Copyright © 2003 -2008 Roger Philpot All Rights Reserved
Images © 2008 Roger Philpot
The coal miner I know comes from a special breed of man who works in the darkness under dangerous conditions and
breathes the coal dust that gives him black lung and no hope of a retirement future.
I know what a coal miner is, because I am the son of a coal miner. I watched my dad come and go every day from the mines and could see his black face and dirty clothes and the despair that each day brought.
Potential dangers were always there for them and their families. This created close comradeship and tight knit mining communities. Working conditions in the coal mining industry have their inherent dangers. The coal operators and owners sacrificed the coal miner's safety to better their profits.Mining accidents were common and the coal miner could lose his life trying to make a living for his family.
The coal miner in the twentieth century lived in coal camps owned by the coal company. The company also provided a company store and monies called "scrip". "Scrip" could only be redeemed at the company store. The song (16 tons) recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford certainly exemplifies what it was like.
Coal mining has changed over the years, thanks in part to the UMWA. Miners work for a decent wage and mine safety has been brought to the forefront. However, coal mining disasters still occur. Most of the coal camps no longer exist.
I designed this web site for the sole purpose of commemorating and paying "A tribute to the coal miner".I invite my visitors to sign the Petition and honor the coal miner through a coal miner's stamp. I am proud to be a "coal miner's son."
The coal miner's life was a hard one. They worked long hours for low wages. The environment they worked in was dangerous and certainly hazardous to their health and well being. Living conditions were also sub- standard, but the coal miner was resilient.
The Coal Miner
"From darkness they came into the world
To toil in darkness and to darkness will return"
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The Coal Miner
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