Thoughts And Memories
Let The Voices Be Heard
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-
