Life As A West Virginia Coal Miner

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  • čas přidán 14. 04. 2023
  • Where It’s Dark As A Dungeon: Life As A West Virginia Coal Miner
    The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley, West Virginia does a great job of relaying life in the coal mines in the early days. We had a blast checking it out and this video covers the whole presentation.
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Komentáře • 70

  • @rockycoyote
    @rockycoyote Před rokem +10

    Wow, our grandparents were much hardier folks than we are today; they knew how to work hard.

  • @sherripenning5538
    @sherripenning5538 Před rokem +7

    Thanks so much for this! So many of us have ancestors who were miners. Hard work to support the family. Strong courageous folks.

  • @kimberlyhatcher7235
    @kimberlyhatcher7235 Před rokem +9

    Wow! So many memories! My dad worked in so many of the coal mines. He was a coal miner for 35 years. I lost an uncle in the mines. There was an explosion! Thank you both for this video ❤

  • @davemcfarland7709
    @davemcfarland7709 Před rokem +6

    Very interesting çoal mine tour. Thanks for sharing this interesting history of Appalachian çoal mining ⛏️. Very well done, keep up the great work of documenting Appalachian life.

  • @steveevansfloridaoutdoors

    The dog is cool in the video he was ready listing real good, great video

    • @realappalachia
      @realappalachia  Před rokem +1

      Yes, the dog enjoyed the ride as much S anyone else did lol. Thank you!

  • @patriciabogue6811
    @patriciabogue6811 Před rokem +4

    Having never been near a coal mine, I found this fascinating. I can’t even imagine how horrible it was to be a miner and how unfairly they were treated. Thank you so much.

  • @countryroads4932
    @countryroads4932 Před rokem +3

    I keep seeing videos from our county!! I hope I run into you all one of these days 😊. Love both of your channels.

  • @Lisa1111
    @Lisa1111 Před rokem +4

    What a tough existence! 🙏🏽
    That there pup seems to be paying close attention! Quieter than the little child 😂❤

  • @johnnymayo8534
    @johnnymayo8534 Před rokem +4

    What a fascinating tour!! I can not imagine working in those conditions! The lab that took the tour was so chill!

  • @zxtenn
    @zxtenn Před rokem

    AMAZING, only the older people know how hard people worked and never complained!!! Great explanation, even the doggie was interested

  • @judypierce7028
    @judypierce7028 Před rokem +2

    Oh, I am so glad that you are visiting the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. WOW! That is a really exciting thing to do!! I am glad that you are back in WV. Hope you had a great time. Take care.

  • @conradveraguth1392
    @conradveraguth1392 Před rokem +1

    I visited this exhibition last summer during my trip to West Virginia. I drove from the southern end of West Virginia, heading north, stopping at as many small towns as I could. It was a very nice drive.

  • @joannataylor9118
    @joannataylor9118 Před rokem +2

    My uncle Ross was a coal miner in West Virginia by the Ohio River. I remember as a young girl he would get up at 4 am and not get back until late. He was dirty and so tired. Not many jobs in the hills of WV other than mining ⚒

  • @stevenww3560
    @stevenww3560 Před rokem +4

    My eastern ancestors were coal.miners and farmers! Then civil war came and of course my great grandfather was drafted after fighting in the war for 4 years above ground he went home and starting farming and refused to go back down in the Mines! He said the one good thing come from the war is he learned what fresh air was ! But a few years later he was diagnosed with black lung being they didn't have oxygen he died soon after! That was in PA!!

  • @TheopolisQSmith
    @TheopolisQSmith Před rokem +1

    My Mother’s family were coal miners in W. Virginia. My Grandfather was a mine Safety Supervisor for the Norfork and Western Railways coal mines for years. Both of my Mothers brothers also worked the mines in WV as well one also being a State Safety Inspector. Some of their children also either mined coal or worked in the industry. Both of my Uncles died from complications of Black Lung. Though not until their 70s’. I am enjoying this vid quite a bit.

  • @-Tabatha-
    @-Tabatha- Před rokem

    My great grandpa, my PawPaw and my Daddy were all coal miners here in WV. My cousin Todd Hanson wrote a couple books on the Mines here in WV! Fantastic read and great pictures.
    Many of my childhood memories are of my Dad with a coal covered face, his truck always smelled like coal… and his lunch bucket ❤️

  • @ric698
    @ric698 Před rokem

    Great job with this video. The tour guide was very informative. It does give you an appreciation for all those miners. The hard work conditions, and constant danger. Thank you and Have a blessed week.

  • @clmar3431
    @clmar3431 Před rokem +2

    This was so interesting! Thank you for filming inside the mine. The tour guide was excellent.

  • @kesmarn
    @kesmarn Před rokem +2

    If folks only watch one of your WV videos (but I betcha can't stop at one), this one should be #1 on the list. As Melody says, it gives you a whole new appreciation for coal miners, the conditions they worked in, and just how hard the work really was. Many thanks, once again!

  • @hello9945
    @hello9945 Před rokem

    Thank you Shane and Melody for another excellent video; we appreciate you!

  • @crouchb15
    @crouchb15 Před rokem +2

    reminds me of one I went to up near Scranton PA

  • @robinhaupt9119
    @robinhaupt9119 Před rokem +2

    Magnificent tour, thank you Shane and Melody.

  • @B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont

    I toured the mine with a group in the spring of 2010 not long after the Upper Big Branch disaster. Our guide offered some opinions on what went wrong at UBB. What got me most was how stale the air was inside the mine. I didn't really realize it until we got back outside.

  • @gailrepsniw517
    @gailrepsniw517 Před rokem

    On their belly's, with a candle to light their way as they dig out the coal by hand. That is hard work.

  • @kevinb9327
    @kevinb9327 Před rokem

    Awesome! Thank you.

  • @peterjhillier7659
    @peterjhillier7659 Před rokem

    Thanks for sharing you Guys, bet that Air tasted sweet when you came out into the Sunlight.

  • @greatmusicfan57
    @greatmusicfan57 Před rokem

    Neat tour. Thank you for sharing it.🙏💕👍

  • @kickthecan6253
    @kickthecan6253 Před 7 měsíci

    😂 groovy - cool - fantastic - marvelous - splendid 😅

  • @fluteloops22
    @fluteloops22 Před rokem

    My great uncle worked in the mines in Beckley!

  • @lmaolmoo4147
    @lmaolmoo4147 Před 11 měsíci

    Coal mines today are a lot different than this but on move crew the work is still incredibly hard. Now most of your physical labor comes from building stoppings, building belt lines, and dragging and hanging cable. I work 10+ hours 6 days a week and we don’t take lunch or get breaks on move nights.

  • @chubs1701
    @chubs1701 Před rokem +1

    Thank y'all for a great tour and video ❤ it

  • @mikeb2777
    @mikeb2777 Před rokem

    This is a great place to visit. Lots to see and going into the mine in a coal car is very cool. Next I want to get to Portal 31 in KY and also their museum.

  • @40lennie
    @40lennie Před rokem

    Excellent! Just like being there!

  • @davidnewman9244
    @davidnewman9244 Před 9 měsíci

    Hello from England.Hard life down there. thanks.

  • @lmcwill0502
    @lmcwill0502 Před rokem

    Watching you both , we plan a road trip through that area , so you are giving us tips on what to see . So many little towns and communities in those parts I am looking forward to seeing

  • @timrayburn2461
    @timrayburn2461 Před rokem +1

    Great work.Thank you

  • @herdfreak2
    @herdfreak2 Před rokem +1

    Nice!

  • @christophersadler2930

    I live just a few miles up the road from here. My son and I were considering going to this park today but ended up going to Grandview National Park.

  • @Karen-bt6lh
    @Karen-bt6lh Před rokem +1

    That was a wonderful informative mine tour. Makes you really see how dangerous it was and is. I have been to several caverns and a mine tour before. Being claustrophobic I am so glad when the tour is over and back outside. 😅

  • @secretvirginia
    @secretvirginia Před rokem

    Definitely need to check this out

  • @danalynch8889
    @danalynch8889 Před rokem +1

    I've been there 1993 while visiting relatives, I took my 10 year cousin and it was fun.

  • @ThisHomeschoolingAdventure

    I may add this place to our list.

  • @brittanyN94
    @brittanyN94 Před rokem +1

    I'd love to go here one day!! Love learning my heritage

    • @michaelbragg6903
      @michaelbragg6903 Před 2 měsíci +1

      Visit the Mine Wars Museum in Matewan if you can. It tells the history of the two mine wars in West Virginia and has items from that period including the Battle of Blair Mountain.

  • @SpookyAppalachia
    @SpookyAppalachia Před rokem +1

    Oh cool my wife has been a few times for work to do research. There's also a few good haunted places in Beckly.

  • @sandy89107
    @sandy89107 Před rokem +2

    I glad you two filmed this....I don't think I would like that ride 😅

  • @rogercarroll2551
    @rogercarroll2551 Před rokem +1

    Whew ! I sure am glad to get out of there !

  • @johnmarshall8021
    @johnmarshall8021 Před rokem +1

    This I can tell you… had 2 uncles and grandfather who worked in West Virginia coal mines… 2 passed away from black lung

  • @johnnykoba_on_the_road
    @johnnykoba_on_the_road Před rokem +3

    Def wanna go there next time I’m in WV! Why do people take kids on these tours. Kid wouldn’t shut up

  • @walterlangston4484
    @walterlangston4484 Před rokem +2

    This place is not far from my house live the next county over

  • @jeremycole3008
    @jeremycole3008 Před rokem

    Pretty neat

  • @navydogsadventures3500

    Lots of dangers doing that work. Brave people!

  • @josiahrickens4556
    @josiahrickens4556 Před rokem +1

    Melody where's tht tram go?

  • @user-qt9uj5ih2s
    @user-qt9uj5ih2s Před 2 měsíci

    My couisans live and work in Beckly. There names r minor.

  • @wizzardofpaws2420
    @wizzardofpaws2420 Před rokem +2

    It actually looks like fun. I would have a hard time if it took a long time.

  • @Animefruba
    @Animefruba Před rokem

    Isn't most coal mining now mountain top removal you should show video on that

  • @izzysparks618
    @izzysparks618 Před rokem

    You had the comment off on the inbred family so I came here 😂 no one said the all people from WV are all inbred nor dose it make it 100% false saying it never happened in rule WV ether-way that family and their family tree which all family trees are public records and the video of them explaining their family tree double first cousins had kids their kids had kids so they are inbred sure their surroundings income and poor public schooling all play into this as well with that being said this man comes and helps these people care for them and is making sure they are being taken care of mind you that no one understands their situation they have been in and the life they have lived this man by the grace of god is showing the world how god children have been treaded and we as god children should shed light on the situation and help them live the remanded of there lives with a little love and kindness they are inbred it is not their fault nor will it ever be with the hand they got handed and the life they live with the help of god and god children (the public) they will live in a kinder loving world and shed light on what happened back in the days of rule WV god bless y’all and everything u have going on in life this is not for hate just to shed light on how no one was being rude and saying everyone from WV are like that but how it did happen in the past do to certain situations god bless y’all

  • @stitch2499
    @stitch2499 Před rokem

    I remember when my Pappaw got the Black Lung.😢. He got a cash settlement.. not much. God bless all the coal miners and family...