I grew up in this town. All my family still live there except one of my siblings .Him and I live in CA now. My Daddy worked in those coal mines. For years. He ended up getting What they call BLACK LUNG. He died in his fifties.. he and my mom. Who worked as a cleaning lady for the wealthy people . They both worked so hard to raise us. There were 7 of us. We were really poor. But I never felt poor cause of the love, and my family and the community always helped each other out.
I have been thru Big Stone Gap so many times thru the years. It's been a long time now. We were going over the mountain into Southeastern KY. The towns of Pound, Norton and Wise, etc. are as familiar as our towns of Jenkins Whitesburg and Neon. You should go over the hill and visit our towns. Also trying to recover from the loss of coal mining.
Very well-done video. Thank you for posting. All those small towns are from my childhood. My family, along with several others, moved away in the 50's because of the downturn in the coal business. I was just a kid then, but I've always considered that entire area as my hometown. I still make the trek back home once a year to visit family still living there. So, thank you again for letting me go home.
Good Video!! There is a scene in the History Channel's show, "The men who built America" where a newspaper is laying on J.P. Morgan's desk and the head lines reads Big Stone Gap Va. I thought that was interesting. I would love to see more on the history of the mining industry of southwest Virginia. I worked in the mining industry for thirty eight and half years. Southwest Virginia is one of the most culturally diverse area in American. The amazing thing about it all, is that the different cultures have so blended That it has become an unique culture within it's self. I think this is based on the many different cultures that came here to work in the mining industry. At first the cultures were separated by the mining industry but they have blended into this unique culture.
While I've basically lived my entire life in Norton/Wise, I was born at Big Stone Hospital. I am & always will be a Big Stoner in every sense of the term. 😂
Jack Mack likes to toot his own "Im the man" horn. My wife's Grandpa is 91. He was raised there. His Dad spent his entire life driving a mule through the mines. That is the history and the spirit that built Big Stone Gap. All of that was gone when Mr Mack arrived. It is great that he honors the history by playing all of the parts though. Id like to see the play.
I grew up in this town. All my family still live there except one of my siblings .Him and I live in CA now. My Daddy worked in those coal mines. For years. He ended up getting What they call BLACK LUNG. He died in his fifties.. he and my mom. Who worked as a cleaning lady for the wealthy people . They both worked so hard to raise us. There were 7 of us. We were really poor. But I never felt poor cause of the love, and my family and the community always helped each other out.
I grew up in Big stone. My grandparents raised me. I love it.
It's so beautiful there
I have been thru Big Stone Gap so many times thru the years. It's been a long time now. We were going over the mountain into Southeastern KY. The towns of Pound, Norton and Wise, etc. are as familiar as our towns of Jenkins Whitesburg and Neon. You should go over the hill and visit our towns. Also trying to recover from the loss of coal mining.
Very well-done video. Thank you for posting. All those small towns are from my childhood. My family, along with several others, moved away in the 50's because of the downturn in the coal business. I was just a kid then, but I've always considered that entire area as my hometown. I still make the trek back home once a year to visit family still living there. So, thank you again for letting me go home.
My grandfather was Felix Minor he was superintendent for Westmorland coal Co.
Good Video!! There is a scene in the History Channel's show, "The men who built America" where a newspaper is laying on J.P. Morgan's desk and the head lines reads Big Stone Gap Va. I thought that was interesting. I would love to see more on the history of the mining industry of southwest Virginia. I worked in the mining industry for thirty eight and half years. Southwest Virginia is one of the most culturally diverse area in American. The amazing thing about it all, is that the different cultures have so blended That it has become an unique culture within it's self. I think this is based on the many different cultures that came here to work in the mining industry. At first the cultures were separated by the mining industry but they have blended into this unique culture.
While I've basically lived my entire life in Norton/Wise, I was born at Big Stone Hospital.
I am & always will be a Big Stoner in every sense of the term. 😂
I enjoyed this, very well done!
Jack Mack likes to toot his own "Im the man" horn. My wife's Grandpa is 91. He was raised there. His Dad spent his entire life driving a mule through the mines. That is the history and the spirit that built Big Stone Gap. All of that was gone when Mr Mack arrived. It is great that he honors the history by playing all of the parts though. Id like to see the play.
I grew up in the trail of the lonsome pine . And Jack was my friend. We played music . He taught me to play a baalss fiddle.
Is that guy from California a pirate or something? Shiver me Timbers!
Must be nice to leave CA for the shit hole its become and start a business in the mountains of Appalachia. Don't bring CA politics here.