Historic Photo Prize |
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Hundreds of headstones in the Coal Creek watershed bear the date May 19, 1902, when approximately 200 miners were killed in the Fraterville Mine Explosion. Many contain a common epitaph: gone but not forgotten. Others include poignant farewell messages written by the miners before they perished from noxious gases formed from the explosion.
On the 99th anniversary of the disaster, 120 descendants and guests remembered the accomplishments and sacrifices of these men by visiting their graves and the site of their death, the abandoned Fraterville Mine. In their youth, many fought the Tennessee Militia over the use of convict miners during the Coal Creek War of 1891 to 1892. According to the program Chain Gangs on THE HISTORY CHANNEL: "the free miners of Coal Creek are credited with abolishing the convict lease system in the South, an institution that was worse than slavery". Younger brothers, sons, and nephews of Fraterville miners were among the 84 men and boys who died in the 1911 Cross Mountain Mine explosion in Briceville.
Increased public awareness over the hazards of coal mining, from disasters like Fraterville, resulted in the formation of the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1910. Five miners were rescued from the Cross Mountain Mine Explosion by engineers and apparatus crews from the Bureau of Mines, their first successful mine rescue operation. In the early 1900's, thousands of coal miners died each year. In 2000, coal mine fatalities in the United States numbered 38. Today, coal mining is no more dangerous than many other professions.
The legacy of the Fraterville miners....abolished the convict lease system in the South, made working conditions safer for future miners, and fueled the industrial revolution.... rivals that of any comparable group its size in history.
Click on image to enlarge |
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Scouts from Troop 120 (left) talking to Carl Web |
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Exploring Leach Cemetery.... |
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Links to Fraterville Anniversary Tours |
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List of participants: |
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Anderson, Josh
Bailey, Linda Sun Bailey, Owen Bailey, Zenith Bishop, Janis Bishop, Paul Bishop, Roger Bodas, Clarence Bodas, Gerry Bolinger, Tammy Bostic, Dale Bostic, Lynn Brantley, Brian Carden, Blanche Carden, Gene Carden, Nina Carden, Wallace Coggins, Allen Coker, Alice Cooper, Dotty Daugherty, Everette Daugherty, Ovie Davis, Charles Detwiler, James Doyle, George Dunlap, Julian Edmonds, Jack Edmonds, Linda Enix, Chris Flinchem, Dan Flinchem, Jack Flinchem, Opal Foster, Al Foster, Grace Foust, Jerry Fritts, Carl Gawarecki, Susan Goddard, Jim Hackworth, Christopher Hackworth, Kenneith Hackworth, Mandy Hackworth, Teresa Hawkins, Lou Hensley, Mildred Hensley, Rev. H.C. Herren, Carla Holmes, Karen Howard, Tom Justice, Bobby Justice, Drew Justice, Gwen Lady, Bill Lady, Richard Lady, Ruth Large, Madeline
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Ledford, Cheryl
Ledford, Paul Lee, Darlene LeFevers, Jim Leighton, Breanne Leighton, Breanne Lickliter, Charlotte Lickliter, Michael Lynn, Autumn Massey, Richard Massey, Vicki McCulloch, Drew Mocsari, Malissa Mocsari, Whitney Montgomery, Joanna Montgomery, Nancy Moore, Carol Noonan, Amyu Ogle, Christy Ogle, Cody Paylor, Jack Paylor, Mary Phillips, Bonnie Phillips, Rosemary Phillips, Terry Pressley, Wally Rhea, Justin Rhea, Tim Riester, Laura Riggs, Ronnie Roettger, Juanita Russell, Billie Russell, Emily Russell, Hannah Schultz, Elizabeth Settles, Sharon Sherlin, Harvey Sipe, George Sipe, Martha Smith, Donna Tackett, Ralph Thacker, Barry Thomas, Pat Thomas, Tony Thurman, John Vandergriff, Amanda Vandergriff, Ashley Vandergriff, Ed Vandergriff, Marie Webb, Carl Webb, Mae Wet, Sammie Whaley, Mark Whitson, Gail Whitson, T.L. Worley, Susie
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Tour Guides: Lynn Bostic, Carol Moore, Gwen Justice, Dale Bostic, Barry Thacker
Musicians: Tony Thomas and Linda Gunderson
Photographers: Dale Bostic, Hollywood Whaley, Carol Moore, Barry Thacker
Special thanks to Mr. Owen Bailey and Ms. Nancy Montgomery for giving us permission to visit historic sites on their property, and M&R Bus Company for providing transportation. Also, thanks to Lake City Cracker Barrel and McDonald's for allowing all of us to bombard them for a mid-tour break.
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CELEBRATING OUR 21st YEAR!!