Published: April 25, 2009 07:39 pm      

Memories rekindled as mine reopens

POCAHONTAS, Va. — As he sat in the sun-splashed crowd of more than 175 people attending the annual grand re-opening ceremony of the Pocahontas Exhibition Mine, Billy E. Hylton recalled bringing the last shuttle car filled with coal out of the Pocahontas East Mine in 1954.

“My dad, Harry Hylton, was the chief motorman at the East Mine,” Hylton said. “They had two sets of equipment in there. They pulled one of them and took it down to the Boissevain Mine. I was only 17 years old when I started here in 1951,” Hylton said. “Those were the old days when they cut the coal and hand-loaded the coal into wooden cars.”

His friends call Hylton “the mayor of Paradise,” the section of Pocahontas nearest to the East Mine entry. “I was born in 1932, and I’ve lived in Paradise all of my life,” Hylton, 77, said. “This town was booming when I was a boy.”

Hylton was only 6 years old when the Pocahontas Fuel Company opened the world’s first demonstration coal mine at Pocahontas in 1938. Pocahontas Fuel was acquired in the late 1950s by Consol. The company eventually leased the show mine to the town, but by the late 1970s, the novelty of the attraction and interest had apparently waned. By 1983, the community had trouble keeping it open on a regular basis except for special occasions like the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first shipment of coal out of the mines.

The town and a few dedicated volunteers managed to get the show mine reopened in 1989, and although there have been difficult times during the past 20 years, the town and dedicated volunteers have continued to keep the exhibition mine open. This year, thanks to some dramatic improvements provided by a group of safety inspectors from the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy, the Pocahontas Exhibition Mine is in great shape — perhaps as good as it has ever been in its 71-plus year history.

Dr. Tom Brewster, former principal of Pocahontas High School, served as keynote speaker for this year’s grand reopening ceremony. “On this day, we honor our coal miners that worked so hard, under unbearable conditions and with noted sacrifice, to benefit our great nation and live out the American dream,” Brewster said to the enthusiastic audience.

“Behind me were three mine openings” the East Mine on one side of the small stream called Coal Branch, and on the other side of the mine were the West and Baby mines, which connected,” Brewster said. “The mine sections were named by the miners and included such colorful names as, ‘California,’ ‘Hell’s Half-Acre,’ ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ ‘Brooklyn,’ Gibraltar,’ and ‘Africa.’”

Brewster talked about the dangers of coal mining, but also spoke of the determination of the coal miners. He also talked about people like the late Edna Drosick and the late Mayor Anita Brown who died earlier this year, who worked so diligently to preserve the story of the coal industry in Pocahontas.

“So, as we move forward into the 21st Century, what prophetic questions should we be asking?” Brewster said. “What is the outlet for sharing the scenic beauty and rich history of Pocahontas? How do we attract more people to see the beauty that we already know is our Commonwealth’s best kept secret?” he asked rhetorically. He expressed his thanks for the opportunity to serve as PHS principal for four years, and closed his speech in the same way he concluded all four graduation speeches he delivered: “Once an Indian, always an Indian,” he said.

Larry Hypes provided upbeat, sometimes humorous and equally provocative insights as master of ceremonies for the event. Pocahontas Mayor Adam Cannoy gave a well-researched welcome to the audience and told those attending the ceremony about the significance of the show mine.

The American Legion Post No. 14 posted colors for the event and Pat Synan sang the National Anthem. The Reverend Carlos Hess, himself a veteran of 33 years as a coal miner, provided both the invocation and the benediction while Kayla Harless sang the Loretta Lynn classic, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

Cannoy presented co-Volunteers of the Year awards to Jane Flick and Karen Lafon, both civic minded, long-time volunteers. “This is my town,” Flick said in her emotional acceptance speech. “Every minute I work, I really enjoy. I am so thankful that my daughter has chosen to follow in my footsteps. I hope she continues.”

Amy Flick, of the Pocahontas Town Council, joined Cannoy to present special recognition to Dan and Janet McCoy who prepared a new video of Pocahontas, as well as to the DMME personnel who have worked to bring the show mine into such excellent and safe condition. The town honored Gary Davis, Larry Odum, Tom Mackey, Opie McKinney, Steven Walls, Frank Linkous, Butch Lambert, Don Riffe and Wayne Davis.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com