to see it run down and disappear
James Mcintyre 10/27/2009
Abingdon, Va
worked at coal wood 17 yrs.as foreman gene turpin ran sscar for me. was with homer
when he lost his eye. if any one remembers me send a email.is fred beavers still
around?
Randy Lanier 9/26/2009
Fincastle, VA
So many wonderful memories from being at the pool and wearing our feet out until they bled and playing football beside the machine shop with all the guys and Thirteen Thompson who put up with us shenanigans... and sleigh riding while the snow became deep. The Christmas parties at the Clubhouse the adults never let us get into!
Randy Lanier
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Jerry Clark 9/2/2009
Rock Springs, Wyoming
I was born in Welch, my Dad was also born in Welch. Mom was born in Six. They grew
up in Coalwood, graduated BCHS,'49. Both grandpas retired from Olga coal after 40
years of working in the mine.They came to the area in the 1920's from Saltville &
Hillsville, Va. Great grandpa was Baldwin/Felts agent and later Fire boss in the
mines. Coalwood is a special place to our family.
Jim Roberts 7/5/2009
Silver Creek, GA near Rome GA
I lived in Caretta until 1963 and moved to Coalwood mid 1963. I remember best playing little' league baseball in Caretta under Louis Callahan's leadership for 5 years. And while living in Coalwood I played American Legion baseball again under Coach Callahan's leadership for 2 years. I can't say enough about how Louis taught me so many things, not just baseball, but so many other things about life. Would love to talk to some of the guys I was teammates with in little league or American Legion baseball.
Jim Roberts
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Rhonda Fleming 7/1/2009
Snake Root Holler
I was born and raised in Coalwood and grew up in Snake Root Holler. Often my siblings and I and friends,talk about all the wonderful memories we have growing up in that beautiful little Coal Camp. I am proud and honored to be a "Coalwood Girl"...Thanks for the memories..
Rhonda Fleming
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Beverly Smith Scott 6/05/2009
Charlotte, NC
I was born and raised in Monroe County West Virginia. No matter how far I go from home I will always be a West Virginian. I am so pleased that you are preserving that way of life. I feel that so many things that we felt were so important to us or have great significance as part of our heritage are disappearing. I wish you the best with all of your efforts and though I have never been in Coalwood before you can be certain that my next trip home to West Virginia will take me there. God Bless.
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Greg 5/17/2009
Copperas Cove, TX
Found your site while searching Rocket Boys-
