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The life and times of the ‘Big Muskie’ to be topic at Harrison dinner-auction

ANNIVERSARY YEAR — Central Ohio Coal Co. is famous for the “Big Muskie,” the world’s largest dragline ever built. This marks the 50th anniversary year of its dedication, which was held May 22, 1969. Keynote speaker Steve Hook, below, retired Central Ohio Coal Co. engineer, will address the life and times of the “Big Muskie” in the coal fields of Southeast Ohio and the Central Ohio Coal Co. at the 25th-annual Harrison Coal and Reclamation Historical Park dinner-auction. It will be held May 11 at the Sally Buffalo Park’s Wallace Lodge in Cadiz. -- Contributed

CADIZ — The 25th-annual Harrison Coal and Reclamation Historical Park dinner-auction will be held May 11 at the Sally Buffalo Park’s Wallace Lodge in Cadiz with doors opening at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and an auction beginning at approximately 8 p.m.

The keynote speaker will be Steve Hook, retired Central Ohio Coal Co. engineer and current Morgan County, Ohio, engineer. He will address the life and times of the “Big Muskie” in the coal fields of Southeast Ohio and the Central Ohio Coal Co.

This marks the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Big Muskie, which was held May 22, 1969.

“Central Ohio Coal Co. is famous for Big Muskie, the world’s largest dragline ever built, having many draglines, shovels and the Muskingum Electric Railroad,” an event spokesperson noted.

Hook logged 33 years with AEP, virtually all of it at Central Ohio Coal Co., where he had stints as reclamation engineer, engineering superintendent and operations superintendent before his retirement. He has been Morgan County engineer since 2005 and is responsible for maintaining 342 miles of roads and 210 bridges in Morgan County.

“Even when I was working at the mine, I always thought that I’d like to be the county engineer,” he said. “Working at Central Ohio Coal was great training for being the county engineer,” Hook said. “I was involved with the mine’s haul roads, and I dealt with state and federal agencies, just like I’m doing today.”

Tickets are $20 and include a buffet-style dinner and drinks. For reservations, information or to donate items for the auction, call (740) 391-4135 or (740) 942-3895 or e-mail to info@hcrhp.org. Reservations can be mailed to HCRHP, 143 S. Main St., Cadiz, OH 43907, with checks made payable to HCRHP.

The Harrison Coal and Reclamation Historical Park meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Harrison County Visitors Center, located at 143 S. Main St., Cadiz.

Its mission is to preserve the history of the mining, construction, agriculture, logging, transportation and oil and gas industries. The HCRHP is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization. For information, visit www.hcrhp.org, www.coalpark.org and www.facebook.com/hcrhp.

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