My Father's Memory Book...
"We lived in several houses at Harman. I guess Thelma had it hardest when we lived above # 2 Trestle. Since I worked the Hoot Owl shift, I remember looking down at our house as I trammed a motor across the #2 Trestle, and oftentimes Thelma would be standing at an ironing board ironing clothes even though it would be approaching midnight. She sure didn't get much sleep, and as far as that goes, I didn't either when I came home after daylight. Thelma didn't have to fix me breakfast, for I generally ate some of Thelma's delicious cornbread with milk poured over it before retiring for the day, usually to about 2 or 3:00 p.m., but sometimes up at noon. Oftentimes, since I was Chief Foreman, I would have to go in an hour or two early to plan where everyone was going, and a hundred other things... and stay an hour or so after the shift to fill out reports and such...Twelve hour shifts were common for me, and some of the hard working employees would want to Double Back & do two shifts for Double Time pay. And then there were some that always wanted off to go deer hunting or something. Frustrating, but I just tried to keep a cheerful attitude and do the best I could, and try to treat the men as I would want to be treated.
The house above #2 Trestle was a cold house right beside the road. There was an abundance of coal dust and noise, for the big fan that blew air deep into the mine roared continuously night and day. We loved to sit out on the porch, but even then it was hard to carry on a conversation, what with all of the fan and road noise. Cold house that was heated with a Warm Morning stove in the Dining Room. It was a small house with only two bedrooms, Dining & Living Room, Kitchen and one bathroom. (But lots of folks at that time lived in a house with two rooms and a path.... No indoor plumbing!)
"We lived in several houses at Harman. I guess Thelma had it hardest when we lived above # 2 Trestle. Since I worked the Hoot Owl shift, I remember looking down at our house as I trammed a motor across the #2 Trestle, and oftentimes Thelma would be standing at an ironing board ironing clothes even though it would be approaching midnight. She sure didn't get much sleep, and as far as that goes, I didn't either when I came home after daylight. Thelma didn't have to fix me breakfast, for I generally ate some of Thelma's delicious cornbread with milk poured over it before retiring for the day, usually to about 2 or 3:00 p.m., but sometimes up at noon. Oftentimes, since I was Chief Foreman, I would have to go in an hour or two early to plan where everyone was going, and a hundred other things... and stay an hour or so after the shift to fill out reports and such...Twelve hour shifts were common for me, and some of the hard working employees would want to Double Back & do two shifts for Double Time pay. And then there were some that always wanted off to go deer hunting or something. Frustrating, but I just tried to keep a cheerful attitude and do the best I could, and try to treat the men as I would want to be treated.
The house above #2 Trestle was a cold house right beside the road. There was an abundance of coal dust and noise, for the big fan that blew air deep into the mine roared continuously night and day. We loved to sit out on the porch, but even then it was hard to carry on a conversation, what with all of the fan and road noise. Cold house that was heated with a Warm Morning stove in the Dining Room. It was a small house with only two bedrooms, Dining & Living Room, Kitchen and one bathroom. (But lots of folks at that time lived in a house with two rooms and a path.... No indoor plumbing!)
Larry and David both went to Hiwassee and East Tennessee State. At Larry's graduation from ETSU, I was sitting beside of the father of one of Larry's friends, and we were discussing mining since we were both coal miners. Two ladies sitting in front of us suddenly turned around to face us with big smiles on their faces...
"I bet we can tell you what your occupations are!" one of the ladies said.
"Alright, go ahead and tell us," I said.
"YOU ARE BOTH HIGHWAY PATROLMEN!' she said, knowing she had us figured out.
"No mam," I said, we are both coal miners."
"She never said another word and just humped up and turned around quickly. Some people don't seem to care for us coal miners. I guess they would rather be cold. Mr. Ratliff and myself were dressed nice. No overalls, so I guess we fooled them. Coal miners have had a hard life, especially the early miners before the union came along to help them."
"I bet we can tell you what your occupations are!" one of the ladies said.
"Alright, go ahead and tell us," I said.
"YOU ARE BOTH HIGHWAY PATROLMEN!' she said, knowing she had us figured out.
"No mam," I said, we are both coal miners."
"She never said another word and just humped up and turned around quickly. Some people don't seem to care for us coal miners. I guess they would rather be cold. Mr. Ratliff and myself were dressed nice. No overalls, so I guess we fooled them. Coal miners have had a hard life, especially the early miners before the union came along to help them."
