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Keeping local mining history alive

Each year, the Harrison Coal and Reclamation Historical Park holds a dinner and auction to earn funds to keep their park, located on state Route 519, west of New Athens, preserved for future generations. It tells the story of surface mining, reclamation equipment and related materials featuring Ohio’s mining heritage. Work began on this in 1992 and in 1994 opened as a park.

This history made Harrison County one of the leading coal producers in Ohio for many years.

“We continue to go forward, working to acquire land of our own on which to display our equipment and build our surface mining center. And thank you all for your support over the years, and we encourage you to stay with us as we progress with our park,” Claren Blackburn, HCRHP president, said.

The 23rd-annual dinner and auction was held at the Wallace Lodge, Sally Buffalo Park, which came about from coal mining generosity. A highlight of the dinner is the auction of the coal mining days when picks were used to dig for the coal, and there were two on the auction block. There also were miners’ hats with a lantern on top for seeing in the darkened area, a wooden replica of a coal shovel, some of the cloth patches that represented time without accident or perfect attendance and enlarged photographs of many of the coal shovels that were used over the years.

Jack Kibble, a Cadiz resident, restored and enlarged many of the shovel pictures that were for sale by those who had worked with them to remove coal through the years. Most of the photos were from the collection of Davis and earlier pictures by Leonard Corona, who was the aerial photographer for Hanna Coal.

Dale Davis, vice president, gave the welcome, and Blackburn made introduction of past mine owners and operators who were present.

She went on to explain that she had not taken part in the planning of the dinner and auction as in times past due to heart surgery and complications that left her unable to walk or talk. With a few hitches and lots of time, she has mastered the fetes everyone takes for granted each day and thanked her officers and committee who had done so much to get the dinner on target.

In the HCRHP News, a letter to Blackburn was written — “You are a remarkable woman of incredible strength. But you made it difficult for your friends and fans to wish you well by not letting us know about your recent medical tussles with your heart. We wish and pray for your total recovery. We know you are on your way to that goal because you are already making calls and getting things done from your bed. Please take care. We will try to not mess things up too much before you return. With love and admiration, HCRH members, friends and fans.”

It was noted that the 14th-annual Old Construction and Mining Equipment Show would be open to all who were interested in seeing the operating of old trucks, crawlers, construction and mining equipment. Those with equipment are invited to bring their operating equipment to the show for some digging fun or static display.

Good food is available on the grounds, including some of the Harrison County-raised bison burgers, and southern-style barbecue food.

The days and hours are Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $3. For information call (740) 312-5385 or (330) 618-8032 or e-mail OLDIRONSHOW @YAHOO.COM OR www.Facebook.com/OCMES.

Sally Buffalo Days will be observed Sept. 16-17. This is the third year, and the committee is trying to build it up to what it was it times past.

A very enterprising and busy lady, Marcia Bedway, was honored posthumously for all her work with Cadiz endeavors, the county coal and reclamation park and coming back to the area to take care of the Bedway Coal business when her parents were no longer able to do so.

“Bedway, a civic leader, director of development, member of trustees of Belmont College and a member of the tourism committee in the county, was a person who not only spoke about making the community better, but put her words into action,” it was noted.

She is credited as saying “Hold on to what is good, even if it is just a handful of dirt.” Her brother, George Bedway, accepted her award and then was rewarded for his work with the coal and reclamation park by receiving an award. Blackburn and Davis made the presentations.

James Grant was the guest speaker and showed slides of the history of many coal mining and dirt moving pieces of equipment. One of his books “Gradall, Excavator and History of an Industry leader” and three others are at the Library of Congress, he noted.

He stared with Gradall in New Philadelphia in 1946 and was sometimes in other related businesses through his 70 years in business.

Those in attendance were reminded of the 2017 calendars with pictures of the Georgetown Preparation Plant, the world’s largest commercial coal preparation facility starting in 1954. It could process 1,500 tons of raw coal per hour, with two railroads, Nickel Plate and the Pennsylvania, serving the plant and 21 miles of single track laid to access it. It employed 90 men and women and was a very important part of the regional economy.

The calendar cost is $10, and there is $3 shipping and handling per calendar if mailed. Locally it can be purchased at the Puskarich Public Library and Harrison County Visitors Center. Make checks or money orders out to Dale Davis, calendar project, 456 Park Ave., Cadiz, OH 43907. There are a few calendars of other years available for $10 as well. They are 2011-Mountaineer; 2012-GEM of Egypt; 2013-225BE and 300 Marion; 2014-“A” the Tiger; 2015- Silver Spade; 2016-550B Pioneer.

Charles and Terri Hutton, auctioneers, worked to get the utmost in bids from the items that were donated. There were many door prizes as well.

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