My ex was from Harlan, he passed yrs ago, family were miners and sadly all passed on as well.. Wonderful family, they loved me and accepted me (Hawaiian) with open arms and I loved all of tbem right back... Tragedy blew us apart, the suicide of his young son,,, ironically all have now passed on, but they all live in my heart with love and respect.. RIP CONLEY FAMILY... Aloha'oe.💕❣
@@grey.7828 yes but their love and memories are as alive in my heart as if just yesterday.. Terry Wayne Conley Robert & Peggy Conley, Gary Conley Agnes Marie Conley She was Mom.. and loved me as My Mom.. Little Agnes, and Phoenix Shane Conley whose life was cut short because he wanted to be in heaven with me and I'm still here... Hope heaven time is a blink for them, hope to see them all again.. Aloha'oe Conley family.. Mahalo Nui Loa for their love..
Idsb, You have been through quite a alot of loss,grief and I have also.I lost so many in my life. But We keep our loved ones in our hearts. I'm sorry for your losses. ❤️ Sincerely, Renee'in Maryland
My parents were married in Harlan in 1948. They both were raised in Lynch. They left Kentucky in 1956 for Dallas, Texas because the mine had shut down temporarily but never moved back. My grandparents lived there until the 1970’s. Kentucky will always have a special place in my heart. ♥️
I agree with Lance Miller 1000 percent. Big corporate America is destroying this country. Small business was the backbone of this country. Unfortunately I live in an area that is one big corporate center. But when I eat out I always go to a small local joint where I get to know the employees and even the owners. So called progress isn't always progress. Keep to your mindset and God bless
I'm in Kentucky. Can trace my Roots here over 400 years. Kentuckians are a PROUD people. Thank-You for showing that in this video. Oh, "GO BIG BLUE"!!!!
My Great Great Grandfather was Rodger Williams. Came here in 1620. Got lots of family in Harlan, Dixie town. We've been here a long time now! Take it easy! Live in the Ozarks Missouri. Adios 🤠🇺🇸🐎
Thank you for such a thoughtful presentation of Harlan. It’s a beautiful place. I wish more young people would utilize the older buildings and reawaken the town. It has such character and charm. Keep up the great work. I look forward to more.
Ms. People fled to the cities because that's where the jobs were. But now with more people tele-communities, people have more options of where to live, that might happen. The town does not look run down at all to me. It looks like. any small town and the houses look very nice.
Tourism, from both a historical/genealogical perspective and a nature exploration standpoint, is the future of this area. Coal mining is a dead industry, and should be. It would be a boon for the area if locals were trained in guiding tours, entrepreneurship, history, and other skills related to the tourism industry. This is one of the most beautiful and historically rich areas in the US.
I remember going to that court house to get my drivers license at that court house,she ask me to smile,told her no because it makes me look like there was something wrong with me,so she said please,so I did then two seconds later she said" Honey can we do another and don't smile"
Perry County Ky here. Subsistence life is a good life. If you don't raise, fish, hunt, grow what you eat then your just relying on everyone else to live. It's a hard life but the only way to truly live. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I love your channel so facinating . I'm from Scotland UK but I'm obsessed with this part of the states and the amazing history. I'm dying to visit Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, I often think I must have lived there in a previous life
Walmart and other big box stores have destroyed small towns for the most part. If not for walmart, Harlan would look like it did 50 years ago. Greed destroyed it.
Dude, while I agree greed destroyed harlan, it wasn't done in any major part by the Walton family. Walmart didn't resort to giving citizens black lung, or firing people en masse before blasting and strip mining the mountains and poisoning the water table. Walmart isn't the reason nearly every shower I'd ever taken in Pathfork burnt my skin and left me smelling of eggs for an hour.
And I Quote, "If not for walmart, Harlan would look like it did 50 years ago" Oddly enough there's a doc from roughly 50 years ago available right here on youtube "harlan county usa" it does a good job of showing just how awful the coal companies have always treated the people in the hollers. Walmart has shady business practices I fully agree with that.
@@crystallynne7507 I married a girl from Bell County in 1968 We got married in Simses Fork near Arjay,He uncle's worked in mines and fought them.I wanted to move there her uncles said stay in Indiana buddy there "Ain't no money here",Some of them came to Indiana&Died here.
@@markdabney9080 Russell Springs is a pretty small town.. I live in Russell Springs most of my life ... I probably will know your family... I graduated Russell County high in 84
I lived in the very most northern Appalachian mountains for 20 years in NY, on the border of Ulster and Delaware counties. Harlan looks like a big city compared to where I lived. Snow covered for 6 months, brutally cold, and cleaved wood to heat my log home. I loved the old timers. I learned the hard way to shut my trap, but they finally accepted the “flatlander”. I miss that life.
I’m watching this one again because you did a fabulous job on it and it’s just a wonderful video of small town America. All these old buildings and history just come back to life when you give these tours. Thank you so much!!!!
It was a genuine pleasure to watch this video. The beauty of the setting, contrasted with the economic decline, is so very much like where I am from (Thunder Bay, Canada). We all really need to realize just how very much we have in common. I pray that the current vogue for remote work or some insurgent new industries will allow Harlan to thrive once more. Until then, may its history continue to be honoured.
I grew up in Leslie county. I miss it everyday. I moved up to Vancouver island Canada 35 years ago. I bought me some property and have my own holla here on the island. Always go back home whenever I can and miss it daily. I do love my Vancouver island home and wouldn’t give it up for nothing.
Worked with an older guy in the eaerly 80s that was a security guard. He was well into his 60s. He had been in some on the bloodiest Naval battles in the Pacific during WWII. He was also on the ground during the Japanese occupation. He told me the scardest he had ever been in his life was working a night shift guarding mining equipment during a United Mine Workers strike in KY. He knew the union guys were just waiting for him up on the hill for him to show himself. He knew they wouldn't hesitate shooting him. He said he used the equipment like a tank trying to avoid snipers. May have been in Harlan. Don't know.
My favorite version of Never Leave Harlan Alive is Patti Lovelace. Her voice just has the sound of pure Appalachia Mountain music. Probably because she is from Eastern KY and her daddy was a coal miner. He eventually died from black lung disease.
My family is one of the founding families. I was born in harlan moved to New Orleans but as soon as I was old enough I went back home.. we're good people. Love our families help our neighbors but we dont take any crap. We remember the old ways, we know what the mountains provide us to eat. Theres no place better in the world.
Harlan is so poor there is people living in houses in the trees. It’s like a town or just crack houses and decay. The rich people in Harlan live in trailers lmao
Ima ole Tennessee girl but I’ve been through Harlen several times. It is beautiful there but there is no jobs. The people are very nice. I can remember when a lot of cities looked like this until the malls and things came in.Kentucky has give us slot of musical people that are awsome. Loretta Lynn is world famous and she’s from Kentucky. If you’ve not been through there and you get a chance it won’t be a waste of time and West Virginia is also a beautiful place when you go into the country. Loved your video thank you for some good memories. God bless.
Thank you for showing us Harlan. My mother was born and raised there. My grandpa, her daddy, was killed in the coal mines and one of the men who fought for union rights.
I was in the army with two guys from Harlan. I lost track of them after we left the army. I always wondered what ever happened to them, the were both good friends and I heard a lot about this city from them. We were at Fort Knox and weekends they would come back from leave with a mason jar of moonshine, the real stuff.
I’ve found you can find nearly anybody of Facebook these days. Have used it to look up many an old friend. Hope you get back in touch with your army buddies.
If they moved back to Harlan, then they’re probably hooked on OxyContin, using their va checks to pay rent on a trailer. Where they live with their obese wives and 6 kids
It is! I won't name drop, but some of my maternal great-great-great grandparents were from W.Va/Ky before moving to Texas. My g-g-grandmother was b.1852 in Ky d.1960 in Tx. 11 wks after my birth.
Visited Harlan many times, my ex-wife was from Hazard. The most down to earth people in Kentucky than anywhere in the country, A complete stranger would welcome us in for ham and grits, absolutely love this State. Still vacation in Kentucky.Her dad brother in law and 1 brother worked in the coal mines.We lived in Lexington and Finally Winchester.Got to meet Dwight Yocum in person at a little country bar, before he became really famous, sat at our table with us.
Fascinating! Can't wait to watch the rest of the series. Hi from Melbourne, Australia. Beautiful little town. Gorgeous houses!! I can't believe how dead it is, though; an equivalent small town in Australia would have lots of people out and about, shops open, cafes with sidewalk dining...
My grandparents were lifelong residents of Clay county...Harlan is typical of a lot of the towns in Eastern Kentucky. Really nice people, and a beautiful part of the state.
@@roberthensley8653 I spent a lot of time in Oneida when I was younger. I actually know some Hensleys from there if that’s what your relations surnames are in Oneida
Thank you for this video. I'm a Kentucky native, but I've been a city boy all of my life - Louisville & Lexington. My grandfather was born & raised in Harlan, along with his 2 brothers and a sister. He graduated from Harlan High, and his family was the first in Harlan where all of the brothers earned college degrees. He didn't mine coal, but was in the business for many years. One of his brothers (my great uncle) lived out his life in Harlan, and his widow died not that long ago in Harlan. Being a movie guy, I'm a huge fan of "Harlan County, USA." It won the Academy Award in 1976 for Best Documentary; Barbara Kopple did a fantastic job with it and put herself in danger while filming - at one point, she & her crew were knocked down and beaten. It seems like a long time ago, but I can still remember 1976 like it was last week. Keep up the great work!
I worked on locomotives for the coal companies up there in Ky back in the 1980's. Corbin became like a second home to me during that time. Being from Alabama, these people welcomed me and were very helpful and friendly. Beautiful country, beautiful people.
Both of my parents were from Harlan county and it was always a joy as a teenager and a young child to go down there and experience the things that my parents had experienced at that age
My mom's family were all coal miners for generations in and around Floyd County Kentucky, McDowell to be exact. They are nearly all gone now. I'm a cowboy here in Texas and I am very proud of my family roots in KY. Best people you can meet, feels like home every time I am there.
The real stories are in the Branches. The old coal camps and the people that live up in the hills. You need someone from there to guide you. So much more to this place.
Oh yeah. My people lived in Big Branch, Irishman Creek, all before they put that Buckhorn Lake in. What wonderfully humble hardworking folk. The youngins have all moved off. They are too into earthly things. God bless you Erma. Do you know of Casey's Grocery Store near Hazard or Vicco, maybe it is in Amburgey, used to always go there as a child. I am over six decades old, my dear.
@@kathieponder7708 there are no hard working people living in Harlan. They’re lazy and all on welfare. Yet they have the audacity to commit hate crimes and call African Americans lazy. They’re also all Trump supporters
"In the deep, dark hills of Eastern Kentucky...That's the place where I traced my bloodlines...And it's there that I read on a hillside gravestone, "You'll never leave Harlan alive..." PATTI LOVELESS MOUNTAIN SOUL I and II" This woman is Kentucky Bluegrass, Country music and vocals at it's finest.... I just love her. I can't help it.
I totally agree with your opinion on the movie "Harlan County, USA," Real Appalachia. It is one of the best movies I've ever seen. I would encourage everyone to please, please watch it. It's on RU-vid. You will be glued to the screen for the whole length of this story. Amazing. Thanks for recommending it.
This county is riddled with drugs, crime, and is dependent on welfare. Not quite sure how they are going to save the country, when they struggle to survive and do good themselves.
I am 80 yrs now. Lord I miss those days, get a lump in my throat. Lord, please bless all these good people Remember us when we come to stand before you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
It took me all day to watch this video. I paused it to watch a Harlan documentary and several music videos, some history study... This video led me through a good journey!
When you see these old downtown areas you can imagine the sidewalks filled with people, the department stores, five and dimes, movie theaters and neon signs. It was still like that in the 50s when I was a child. When I describe the downtown where I live to young people they are amazed and most wish it was still there.
Nice tour. Appreciate you taking us along and for history also. You are so knowledgeable about all the mountain towns. GOD BLESS YOU and keep you well.
Just found this. My daddy was from kildav, 1-2 miles from Evarts, and my momma is from Louellen, about 25 min on 38 from Harlan. This brought back memories when we would come home on vacation to visit my papa, and granny. ❤
I love Harlen, everyone is so down to earth..we used to go 4 wheeling on Blck mountain yearly, its so brethtaking but u have to respect the dangers of the mountain also..i would love to still b able to ride up that mountain just 1 more time
That memorial for the miners is sad but so necessary and respectful of the huge sacrifices of the people in that area. I grew up in NY but spent time in KY as we had farms there and in southern Ohio. The people of Kentucky are some of the finest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting: Huge hearts, integrity, hard working, humor and warmth. I miss them.
I missed this one for some unknown reason. Harlan looked beautiful in that sunshine and it's hard to reconcile that with its "bloody Harlan" title. Thanks again Shane for showing me a place I may never see but giving it more soul than Google earth ever could!
My Dads family was from Eastern, Ky and worked for a coal mining company in Pardy, Va. I flew a medivac helicopter for Air Evac Lifeteam out of Manchester, Ky. Have flown into the hospital at Harlan an carried the patient to the hospital at Hazard. It was my 2nd or 3rd patient flight and at night with the company. One good thing about the strip mining for us was it opened up some emergency landing areas for us as there are not too many flat places to land. I did leave Harlan alive though, but still get a bit touched by that song.
That is so true. My brother got in a accident in the mines there and he was life flighted to Holston Valley. They could not drive him, it was too far away, but I heard that it was really hard for a helicopter to land around before the Virginia mountain.
@@patsygrace2561 I live here to hunny, I have lived in California , Florida, Arizona always came home to KY. EDIT: Don't be sad just have faith and pray...
@@papablista627 really.. I been in KY 2 years and hate it.. Colorado native trying really hard to find a reason to like it.. covid hasn't helped trying to meet people. The drug use here is terrible and the school systems need serious help.. I feel bad for the folks here
This is where my mom and dad were married 78years ago they are not here now. I remember my mom talking about the town.thank you for showing.We wre from Big Stone Gap.
This video is a wonderful mix of American Labor Movement history including music, Appalachian history through the lense of Harlan County, life in Harlan today, and a little Raylan Givens thrown in - great job Shane!!!
I listened to Paisley version of the song and loved it, sad song though but that's how life goes sometimes. Let's not forget those who came before us :-)
I watched that Harlen County USA a few years ago on PBS & you are right, it was hard to watch. I can't say that I enjoyed it but I could not stop watching it either. It was tense for sure.
I really enjoyed this, thank you! Kentucky is my adopted home state, and Lexington is the town that adopted me. I've spent quite a bit of time in Eastern KY, and I love it... best people anywhere...
My grandmother was born & raised in Harlan Ky. Her Dad was town Marshall...last name Rose. She put herself thru college then served during WWII. Settled in Paducah & was Director of Nursing at Riverside Hospital. I was able to visit my great grandparents "Mammy & Pappy Rose" in the 1960s . I'd love to go back once more while my parents are living..my Dad spent his summers there with his grandparents. We all have roots somewhere. ❤
I live in Atlanta. Have good friends in Buckhorn, KY and have lived there for 12 - 14 years there and both are originally from Indy. When I visit them ( it's been three times) it's so peaceful there. The drive to and from there is long and fun. As to overall Kentucky...it's beautiful to me. Good filming...nice camera quality.
I live 15 minutes from the town of Harlan. Nothing like mountains. This use to be the place to be but it's slowly drying up to nothing. love to see it booming again.
My mom's from Harlan County born and raised up in those hills with my grandma and grandpa and all her brothers and sisters. They're almost all gone now but I have great memories growing up with them. Never been there myself though. Still got some kind up in them parts.
My daddy was from Wallins Creek in Harlan I have a lot of people in Harlan worked in Harlan and I loved all my friends and family there Bledsoe is in Harlan across pine mountain I love driving across the mountain it’s a lot of beauty in the mountains
This is amazing, Shane. I really love everything about Kentucky,lalthough I lived there only one year, back in '79. Ever since I dated a "Cawood" girl in Hopkinsville whose family was from a little town called Cawood I have an abiding obsession about Kentucky, particularly Eastern Kentucky. This is a great tour video, I love it, the next best thing to visiting Harlan. Now, I am going to continue reading "Night Comes to teh Cumberland" for the second time, by Harry Caudill. The old music has become a part of me. Can't believe there are no union workers left. Thanks for this. Awesome!
The UMWA represents the county school system’s classified (non teacher) employees. The Steelworkers union represents hourly hospital and nursing home staff. Coal mines, what few still operate, cannot afford the extra labor costs of unions because no mines have long term contracts any more. They sell on the open market and price fluctuates way too much for union contracts to be viable. They are not flexible enough for rapidly changing market conditions. The only exceptions to that economic model now are metallurgical coal mines, inextricably tied to the steel industry which China’s modern mercantilism has grossly deformed over the past decade.
Doing ancestry my 4th great grandmother was Rebecca Cawood born 1778 and was married to Thomas Lovelace. I know the story of Barry Cawood in the Revolutionary War. I Would love to know more history on that part of the family in that area. Any help would be appreciated. Also wondering about the Lovelace name
@@LM-kr6tn I would like to reconnect somehow the family of my old girlfriend whose family was from Cawood Kentucky. They were Cawoods to the bone, and last thing I knew Mr. Cawood- my girlfriend's father- had bought a huge farm in Russelville. Did you know a Sheri Cawood or Rodney Cawood or a Lulu Cawood or a Robert Cawood? I wish I could help you.
@@multicaruana , I do not know any Cawoods except according to our family tree there where we are related in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Our family has a lot of Kentucky Tennessee Ohio history. I am very interested in that history. A lot of family stories handed down but would like to verify. You can find a lot of stories on Ancestry. Like the Stephen Cawood family coming from Yorkshire England and they had a Castle called the Cawood Castle. He was killed by Indians in 1676 In Maryland. So many interesting facts.
Great presentation and so interesting to see Harlan as it is today. Thank You. I may be a Brit but I used to blog America big time back in the day. I won't leave a link, youtube being the disaster it these days, but if you search - Harlan County USA Download There is little wonder Barbara Kopple’s film, Harlan County USA, won the Oscar for best documentary in 1977. But to watch the thing today you almost feel it's worthy of another one. The difference then, it was a contemporary film, today, it is a brilliant piece of social history. Still lots of the original clips still embedded in the 2011 post, which is a wonder these days. My 68 Road Runner, was in fact, a 69. Best, Teddy
When I was a child, we had neighbors who were from Harlan, KY. They were such a sweet couple they were an older couple who helped their daughter take care of her son. My brother and I had a blast playing with the grandson. I can remember him being so surprised we had never had fried green tomatoes. He said to his nanny, "...why Nann, can you believe these children have never had FRUED GREEN TO.ATOES!". Well, we had some a few days later, and they were delicious!
Sorry about your Town ... But without Unions there would never have been a middle class!!! Union fights for people with just a high school education to make a real life wage...Thanks for Sharing....
Amen to that...I remember the documentary from the early 70s which showed how the pig coal mine owners hired thugs to crush the folks who wanted to organize themselves in a union...
Now a day, Unions aren’t what they were intended on being. They don’t fight for the people anymore. I think the big companies pay the rep’s off. It’s really sad. The dues are high and for nothing. Just like the government.
Almost every negative stereotype that labels KY nationwide comes from a small hill town like Harlan, which is geographic, not state wide. Some deserved, most pure ignorance. When there were TV specials showing the worst of the worst in 60's, there was the very incorrect impression that was all of KY, which KY is still living down. As can clearly be seen Harlan is a run of the mill small town that just happens to be located in a very pretty mountainous area. In Colorado, it would be viewed very differently. In truth, Harlan is a pretty sophisticated town.
Love these videos, have always loved small towns USA, have watched videos about locals who speak pure, or well old English, being English that’s interesting
They Do the same thing to us over here in WV the sameway!! I've seen way more Stupid people from the City! Than us Good Ol Country People who can make it Work!!
Family is originally from Evarts, just up the road.great grandfather is buried in those hills, he was shot and killed in 1936 in Draper, tried to find his grave once, impossible. He is buried in an abandoned cemetery on top of a mountain, can’t even drive all the way up to it. My dream is to give him a proper marker, he got a raw deal
Glad you're on the mend! My brother lives in Harlan, he's a coal miner. I still live in Norton, my hometown. I love your videos. If you need help with anything historically related to Wise County or the City of Norton, I'd be happy to try and help. I've researched this area for almost 35 years.
Served a pair of churches over the county line in Leslie county a few years ago. Love the people, geography, and history. Thanks for the tour and nostalgia!
Trying to compare the mining industry of the 1920's to the 1990's is disingenuous at best. The Pittston strike of 90s was the result of the UMW /BCOA and their farcical agreements of the prior 20 years which assured the destruction of the mining industry in the east.
This is one area we could learn so much from the Japanese folks. When Bridgestone bought Firestone the tire company, they raised wages, in most places built new areas for people to work and enforced safety for all. It was so unfortunate that the company was in debt so much but Bridgestone was able to pull the company out of debt and tried to keep as many working as they could. Safety trumps all and keeps people alive. Coal miners never got that. Their lives didnt matter. The horror still exists today. I bet we all know someone who worked in the mines a few years back and now has black lung disease. :(
My mom was raised in Harlan county Kentucky in a place called macaroni Holler in Mary Helen when I was little I love that place I remember the old store when it was still open used to buy RC colas and moon pie a lot of good memories
My roots are deeply connected to Harlan, I loved going to town with my grandparents, papaw & I would always end up at the court house sitting outside with the old timers trading knives,..
My dad was born and raised here. I agree with the people who said that the true stories of Harlan are up in those hills and hollers. My family worked the coal mines - Yancey. As a boy I remember my dad taking me to see the mines in the early 70's. A union worker pulled a shotgun on us. Had to run for our lives. As you climbed up the hills, you would find wild berries and occasionally gravestones. Sometimes tiny ones. That just sticks in my mind. My dad said there was a different law up in the hills. He told a story of a man who had stolen a chicken. The owner chased him down the hills towards the train tracks. Shot him dead in front of my dad. Spit on him and went back home. But no one tells the other side of the story though. Good people. Good neighbors. They help each other. Anyone who climbs those hills or watches the lightning bugs on a hot, humid summer night, will never forget that place or those people.
As I also a fan of the show .. idk how much they filmed there , I can say they filmed majority in parts of California. Not sure or remember where exactly.. and how much they filmed it there in Harlan.. must be a tax thing as to why they didn't film most of it there. Just like "northern exposure" they filmed it in roslyn Washington state.. it's graphical location resembled the town of Sicily alaska.. idk for sure if there's a Sicily or its fictional
Why in the hell would you leave opportunity for a drug ridden town??? These places are shitholes and you're either wealthy or poor and that sums up these towns
Only found your channel recently. Had to watch this one. Always had a thing for Kentucky. No history though. But tight communities everywhere are facing the same obliteration. And it’s important we don’t forget. Love the traditions you all have. And the work ethic. Sobering reminder that there are so many lost in the mines compared to The Doughboys who came over WWI. I like the version associated with Justified as it was the first one I heard. But I’ve listened to several others and I know the protest song Which Side Are You On Boys, we sang it during the last big miners strike in Britain in the 80’s. I was a Union man myself back then. Just a lowly farm worker but we supported our fellow workers up North, from the South West. A lad came over from Philly at that time and when he returned the States he moved to Kentucky and started up a carpentry business and used to write about his adventures on the Appalachien trails. Unfortunately we lost touch. I always meant to go visit 👊🍀
