Interview with Wayne Collins, June 30, 2015

Partial Transcript: What is the date today? Is it the thirtieth?

Segment Synopsis: Komara asks Collins to provide her with a little bit of biographical information about himself, starting with when he was born. Collins responds that he was born in 1928 in Dunham Section of Jenkins, Kentucky. Komara asks what places Collins has lived in within Jenkins. Collins responds that he was born in Dunham, then moved to Van Lear until he was about ten years old, then moved to McRoberts, and then to Main Street in Jenkins. Komara asks if the current house he lives in was the next place he moved to. Collins replies that the house was built in 1968 and has lived there for around forty-six years. Komara asks what Collins' wife's name was. Collins responds that her name was Joyce Collins. Komara asks about Collins' two daughters. Collins states that their names are Cathy Johnson and Sharon Bevins.

Komara asks Collins to talk a little bit about what he did for a living. Collins explains that he started work in a lab and also ended his working career in the lab, but worked outside of it in-between those times. He describes getting plant and coal samples and the process of analyzing them. Collins adds that he sampled coal from different seams of coal for the company. He lists the cleaning plants he worked with: two were in Pike County, Kentucky, one was in Rockhouse, Kentucky, and one was in Jenkins, Kentucky. Komara asks what kinds of testing Collins did. Collins explains that he had to guarantee a certain BTU and find good coking coal for power companies. Komara asks what Collins's wife did for a living. Collins replies that she taught in school, usually in the third and fourth grade at Burdine Elementary School. Komara asks if Collins's wife had a master's degree. Collins confirms that she had one and states she had gotten it at Morehead University. Komara asks Collins to tell her how he got started with his job at Consolidation Coal Company. Collins explains that he saw on a check board that the company had a laboratory, not realizing coal companies had laboratories at the time. Komara asks when Collins started working for the company. Collins answers that he started working for Consolidation Coal in 1947 at the age of eighteen. Komara asks when Collins started working for the Bethlehem lab. Collins responds that it was in 1956 when Consolidation Coal sold out to Bethlehem and worked for them until 1983. Komara asks when Collins got married. Collins answers that he got married right before he started with the company in 1947.

Komara asks Collins if his father was a miner. Collins replies that he was and explains that his father first came over to the area from Virginia when the first mine in the area was created around 1912. Komara asks if Collins' father told any stories about the building of Jenkins. Collins responds that he was hired by the company because he was a good pistol shot, explaining that police were needed since there was so much diversity in the area, noting his father never had to shoot anyone and would rather have worked in the mine. He adds that his father was drafted into the army in about 1916 into the infantry and wound up in France at the Battle of Belleau Wood where he got shot in the ear. Komara asks if Collins' father got right into mining when he came back to the U.S. Collins answers that the company gave his father his job back as soon as he came back from the war.

Keywords: Battle of Belleau Wood; Bethlehem Steel; Bethlehem Steel Company; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Bethlehem lab; British thermal unit (BTU); Coal company laboratories; Coal laboratories; Coal miners; Coal mines and mining; Coal mining camps; Coking coal; Consolidation Coal; Consolidation Coal Company; Consolidation Coal lab; France; Kentucky coal miners; Kentucky coal mines; Laboratories; Laboratory work; Metallurgical coal; WWI; World War I; World War I veterans

Subjects: Bethlehem Steel Company; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Coal miners--Kentucky--Letcher County; Coal mines and mining; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Coal mines and mining.; Coking coal; Consolidation Coal Company; France; Jenkins (Ky.); Laboratories--United States; Letcher County (Ky.); McRoberts (Ky.); Veterans.; World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American; World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--United States; World War, 1914-1918.

Partial Transcript: But anyway, the wa--the way I got my dad to tell me that story--he never would tell why he was a Catholic.

Segment Synopsis: Collins states that he had always wondered why his father was a Catholic and recalls asking him about it. Komara asks if Collins lived in Van Lear while his father was in the service. Collins replies that he wasn't born yet because his father married his mother after returning from the war and shows Komara his father's medal signed by Woodrow Wilson. Collins talks to Komara a bit about religion and his church, and the differences between Catholicism and Free Will Baptists. Collins discusses purgatory and his changing perception of it. Collins asks if Komara believes in angels and begins discussing them, providing a car accident story that changed his belief.

Keywords: Angels; Baptists; Battle of Belleau Wood; Car accidents; Catholic converts; Catholicism; Coal miners; Coal mines and mining; Coal mining camps; Consolidation Coal; Consolidation Coal Company; France; Free Will Baptists; Kentucky coal miners; Kentucky coal mines; Paranormal experiences; Religious experiences; Religious identity; Spirits; WWI; World War I; World War I veterans

Subjects: Angels.; Appalachian Region--Religion; Baptists; Catholics--Religious identity.; Coal miners--Kentucky--Letcher County; Coal mines and mining; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Coal mines and mining.; Consolidation Coal Company; France; Jenkins (Ky.); Kentucky--Religion; Letcher County (Ky.); Purgatory; Spirits.; Veterans.; World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American; World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--United States; World War, 1914-1918.

Partial Transcript: Well I hate, I hate to switch gears on you, but, um, would you, would you tell me what Jenkins was like during the Consolidation era?

Segment Synopsis: Komara asks Collins to tell her what Jenkins, Kentucky was like during the Consolidation Coal Company era. Collins responds that what he remembers most about it is that no one had TV until the last two or three years that the company was in Jenkins and he recalls men sitting on benches around the recreation building, saying that everyone went to town to socialize with each other. Komara asks Collins what she would think if she was driving into town in the 1930s, asking what it was like or would have been like. Collins says that he remembers a horse-drawn wagon that would bring groceries to you. Komara asks if Collins remembers much about his house in Dunham, Kentucky. Collins recalls that the house was on the top of Store Hill and his family lived in the last house up there because it was the only house that had a bathroom. Komara asks Collins what else he remembers about the house. Collins remembers that he had to share a bedroom with his two brothers and how they used to try to play tricks on him. He adds that he had two sisters and describes occasionally visiting one of them who lived out of state, telling a sad story about his other sister who lost her life after visiting. Komara asks Collins what his house was like in McRoberts, Kentucky. Collins describes the house and discusses how the company kept the house in very good condition. Collins discusses living in Van Lear, Kentucky and mentions living nearby to Loretta Lynn. Komara asks if Collins would consider Van Lear to be as nice as McRoberts or Jenkins. Collins replies that most of Van Lear was very nice, but that Lynn's family lived way out in the country.

Keywords: Coal miners; Coal mines and mining; Coal mining camps; Company houses; Consolidation Coal; Consolidation Coal Company; Dunham (Ky.); Family; Grocery deliveries; Homes; Horse-drawn grocery deliveries; Kentucky coal miners; Kentucky coal mines; Loretta Lynn; Recreation; Store Hill, Dunham (Ky.); TV access; TV ownership; Television access; Television ownership

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social life and customs; Appalachians (People)--Kentucky--Social conditions; Coal miners--Kentucky--Letcher County; Coal mines and mining; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Coal mines and mining.; Consolidation Coal Company; Housing--Appalachian Region; Housing.; Jenkins (Ky.); Letcher County (Ky.); McRoberts (Ky.); Recreation--United States.; Van Lear (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: What do you think the biggest difference was between Van Lear and, and Jenkins and McRoberts?

Segment Synopsis: Komara asks what Collins thought was the biggest difference between Van Lear, Jenkins, and McRoberts, noting that they were owned by the same company. Collins explains that his father ended up in Van Lear because his father was trained in mine rescue and there had been an accident in Van Lear, mentioning the process of using a canary to test the air and that none of the miners survived. Sharon Bevins (Collins' daughter) mentions the Scotia mine disaster that occurred in nearby Oven Fork, Kentucky. Collins describes the disaster and how the rescuers also lost their lives in it. He mentions someone by the name of Kelly, the fire chief and safety inspector for Consolidation Coal, as having escaped this fate since he delayed his departure to pick up David Zegeer. Komara asks if Collins remembers the Consolidation Coal company store in Dunham, Kentucky. Collins recalls the post office being located in the store and recounts a story about him not being able to go to school because he had a late birthday. Collins describes the layout of the Dunham store and explains that his mother kept him busy with getting mail and groceries from the store everyday so he could learn something while missing a year of school. Bevins asks Collins if he had to use scrip to purchase items at the store. Collins answers that his family didn't use scrip because his father was a salary man, only union men used scrip. Komara asks Collins if he remembers what his mother used to send him to the store to buy. Collins lists items like pork chops, pinto beans in a bag, salt bacon, bananas, and quite a bit of fruit. Collins recounts a story about his mother while living at Van Lear, Kentucky. He explains that his mother kept losing weight, getting down to seventy pounds, and his account of visiting his mother while she was on the brink of death in the hospital. Collins adds that his mother went through radiation therapy, surviving cancer and living fifty more years. Komara asks if Collins moved to McRoberts, Kentucky while his mother was sick. Collins answers that his mother got sick while at Van Lear, but after three months, the family moved to McRoberts for three months. Komara asks if Collins still did the shopping while his mother was in the hospital. Collins replies that his older brothers did the shopping while they were still in Van Lear because the store was too far for him to walk.

Keywords: Cancer; Coal miners; Coal mines and mining; Coal mining camps; Company stores; Consolidation Coal; Consolidation Coal Company; Dave Zegeer; David A. Zegeer; David Zegeer; Dunham (Ky.); Family; Groceries; Grocery stores; Healthcare; Healthcare in Appalachia; Healthcare--Appalachia; Kentucky coal miners; Kentucky coal mines; Mine rescue work; Mine rescues; Mine safety procedures; Mining accidents; Mining safety; Post offices; Radiation therapy; Safety procedures; School age; Schools; Scotia Mine; Scotia Mine Disaster; Scrips

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social life and customs; Appalachians (People)--Kentucky--Social conditions; Cancer.; Coal mine accidents; Coal mine accidents--Kentucky; Coal miners' spouses; Coal miners--Kentucky--Letcher County; Coal mines and mining; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Coal mines and mining--Safety measures; Coal mines and mining--Safety measures.; Coal mines and mining--Safety regulations; Coal mines and mining.; Company stores; Consolidation Coal Company; Education--Appalachian Region; Grocery shopping; Jenkins (Ky.); Letcher County (Ky.); McRoberts (Ky.); Rural health--Kentucky; Scotia Mine Disaster, Oven Fork, Ky., 1976; Van Lear (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Can you tell me about the McRoberts company store? Do you remember the store at McRoberts?

Segment Synopsis: Komara asks if Collins can describe the McRoberts company store. Collins describes the layout of the store, adding that it was just like the Dunham store. Collins remembers getting up at five in the morning with his mother to get meat at the meat department of the store during the war, explaining that meat was hard to come by. Collins describes himself starting to drive while in Jenkins, Kentucky at the age of fifteen or sixteen and remembering having to use gas stamps to get gasoline at the service stations. Bevins asks if Komara knows who George C. Scott is and explains that the Collins family has a theory that he is Collins' brother since they are so much alike and Scott was Collins' mother's high school sweetheart. Collins describes the experience that his brother, Denver Collins, went through during WWII defusing landmines. W. Collins then describes a few incidents D. Collins experienced in the mines: one where he and other miners escaped a mine while it was flooding, another where he was almost crushed by a machine he was underneath of in the mine, and another where a mining machine went out of control and almost crushed him in his office. Bevins mentions that D. Collins never took off his boots for six months during the war. W. Collins explains that D. Collins kept them on all that time, even when his feet got frostbitten, because people often stole each other's shoes when they took them off. Bevins and W. Collins reaffirm their belief that an angel must have been watching over D. Collins. Bevins recounts a near-death experience where she was almost in a car accident, describing how her husband saw an angel.

Keywords: Coal miners; Coal mines and mining; Coal mining camps; Company stores; Consolidation Coal; Consolidation Coal Company; Defusing landmines; Denver Collins; Dunham (Ky.); Family; Food rationing; Gas rationing; Gasoline rationing; George C. Scott; Kentucky coal miners; Kentucky coal mines; Land mines; Land-mines; Landmines; Machine malfunctions; Meat rationing; Mine accidents; Mine flooding; Mining accidents; Near death experiences; Rationing; WWII; War rationing; World War II

Subjects: Angels; Appalachians (People)--Kentucky--Social conditions; Coal mine accidents; Coal mine accidents--Kentucky; Coal miners--Kentucky--Letcher County; Coal mines and mining; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Coal mines and mining.; Company stores; Consolidation Coal Company; Jenkins (Ky.); Land mines; Letcher County (Ky.); McRoberts (Ky.); Mine accidents--Kentucky; Near-death experiences--Religious aspects; Near-death experiences--Religious aspects--Christianity.; Near-death experiences.; Rationing--United States; World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Europe; World War, 1939-1945--Europe.

Partial Transcript: How did, how did Jenkins change when the company sold to Beth-Elkhorn? What do you think the biggest changes were?

Segment Synopsis: Komara asks Collins what he thinks the biggest change to Jenkins, Kentucky was following the departure of Consolidation Coal and arrival of Beth-Elkhorn. Collins replies that he thinks that the biggest change he can remember happening is Consolidation Coal selling all of the company houses to individuals for really cheap prices. He notes that there were no down payments and everyone who bought their houses paid on them just like it was rent. Collins states that he doesn't believe Consolidation Coal cheated the local area and thinks that the company did really good things for Jenkins and the local area. Collins recalls there being an ice factory in town. Bevins mentions that Collins saved the plant from shutting down for twelve years. Collins states that he might talk about that outside the interview since he doesn't think he should talk about that. Komara asks Collins if he thought most people in the Jenkins area also had a good impression of the company. Collins responds that he thinks so and states that, although Consolidation Coal was a good company, Bethlehem Steel was better for the local people because they were much more secure and stable. Collins discusses David Zegeer and the positive impact he had for the local community. Collins states that life was good back in those days since the company provided everything for you, noting that no one went hungry. Komara asks Collins how he thought the women in the area thought about the company, specifically asking how he thought his mother thought of the company. Collins replies that his mother always told him that he wouldn't find a job that could beat what he had at the company. He discusses one of his friends wanting him to come work with him in Mount Sterling, Kentucky to be an auctioneer and explaining to him that coal was a dying business, but his mother discouraging him from taking the job. He acknowledges that he can't know what would have happened if he had taken the job, but states that his friend ended up dying a millionaire.

Keywords: Bethlehem Steel; Bethlehem Steel Company; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Coal miners; Coal mines and mining; Coal mining camps; Consolidation Coal; Consolidation Coal Company; Dave Zegeer; David A. Zegeer; David Zegeer; Elkhorn Coal Company; Kentucky coal miners; Kentucky coal mines; Women's perspectives

Subjects: Bethlehem Steel Company; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Coal miners--Kentucky--Letcher County; Coal mines and mining; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Coal mines and mining.; Consolidation Coal Company; Jenkins (Ky.); Letcher County (Ky.); McRoberts (Ky.); Mount Sterling (Ky.); Women--Appalachian Region

Partial Transcript: You didn't tell about the little shops over in Neon.

Segment Synopsis: Bevins mentions that there were a bunch of shops established in Fleming-Neon, Kentucky by Syrian immigrants. Collins recalls buying a ring for his wife at one of the stores in Fleming-Neon and states that the Dawahares and other Syrian families were good people. Komara asks if everybody else got along with the Syrians. Both Collins and Bevins state that everybody in the area liked them and got along with them despite not understanding the difference in their culture. Komara asks if Collins went to school with the Syrian kids in Jenkins. Collins explains that the Syrian children mostly went to school in Fleming-Neon while he went to school in Jenkins and McRoberts, Kentucky. Bevins and Collins mention a couple of Jenkins residents that were Polish and Yugoslav immigrants. Komara asks if there were a lot of European families in Jenkins. Collins answers that there were quite a few and tells a story about winning a spelling contest with a European child. Bevins mentions a book she thinks Komara should read about the Scotch-Irish in the area. Komara asks if Collins remembers any black families in the area. Collins explains that segregation was a big thing with the company, splitting among race and nationality. Bevins adds that schools integrated in her junior year. Collins recalls incidents occurring while he was on the school board and mentions playing basketball with people at the black gym. Collins explains that he didn't feel like many people paid attention to color and saw black people as just people like themselves. Bevins recalls the school cancelling prom and other school events to prevent the white and black students from mixing together. Collins thinks that society has come a long way from segregation. Bevins remarks that there is still a lot of prejudice around though. Komara asks Collins if Consolidation Coal hired any black men to work in the chemical plant with him. Collins answers that they hired a lot of them and recalls a black worker who didn't think he should have to fight during the Vietnam War since he couldn't even vote in Mississippi. Collins restates that times were pretty rough around the time of integration, but that he thinks it went down a little easier in the local area. Collins asks Komara where she's from. Komara answers that she's from Pennsylvania. Collins talks a bit about some people he knew from Pennsylvania. Collins remarks that everyone at the chemical plant was treated well and attributes this to southern hospitality. He tells a story about expecting food to be brought to him and his wife at a hotel they stayed at since they were used to a type of southern hospitality. Collins and Bevins discuss some other people they know from Pennsylvania.

Keywords: African Americans; African Americans--Appalachian Region; African-Americans; Business owners; Coal mines and mining; Consolidation Coal; Consolidation Coal Company; Dawahares; Dawahares Retail Company; Immigrant families; Immigrants; Jenkins Independent Schools; Kentucky coal miners; Kentucky immigrants; Letcher County Schools; Pennsylvania; Polish immigrants; Racial tension; Retail stores; School integration; Segregation; Southern hospitality; Syrian families; Syrian immigrants; Yugoslav immigrants

Subjects: African American families; African American families.; African Americans--Appalachian Region; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Segregation--Southern States; African Americans--Segregation.; African Americans.; Coal miners--Kentucky--Letcher County; Coal mines and mining; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Coal mines and mining.; Consolidation Coal Company; Fleming-Neon (Ky.); Immigrant families; Immigrants; Immigrants--Kentucky; Immigrants.; Jenkins (Ky.); Letcher County (Ky.); McRoberts (Ky.); Polish Americans; Retail trade.; Segregation; Segregation in education; Segregation in education--Kentucky; Segregation in education--United States; Segregation in education--United States.; Segregation in education.; Segregation.; Syrian Americans; Yugoslav Americans

Partial Transcript: Do you, um--Wayne do you remember people gardening behind their houses in Jenkins in the early days?

Segment Synopsis: Komara asks Collins if he remembers people gardening behind their houses in Jenkins, Kentucky in the early days. Collins replies that his family had one when he was seven years old. He explains that his dad made $200 a month but there were five kids so they had to have two or three hogs, a cow to get milk from, and a garden they put out in spring. Collins recalls that his mother made the older kids do all the hoeing while his job was to carry over water, explaining that his mother leased a piece of land from the company for their family garden. Komara asks Collins if he remembers the company sponsoring vegetable competitions for whoever had the best vegetable gardens. Collins recalls some occurring but explains his family never really got involved with them. Collins remembers his mother canning stuff all summer long and where his family put their meat. He describes an experience of his pet calf being killed in front of him. Komara asks how many people owned their own milk-cows. Collins thinks that about fifty to sixty percent of people in their area had their own cows in the Dunham, Kentucky area. Komara asks if Consolidation Coal was ever concerned about people drinking unpasteurized raw milk. Collins recalls drinking milk straight from the cow, saying that it seemed alright back then and wasn't proved to be unhealthy until years later. Collins asks if Komara lived on a farm. Komara responds that she did and her family still drinks raw milk. Collins says that he always said that, if he won the lottery, he would want to live on and run a big farm. Collins states that his desire to work on a farm almost convinced him to take the job his friend had offered in Mount Sterling, Kentucky on a dairy farm and recounts driving the friend around places. Komara asks Collins what the best part about living in Jenkins and McRoberts, Kentucky has been for him. Collins replies that he guesses he likes it because it's small and you know everybody. He recalls living in McRoberts and helping to deliver the newspaper. Collins describes the people who have left Jenkins and come back. Bevins asks what towns Komara is interested in. Komara answers that she's most interested in the Consolidation Coal towns. Collins restates his opinion that Bethlehem Steel was the best company he worked for and recalls the hardship that hit Jenkins after the company left. Komara asks Collins what he thinks the future has in store for Jenkins. Collins responds that if the coalition in Pike County [Editor's note: referring to establishing a tourism industry in the area] does what it thinks it's going to do, Jenkins will be doing pretty great. Bevins mentions that the area allowing alcohol in restaurants has greatly benefited the area as well.

Keywords: Bethlehem Steel; Bethlehem Steel Company; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Coal miners; Coal mines and mining; Coal mining camps; Consolidation Coal; Consolidation Coal Company; Dairy farming; Dunham (Ky.); Gardening; Gardening competitions; Gardens; Kentucky coal miners; Kentucky coal mines; Raw milk; Raw milk consumption; Tourism; Unpasteurized milk; Vegetable competitions

Subjects: Bethlehem Steel Company; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Coal miners--Kentucky--Letcher County; Coal mines and mining; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Coal mines and mining.; Consolidation Coal Company; Gardening.; Jenkins (Ky.); Letcher County (Ky.); McRoberts (Ky.); Milk consumption; Sanitation.; Tourism.

Partial Transcript: Well are there any more stories that you wanna tell me? Things you think I should know?

Segment Synopsis: Komara asks Collins if he has any other stories he thinks she should hear. Collins can't think of any, but Bevins remarks that Komara should come do another interview with him, if she has the time, and hear stories about all the successful people to come from the area. Collins recounts one of these success stories, a person being head of the math department at MIT [Massachusetts Institute of Technology]. Collins tells a story about his nephew who went to work for GE [General Electric] and became a multi-millionaire along with him meeting Collins' friend on a company trip in Spain. Collins asks if Komara ever played any kind of sports. Komara answers that she played some basketball. Collins explains that he used to be a coach for several different sports and tells a story about his coaching experience. Komara then turns off the recorder so that they can continue talking.

Keywords: Bethlehem Steel; Bethlehem Steel Company; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Coal miners; Coal mines and mining; Coal mining camps; Consolidation Coal; Consolidation Coal Company; General Electric; General Electric Company; Kentucky coal miners; Kentucky coal mines; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Success stories

Subjects: Bethlehem Steel Company; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Coal miners--Kentucky--Letcher County; Coal mines and mining; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Coal mines and mining.; Consolidation Coal Company; General Electric Company.; Jenkins (Ky.); Letcher County (Ky.); Massachusetts Institute of Technology.; Success in business--United States