"Cities, Towns & Countryside"

4th Annual Preservation Week 2002 Photo-Essay Competition

Save Stone Camp! That is my cry. Why do I want to save a group of old, worn, two-story homes, all of which look exactly alike? Well, there are several answers to that question. The houses are a major part of history for the small coal community of Stone, Kentucky. They are a standing tribute to all of the hardworking coal miners from this area (all of whom got very little respect for their work). Most of all, my family and I call one of them our home.

Stone Coal Camp was build by Pond Creek Coal Company. Construction began in 1914 and took several years to complete the camp. The houses were built in the bungalow style of architecture. The Stone Coal Camp was built using all of the best material that money could buy at the time because it would house all of the company's most important people and their families, such as the Vice President, all of the superintendents, the mine foreman and the company doctor.

The Stone Camp was like no other camp because the homes were built to hold only one family, whereas the other camps that housed the coal miners were usually built with very inexpensive material and were built as duplexes for at least two families.

The Stone Camp was and still is enclosed by shrubbery and a fence, which made it a very safe and secure place for the people who resided here. The homes have an elaborate fireplace in the living area. They have a glass enclosed front porch in which the families could sit and relax in the summer and winter months. All of the wood trim in the homes is made of thick dark maple, including the beautiful staircase and railings. The homes have hardwood flooring and solid wood doors. The company spared no expense in the boss's homes and the proof of that is still evident today, although usually covered by many layers of paint. They are still in great condition and all of them are being occupied as private residences. The homes with the large yards, which was referred to as the "common yard," all have concreted sidewalks connecting them so that the children could play hopscotch, shoot marbles or jump rope.

The coal company constructed what was known as the clubhouse in this community of homes. The clubhouse was the epitome of gathering places for the high-up people in the community. It was similar to a hotel for visiting executives and guests of the company. The miners also gathered for meetings and social events on very special occasions, which the company held for them. The people of the small community was allowed to hold church gatherings and dances there. Unfortunately, no one fought to save this building and the L-shaped portion of it was demolished. The remaining part of the clubhouse has been renovated and is now a private residence. This is such a tragic loss to the history of this camp and to the people of this community, such as myself, who would have loved to go to the place that my great-grandfather so fondly told me about. I would have loved to been able to tour the clubhouse and try to "re-live" the era that he grew up in.

This camp community must be preserved for future generations to come so that they might experience the way of life of the coal miners in the early 1910's. There was nothing like being a miner and living in coal camps and there will never be that same experience again. No one in this day and age has to live by and through his or her employer. Not only did coal companies provide jobs for the miners but also insisted that the miners live in company housing, shop from the company owned store, be treated by the company employed doctor, attend the company ran theater, and paid them with company money known as "script" which had to be spent in at a company owned facility because it wasn't "real" money. The coal miners had no choices in their lives.

There will come a time in this area that there are no more mines and people will begin to leave to look for jobs. If we could renovate this camp and restore the homes to resemble the era in which they were built, then I believe that it could bring tourism for this community and also provide jobs for the people who love it here.

SOURCES

Internet Source:
www.coaleducation.org/coalhistory/coaltowns/coalcamps/pike_county.htm
Personal Interviews:
Janie Frazier 3/15/02, Krista Curry 3/18/02, Jim Keenan 3/18/02

This essay and photograph(s) are the property of Preservation Kentucky, Inc. and Kentucky Heritage Council and that any use of the photo or essay must be approved by PK and KHC.

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