Red Jacket Mine - July 29, 2006 Photo Gallery by Ed Talbott at pbase.com

Red Jacket Mine - July 29, 2006

On Saturday, July 29, 2006, Roger Mayhorn, Russ Belcher, Mike Sanders, Ed Talbott, Jr. and Ed Talbott, III hiked up Keen Mountain to the old entrance of the Red Jacket Coal Mine. This mine was the site of the biggest U.S. disaster of 1938 when 45 miners lost their lives in a coal dust explosion.

To learn more about the mine explosion - click on the pictures titled Bluefield Daily Telegraph and Clinch Valley News below.

Starting in the Rain	Appalachian Fog	Mountain Hikers	Red Jacket Coal Corp.
Entrance is Being Covered Over	Clinch Valley News - April 29, 1938	Bluefield Daily Telegraph Report - April 1938	Stone Wall
Mine Opened in 1937	Ed Talbott, Jr. Reads Entrance Stone	Russell Belcher at Mine	Motor Wire Clamp
Lighting Insulator	Bags of Rock Dust	Light at Entrance	Stalactites from Cement
Cliff at Entrance	One of Three Entrances	Brickwork at Third Entrance	Red Jacket Coal Seam
Daddy Long-legs	Ants Find a Meal	Red Dog	Soon To Be Gone
Water Tank ?	Russ filming Documentary	Mullein Blooms	Copperhead
Copperhead	Rain on Mimosa	Hoary Mint	Winged Sumac
Snail	Asiatic Dayflower	Roger, Mike and Russ	Nursery-web Spider
Maple Leaf	Winged Sumac	Photographing the Sumac	Rain and Web
Fungi	Crown-tipped Coral	Millipede species on Polypore fungi ??	Teasel
Silver-spotted Skipper on Teasel	Teasel

comment |

Karen Ward		23-Jan-2019 16:29
Thanks for sharing the photos. My late husband's great aunt out of Martin co, KY, was married to Charles Keen who was killed on that fateful day. I cannot imagine how Aunt Josie felt that day knowing she was on her own with children. Bless them all

Guest		18-Aug-2016 16:14
Thank you so very much for these pictures. My grandfather worked in that mine years ago.

Sally Nabb		08-May-2015 18:43
Thank you for the pictures. My grandfather Charley Keen was one of the 45 men who lost there lives that terrible day

Sally Nabb		08-May-2015 18:41
thank you for the pictures. My grandfather Charley Keen was one of the 45 men died in the Red Jacket mine that day

Carol McCoy Phelps		29-Jan-2015 05:38
I just emailed a copy of a wonderful poem written by my cousin, J. E. Sparks at the time of the tragedy. I sent it to aquilaet@yahoo.com. If that is not the correct email, please, someone let me know at jcarmc@yahoo.com

Linda Goodrich		28-Apr-2014 17:47
I enjoyed this page so much. My father worked this mine. I enjoyed the pictures so much.

Connie Dean		06-Apr-2014 00:45
I was trying to get the date for the memorial. My brother's father was killed in the explosion and I am hoping he will be able to attend.

Edison Baker		16-Nov-2013 06:04
i come from a family of coal miners far back as the early 20's, i worked more than 25 years in the mine, i enjoyed all the pictures, it seem somebody will start a drive to preserve the mine site for everyone to see by a trip to the site

okie keen vandyke pettry		20-Apr-2013 23:51
my dad was in the explosion and died. I was 18 months old and never knew him. I am so glad they are having this memorial for them. i feel closer to him and would like to know more. Okie Keen Pettry

Carla (May) Sullivan		11-Mar-2013 22:32
My grandfather Tom May and my great uncle LonnieMay where twin brothers. They came in this world together and left this world together. Both was killed in this mine leaving my grandmother to raise 3 children (Alberta, James, Tom and one on the way. My father Carl was 5 months after his father Tom was killed. These men will never be forgotten.

Susie Wilson Hill		11-Mar-2013 13:30
My name is Susie Wilson Hill. My father, Roscoe Wilson, worked at Red Jacket Mine in 1938. He started working in the coal mines when he was 12 years old, to help his father raise his brothers and sisters. His mother had died from childbirth. He had worked for 19 years in the mines without ever missing a days work. On that day tho, he had been suffering from ulcers, and was so sick that he could not go into work. He would have been killed that day if he had gone. I can remember him talking so much about loosing his co-workers and mom telling me how hard it was on him during that time. Thankyou for posting all these pictures. It has truly touched my heart to see the place where my father worked. He was a coal miner for 47 years.

kim keel		21-Jan-2013 14:49
sad story and such a hard life these men had, my grandfather George edwards worked at this mine, the night shift, but the black lung took him out. thanks for shareing

kim keel		21-Jan-2013 14:49
sad story and such a hard life these men had, my grandfather George edwards worked at this mine, the night shift, but the black lung took him out. thanks for shareing

Wanda L. Baker		04-Jul-2012 01:28
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing some of Buchanan County's history.

Ann Sutherland		22-Apr-2012 16:27
On this, the anniversary date, please pray for all of our family members who were lost on this day. They will never be forgotten. My Grandfather WALKER SUTHERLAND, lost his life at the mine. Thank you for sharing the pictures.

Nancy Orrell		14-Apr-2010 04:26
My name is Nancy Ratliff-Orrell. My grandfather, Tom Ratliff, died at the Red Jacket Coal Mine explosion. My father, Aud Ratliff, was only 11 years old when it happened. Thank you for going to all the trouble of visiting the site of the accident and taking such wonderful pictures!

christina malkerson		19-Oct-2009 00:11
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together a website that commerates the lives lost in that disaster. My great-grandfather Tom May and my great-uncle Lonnie May died in the explosion. My great-grandfather left behind a loving wife and four children. May he and Uncle Lonnie rest in peace.

B		26-Feb-2009 01:30
I just moved to Grundy and heard about the Red Jacket Mine and would like to hike to it. What is the best way to get to it? Thanks.

Pierce E. Thacker		12-Oct-2007 19:19
My name is Pierce E. Thacker. My father, Marcus E. Thacker was killed in this mine accident. This was just before my 3rd birthday. I served in the U.S. Navy for 22years. I retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer. I appreciate learning about what happened that day. The pictures add a lot. My Dad's brother was later killed in a mine accident in that area. On my Mother's side, three (3) members of the family died from "Black Lung." One Spouse is still fighting through the count system for her husband's benefits.( Oct 12, 2007.)

Donita Jo (Sutherland) Scott		11-Jan-2007 00:36
Thank you for these photos. My grandfather, Walker Sutherland was killed in the explosion that day, leaving behind a 21 year old widow with 2 babies. My sister & I are planning to do a tribute website soon. We would love to link this site to it, if you don't mind.

Wilma Carroll		01-Aug-2006 06:05
I can't thank you enough for sharing these pictures. My Grandfather, Smith Arrington was one of the 45 men that died in the Red Jacket Mine Explosion in 1938.

Sandy Shortridge		31-Jul-2006 22:51
Thanks for sharing the pictures. Makes the song mean a little more to me. Please send more as you make your travels through the area. I appreciate county history.

Mike Sanders		31-Jul-2006 21:20
This is Mike Sanders and it has been my dream for 50 years to go back to Redjacket coal mine where my dad worked to feed me and my family. I last saw the mine when I was 6 yrs old and the scene was burned into my memory. My deepest gratitude to Ed Talbot, Ed Talbot Sr., Roger Mayhorn and Russ Belcher for taking precious time out of their lives to guide me up to RedJacket mine. These were some of the finest men I've met in my entire life and I consider them great friends. They own the mountain and the mountain owns them. Their love and respect for Grundy, the mountains and nature was evident as we hiked up to Redjacket. They handled every flower, fern, animal and tree as if it was made of something precious. From the very moment I met each one I knew they were men of great character, honesty, and integrity. I was born in the mountains and raised by a God-fearing, hard working and honest, yet poor family. I know one when I see one. The Grundy community is blessed to have men like these watching over their heritage. I thank them for helping me fulfill a dream and may God bless them all the days of their lives.

Eddie T. Farmer		30-Jul-2006 20:14
Not being from the county originally, I always enjoy reading information about the county! Thank you very much for sharing your pictures with others. I truly could have done without looking at the copperhead!! haha!!! Eddie T. Farmer

Guest		30-Jul-2006 19:38
Thank you for the sharing of the site visited. The pictures are extraordinary. Marie

Hazel Compton		30-Jul-2006 02:04
Thank you for sharing your photos with us. Sammy and I enjoyed the articles on the Red Jacket story very much. Sammy and Hazel Compton.

Curtis R. Mullins		30-Jul-2006 01:03
Thank you very much for sharing your pictures with me. As you know, I enjoyed researching the Red Jacket Explosion for the Boy Scout Cookbook that we made in the Fall of 2005. By the way, if you get a chance, check out our website for the recent Boy Scout Trip out west. It is on www.southernyouthinaction.org website. There are some beautiful pictures and one in particular shows the marker for the campsite for the Lewis and Clark Expedition that was on the Missouri River in North Central Montana. Also, I enjoyed the pictures that you sent me earlier in the year that were made on Lynn Camp. Curtis Mullins

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