The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

The Way We Were

Clips from available Mountain Eagle pages since 1907.

THURSDAY

APRIL 6, 1911

Otto Hartt was shot early Saturday morning by his 15-year-old stepson at the Hartt home on Rockhouse, at the mouth of Garner Branch. Details about a motive for the shooting remain conflicted, but police arrested Hartt’s wife, Polly, along with boy, who is her son. Doctors Fitzpatrick and Venters were able to perform lifesaving surgery on Hartt, who was shot just to the right of his navel with a bullet from a .22 caliber rifle. s

In a front-page editorial, Mountain Eagle editor Nehemiah M. Webb calls on citizens of Whitesburg and Letcher County to stop making and selling moonshine whiskey. “Any sensible person ought to know without being told how dangerous it is to sell whiskey unlawfully,” Webb writes. “When a man does it, he sets a trap that will catch him nine times out of 10. It hurts us to see our friends get caught in the net and have to pay out hard-earned money or languish many months in prison, away from home and friends, for selling or making a few dollars’ worth of moonshine.” s

A force of Italian stonemasons has started bridge and culvert work for the new railroad in Sergent.

FRIDAY

APRIL 8, 1921

The S.V.&E. passenger train struck and killed a small child near Burdine earlier this week. s

News of the death of Node Starkey, manager of the Whitesburg Telephone Company, reached here Saturday evening and was greeted with sadness. Starkey died at a hospital in Louisville, where he was being treated for stomach cancer. s

More than 300 people boarded the northbound train from Whitesburg Saturday evening for the growing town of Blackey and the grand opening of the Blackey Theatre. s

City of Whitesburg officials Sam Blair and Charlie Burton have returned from upstate, where they went to inspect Kentucky Rock Asphalt, with which our streets are probably to be paved. s

By order of Letcher County Health Officer Dr. J.M. Bentley, any Letcher County resident who believes that he or she has smallpox or has been exposed to smallpox will be charged with a misdemeanor offense and fined between $100 and $1,000 if they are out in public or any place where people are accustomed to assembling. s

The Letcher County Fiscal Court is advertising for bids for the construction of 13 miles of county road leading from Sandlick Gap to Blackey, three miles of road from Crafts Colly to Mayking, two miles of road from Haymond to Jenkins, and two miles of road from Jenkins to Pound Gap. s

Letcher County Judge Fess Whitaker is warning all persons to clean up their premises at once or be punished in accordance with state and county health laws. s

Edison phonographs are now being offered for sale at the Whitesburg Hardware Company. s

A contract will be let soon for delivery of daily mail from Van to Whitesburg. s

For the first time in Letcher County’s history, women will be serving on juries when the April term of circuit court opens next Monday.

THURSDAY

APRIL 9, 1931

Residents of the City of Whitesburg voted 155 to 142 to abolish the Whitesburg School District and to place it under the control of the Letcher County Board of Education. The vote passed despite the valiant effort of the “no” forces led by John A. Webb, W.H. Maggard, D.W. Little, Sam Collins, Bob May, Steve Frazier, Oscar Lewis, Matthew Fields and Stephen Combs Jr. s

The Pine Mountain Tea Room, managed by Miss Verna Steele, is open and welcoming diners to a nice 50-cent fried chicken dinner next Sunday. The meal includes cream gravy, cream asparagus on toast, sweet potatoes, fruit salad, baked custard, and drink.

“As a man and executive, Woodrow Wilson was his ideal, and when he entered the White House grounds while Mr. Wilson was president, no blue coat dared to tell him nay,” The Mountain Eagle writes of Rev. Dr. Jonathan Creech Day, a Letcher County native who died April 3 after a career that saw him work his way up to the job of Commissioner or Markets in New York City before becoming director of the Labor Temple for six years. Dr. Day died unexpectedly April 3 at his home in Richmond, Virginia after an auto accident. Dr. Day, 54, was born near Whitesburg. After being educated at Tusculum College in Kentucky and at the University of Chicago, he became a Presbyterian clergyman, and for a time did community welfare work among Pennsylvania coal miners, going from Tyrone, Pa., to New York in 1912 to succeed the Rev. Charles Steizle as superintendent of the Labor Temple. In 1924, he was elected president of the Young Democratic Club in New York, but soon after moved to Chicago to enter the insurance business. Day left the Presbyterian ministry in 1937. He was a son of the late R.C. Day. [At the time of his death, Dr. Day left behind eight brothers, Whitesburg police officer and federal revenue officer Clark Day, and future Whitesburg postmaster R.C. Day Jr. Other brothers were Enoch, Eli, Anthony, Edward, Marcellis, and Robert.] s

A 19-year-old Letcher County man was found dead on Pine Mountain, near the home of his father on Laurel Branch, at the head of the North Fork of the Kentucky River, about four miles from Jenkins. Bud Holbrook, son of Bill Holbrook, had gone across Pine Mountain with Lee Church the night before to buy moonshine whiskey in Virginia. While returning to back over the mountain, Holbrook became so intoxicated he could no longer travel, and Church left him behind. Holbrook was found dead the next day, having either frozen to death or been poisoned by too much whiskey. s

The Letcher County Health Department reports giving 449 smallpox vaccinations, 1,200 diphtheria inoculations, and 34 scarlet fever inoculations during the month of March. s

The mines at Whitaker are now open and working nearly every day.

THURSDAY

APRIL 10, 1941

According to Chief of Police Mack Bentley, of Neon, two men were arrested this week in Neon on a charge of passing counterfeit money. The two arrested were Jack Mullins and Quentin Mullins. Chief Bentley states that the two men were armed with pistols and had passed bogus $5 bills at Araco Grocery, Sam Hush and also at the Bentley Theatre. s

Whitesburg’s latest improvement, the rebuilding of the bridge leading to the L&N Depot by the City of Whitesburg and the Works Progress Administration, is now nearing completion and was partially opened to traffic on Monday. The bridge has been raised and widened and is much more convenient for tourists as well as pedestrians. s

A grand United Mine Workers of America parade took place in Pike County on Tuesday and closed down all truck mines, two of which came under the banner of the U.M.W. of A. The locals taking part were 5741, Jenkins; 6800, Fleming; and 5799, Wheelwright. s

Harry LaViers, V.P. and General Manager of South East Coal Company, has been appointed a member of the entertainment committee to develop plans for the 18th Annual Coal Convention and Exposition of the American Mining Congress which is to be held in Cincinnati, Ohio April 28 through May 2.

From The Mountain Eagle’s sister publication The Neon News:

FRIDAY

APRIL 11, 1941

Residents of Jenkins were shocked Sunday night when it became known that a murder had been committed at Joe’s Branch, and that the murderers were being sought. George Buchanan, who formerly operated a taxi for Ladd’s Service, was the victim of the gunshots. It is reported in Jenkins that the pistol owned by Mr. Gabe Wright of Jenkins, a former Jenkins policeman, was the weapon used and Gabe Wright was arrested and charged in the slaying. s

The Fleming News reports that Mr. Claude Hounchell of the U.S. Army, stationed at Langley Field, Va., came home for a few days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hounchell. s

The “stork” paid a visit to John M. Tolliver’s barn, leaving a nice Belgian mare. He is well pleased with it, and this increase leaves him with five good horses.

THURSDAY

APRIL 12, 1951

An estimated damage of $800 to $1,000 was suffered when fire broke out Wednesday in the Fleming-Neon Band House, Neon Fire Chief Frank Abdoo said. The fire started from an overheated stove in the building, which was completed in the latter part of 1950. s

Child Welfare Services will open in Letcher County this week with the arrival of the worker assigned to the county by the Division of Child Welfare and the opening of an office in the courthouse in Whitesburg. The worker assigned to the local office will render services to children who are homeless, dependent, neglected or who are in danger of becoming delinquent. s

Private First Class Paul E. Adams, son of Mr. Levi Adams of Neon, was recently promoted to the grade of corporal for his excellent performance of duty in ground combat against the armed enemy. s

An eight-pound bag of oranges costs 59 cents this week at the A&P food store. Apples are 29 cents for three pounds, and two bunches of carrots are 19 cents.

THURSDAY

APRIL 13, 1961

Before and after pictures of the Letcher County Public Library are shown in this issue of The Mountain Eagle. In the before pictures, the library’s main room is shown with its only table and with books tumbling from shelves. The after photos show the library’s new location in the L&N depot with bright-painted tables, comfortable chairs and neat bookshelves. s

Letcher County voters will pick from a total of 141 candidates at next month’s primary election. That’s the number who had filed when the deadline came Saturday. s

Sen. Archie Craft led a delegation of state and national park representatives on a hiking tour of Pine Mountain’s scenic wonders, including Bad Branch Falls. Two representatives of the National Parks Service looked over the Pine Mountain area that has been proposed for development as a state park. s

William C. Cook, machinist’s mate second class, U.S. Navy, is serving aboard the radar picket destroyer USS Turner operating with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.

THURSDAY

APRIL 15, 1971

A dispute between Black students and the Jenkins Independent School District remains unresolved despite some efforts to ease the situation before school reopens after spring vacation. Most Black students began a boycott of the Jenkins schools in protest of the explusions of six Black students, which the Blacks contend, were harsh and discriminatory. At least two meetings were held during the week in an effort to solve the problems. s

At least 68 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as a growing number of Senators, are backing a bill which would halt strip-mining nationwide within six months of passage. The bill, filed by Rep. Ken Hechler (D-W.Va.), aims “to provide for the control of surface and underground coal mining operations which adversely affect the quality of our environment, and for other purposes.” s

Army Staff Sergeant Tressie Caudill, son of James A. Caudill, Premium, recently received the Army Commendation Medal in ceremonies in Vietnam. s

Pork chops are 59 cents a pound at the A&P food store. Cabbage is 12 cents a pound and a head of lettuce is 19 cents.

THURSDAY

APRIL 16, 1981

“Don’t ever underestimate the staying power of an Appalachian coal miner … they’ll go down to eating roots if they have to,” said a striking Virginia miner interviewed just before the current coal mine strike began. s

Thirty-two new apartments will go up in the Whitesburg Housing Project about three years from now, if current plans of the Whitesburg Housing Authority are realized. s

Letcher County’s unemployment rate was 16 percent for February. Of the total labor force of 7,168, only 6,023 held jobs. The jobless rate for eastern Kentucky was 12.2 percent, down slightly from 12.7 percent in January. s

Whitesburg Mayor Ferdinand Moore got a 33 percent raise in salary by vote of the city council. His pay went from $75 a year to $100. Council members kept their own salaries at $2 for each meeting attended.

WEDNESDAY

APRIL 10, 1991

Seventeen Letcher County coal mines are among 847 being cited nationwide of allegedly tampering with coal dust samples to make safety conditions seem better than they are. The two biggest offenders named here — Arch Mineral Corp. and South East Coal Co. — face a total of $105,000 in fines. The other 15 companies face fines ranging from $11,000 to $1,000. s

Letcher Fiscal Court has asked the state to reduce the speed limit on KY 7 and KY 931 to combat problems caused by heavy coal truck traffic. The resolution cites the “heavy flow of traffic and highway congestion” caused by coal truck traffic on the two roads, and says that a 55-miles-per-hour speed limit is too high. s

The McRoberts Medical Clinic will close permanently on May 3. The clinic has been operated for 17 years by Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation, based in Whitesburg. MCHC’s citizen board of directors decided last week that the number of patients using the McRoberts clinic no longer justifies the expense of keeping it open.

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Part of the Little Shepherd Trail will be blacktopped for the first time this summer.The state Transportation Cabinet has called for bids on a first layer of blacktop on a 1.2-mile section of the trail near the Kingdom Come State Park. In all, the scenic trail is more than 30 miles long.

WEDNESDAY

APRIL 11, 2001

For the second time in two months, the Letcher Fiscal Court has deadlocked on a vote to allow some county workers to be represented by the United Steel Workers.

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Funeral services were held for Archie Craft, 90, a longtime political figure in Letcher County, who died April 7 in Lexington. Craft and his wife, Virginia Reese Craft, who survives him, founded and operated three funeral homes in Letcher County.

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Unemployment in Letcher County fell again in February, bringing the rate to 6.8 percent, just over half the February 2000 estimate.

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Appalshop is bringing its production “Voices from Home” to Cincinnati. The show was first presented in the South Bronx, New York in March 2000 and made a stop in Nashville last November. “Voices from Home” includes film screenings and live performances by Appalachian and local artists.

WEDNESDAY

APRIL 13, 2011

Lloyd Steven Pigg, 40, of Jenkins, pleaded guilty to complicity to tampering with physical evidence in connection with the death of Ralph Marcum, 70. He is now expected to testify against his two former co-defendants when their trial begins next week.

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Whitesburg Mayor James W. Craft and the Whitesburg City Council were told this week that enough natural gas is produced in and around the city to supply a utility that would sell gas to the town’s restaurants and businesses. The question arose after a representative of a Floyd County drilling company approached the council to ask for permission to cross-city property with a gas line to fuel a new gas boiler for the Whitesburg hospital.

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From 1917 to 1954, there were 13 coal mines in and around Blackey, writes Jim Cornett. “Hundreds of men had jobs, backbreaking jobs, loading coal for little pay. They supported their families, raising gardens to feed them, and selling some produce to supplement their income.”

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The Jenkins Volunteer Fire Department is the new owner of a piece of history associated with the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. A piece of a steel beam recovered after two planes crashed into the Trade Center’s twin towers was awarded to the fire department for use in remembrances or teachings about the attack. Fire Chief Rick Corbett said Jenkins was one of about 1,500 fire departments throughout the United States to apply two years ago for steel beams from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owned the World Trade Center.

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