SALS seeks to create historical mining displays

Steve Keenan, The Fayette Tribune, Oak Hill, W.Va.
·3 min read

Jul. 6—OAK HILL — The Southern Appalachian Labor School has embarked on a fundraising effort to pave the way for historical mining displays being placed at the SALS Historic Oak Hill School, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to Dr. John David, the volunteer director of SALS, a recent donation from the United Mine Workers Association helps ignite the fundraising drive. David shared a June 27 letter from Cecil E. Roberts, the international president of the UMWA, which supplied $500 to the project to assist with the building of display cases that will house UMWA-related items donated by David, Mike Browning, Howard Green, Doug Yarrow and others.

Also donated have been paintings by Mike South, Andy Willis and David "Blue" Lamm. Two paintings by Lamm, centering on Mother Jones and coal miners in Cabin Creek, are displayed in the historic school's banquet room.

"Keep up the good work and may God bless you, the Southern Appalachian Labor School and the individuals whose lives you improve through your selfless efforts," read a portion of the Roberts letter to David.

According to David, the plan is to have display cases in the alcove areas on the first floor of the HOHS, with a recorded tour on devices, as well as a descriptive booklet.

The displays will feature professional photographs, scrip, buttons, bumper stickers, UMWA plaques, jackrocks, correspondence, awards, articles, paintings, photos, issues of the Miner's Voice, Coalfield Defender and the Black Lung Bulletin and much more, David said.

The items will date from the initial Miners for Democracy movement in District 5 (Pennsylvania) and will include the rise of the MFD movement in West Virginia with the Arnold Miller/Harry Patrick/Mike Trobovich campaign against Tony Boyle, records of Helen M. Powell and other Black Lung lay advocate leaders, and leads to productions such as "Harlan County USA" and "A Man Named Tony," the latter which is about the Yablonski murders.

David estimates a financial outlay in the neighborhood of $7,500 to $10,000 to start the project.

"As visitors come to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, the Southern Appalachian Labor School believes that it is important for them to know the 'untold story' about the rich labor history in West Virginia and the immediate area," said David. "The SALS Historic Oak Hill School, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and centrally located with ample parking, is an ideal location for those who seek to have both an exciting adventure as well as the opportunity to learn about the history of the United Mine Workers of America."

Anyone contributing to the ongoing effort will be listed on a plaque within the exhibit.

Contributions, marked UMWA display, can be sent to: Southern Appalachian Labor School, P.O. Box 127, Kincaid, WV 25119.

SALS also has a PayPal account on its website: www.sals.info.

Anyone with items to donate to the display can contact SALS.

SALS is a 501©(3) non-profit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service and the West Virginia secretary of state's office, thereby making contributions tax-deductible, David said.

Email: skeenan@register-herald.com; follow on Facebook