Lynch, KY #2 class back in session

[pjflan7]

Welcome back to Lynch, the site of a company constructed coal town. In the nearby town of Benham, an existing mine was already in operation and was built by International Harvester. They needed coal for their own steel needs, namely the construction of farming machinery. Benham owes its existence to International Harvester and Lynch owes its existence to US Steel. The L&N railroad (Louisville & Nashville) went as far as Benham and they would not lay anymore track to Lynch, so for a time, US Steel brought supplies by train to Benham and then proceeded to haul from Benham by mule trains. Eventually US Steel laid their own track extension from Benham so as to more quickly get the operation going.

This is a view of the conveyor belt before it begins to make its climb to the tipple



This was the commissary which held all of the day to day supplies for life outside the mine



This was the firehouse constructed in 1921.....this is sandstone and the blocks were cut by talented Italian stone masons. Many nationalities came to the work in the mines but the Italians built many of the structures. My friend informed me that the small Catholic church there was built also by these Italians and that they were able to procure beautiful icons and marble directly from Rome.....amazing really!



The large building at the end of this row was the bath house where the men cleaned themselves before returning home. The stone row consists of 6x8x6 (approx) where some men slept....note the single window and roof ventilator for each unit. Note also the single door near the center of the structure....what a life!

[Hayward Taylor]

Hi Patrick ... this is very interesting ... the hardship these men had to deal with .. I should count my blessings .. looking forward to the next session

[beachcomber]

An interesting selection Patrick and good commentary. The second picture is my favourite, an excellent picture of an excellent building, and there's something about about sandstone buildings, good job
beach

[FoG]

Excellent set. Love the history to this as well as we had many mining towns where I grew up and wondered what a few of the buildings were so similar. Brave guys doing a great job for so little.

[Chip]

On the conveyor belt photo, I have a hard time deciding whether it looks as if I'm looking up or down. I know that we're really looking up, but I like the ambiguity of it.

Thanks for the lesson, Patrick.

Nice group of photos.

[pjflan7]

Originally Posted by Chip

On the conveyor belt photo, I have a hard time deciding whether it looks as if I'm looking up or down. I know that we're really looking up, but I like the ambiguity of it.

Thanks for the lesson, Patrick.

Nice group of photos.

Come to think of it, the conveyor does run downhill for a ways before it reaches the chute that runs up to the silo so your eyes are not playing tricks...this portion does indeed have a slight downhill grade

[fstopMike]

Patrick, thanks for the history lesson, I really enjoy things like this. I'm also glad you answered Chip's question about the conveyor...I feel better now.

[FDCPR]

Patrick, thanks for adding to the rich history of this place and letting me learn more about it. I think the conveyor shot is fantastic, love the perspective.

[save_alkaline]

cool shots! and a really cool building.

[jakethepig]

These are more excellent captures from the mining town. Your great lesson has shown and described the whole area so well. I love the perspective of the first one.
In answer to yesterdays question, most of the mines in England and Wales are deep mines where the coal seams are deep in the ground lift shafts were used to reach them. You can still see the lift heads in some of the old towns. If I ever get the chance I will get some pictures and show them here. Thank you Patrick this is a very intersting post.

Dave.