Appalachian Cemetery Preservation

06/20/2026

06/19/2026

🚩 Red bandanas around their necks. Rifles from the war they'd just come home from. And nothing left to lose. This is how an army of coal miners was born. ⛏️

In late August 1921, somewhere between ten and fifteen thousand coal miners in southern West Virginia put on red bandanas — a symbol that gave them the nickname "rednecks," long before that word meant anything else — and marched toward Logan and Mingo counties to confront the armed guards and deputies who had been terrorizing union organizers for years. Many of these men had served in World War I just a few years earlier, and they brought that military training and that surplus equipment home with them into the mountains. What followed was the Battle of Blair Mountain — five days of actual combat, complete with trenches, machine guns, and even bombing runs by private aircraft hired by the coal operators. It remains the largest armed insurrection in the United States since the Civil War.

The miners were fighting for the right to organize, for an end to the company town system that controlled every aspect of their lives, and for basic safety protections in mines that killed and maimed men at a staggering rate. They lost the battle — federal troops eventually intervened and the miners, many of whom had served those same federal forces in Europe, stood down rather than fire on the U.S. Army. But the battle, and the brutal trials that followed it, brought national attention to conditions in the coalfields in a way that nothing before had managed, and it laid groundwork for labor protections that would come a decade later under the New Deal.

Did your family have any connection to the mine wars or to union organizing in the coalfields? 💬 Share what you know in the comments — these stories are still being pieced together. Follow along for more true stories from the m

06/19/2026

Come join us for the next amazing chapter of Coal Creek Miners Museum!

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

06/17/2026

Today we mourn the passing of a truly remarkable woman, Emalene Lee, whose dedication, vision, and service left an enduring mark on Elkhorn City and the surrounding region.

Emalene was the giant of the Elkhorn City Area Heritage Council and a tireless advocate for our community. For more than twenty years, she devoted countless hours to producing and improving the Heritage Council's quarterly newsletter, helping preserve the stories, history, and heritage of our mountain people. Through her efforts, important pieces of our local history were documented and shared with future generations.

Emalene was also the driving inspiration behind bringing the Remote Area Medical (RAM) program to our area. She understood the challenges faced by many families in rural Appalachia and recognized the importance of accessible healthcare. Her vision and commitment helped support efforts to bring free medical, dental, and vision services to people who otherwise might not have received the care they needed. The impact of that work can never be fully measured, but it has touched countless lives.

Those who knew Emalene knew a woman of determination, generosity, and unwavering dedication. She believed deeply in serving others and in preserving the history and traditions that make our community unique. She gave freely of her time, her talents, and her heart.

The Heritage Council, and indeed our entire community, is better because of her life's work. Her legacy lives on through the programs she championed, the history she helped preserve, and the many people she encouraged along the way.

On behalf of the Elkhorn City Area Heritage Council, we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones. While we mourn her passing, we celebrate a life well lived...a life devoted to service, community, and compassion.

Thank you, Emalene, for all you gave to Elkhorn City. Your work will continue to inspire us, and your memory will remain a treasured part of our community's story.

Rest in peace, dear friend. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

06/16/2026

Ralph Stanley, Bernard Nunley, and Carter Stanley way back in 1939. Playing some of that good ol’ mountain music that would come to define their careers.