Black Star Coal Mining Camp     
Alva, Kentucky

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©Black Star Coal Camp 2005-2006-2007-2008-2009-2010-2011-2012-2013-2014-2015-2016-2017-2018-2019-2020-2021-2022-2023-2024

Below is an original 1950 color print ad for McNally Pittsburgh Manufacturing Corporation that made equipment used in Coal Mining operations as depicted at the Black Star Mine in Alva, KY

New Black Star Camp Photos taken in Mid 1940s below.

Building housed American Legion Hall, Mine Safety School, Barber Shop and Beauty Shop (1940s)


Restaurant on right, (owned by the Company) which had Food, Jukebox, and sold the latest Newspapers and Magazines. The Doctors Office in left of photo.


Photo of Hog at Hog Pen in back of homes in Camp.



View of Old Gym in (1940s) then used as Lunch Room for Students.


View of School Yard in Rear of Buildings.


Photo of Gymnasium at Black Star School


Black Star High School front of Building.


General view of Black Star Coal Camp


Home showing Cow and Pig Pen in yard.


Photo of typical House in Camp.


Photo of Bathhouse (Washhouse) used by 600 Miners in 1940s at Black Star Mine


Photo of Houses in Black Star Camp with Creek in front.


House in Black Star Coal Camp


Photo of Road and Houses thru Black Star Camp.



Photo of House in Black Star Camp

 

Click Below to Open a New PDF Document about Black Star

A Two Lane Road and a Single Track 
Joint Memoirs of Childhood in Alva, Ky (Black Star)  By: Dorothy A. Ramsey Bomkamp and Earl C. Ramsey
Transcribed and Edited by Beverley A. Ramsey and Submitted by Jessica Ramsey Golden, Homer, AK (Granddaughter of Earl Ramsey)

Added the following "link"" to interesting Video taken at Black Star Coal Camp. Note: The Video Title says "Pathfork", but is actually Black Star. This link takes you to YOUTUBE.r.
Exploring the Idled Pathfork Prep Plant

December 2018 - We added some photos from Nancy Hooker Powell she sent before passing away. 1st group: Click here

Nancy Hooker Powell 2nd group of photos Click here

Archie Grant Jr Photos added December 2018  Click here

Glenda Hill Clift Photos added March 2022 Click here

Amy Wheeler (Granddaughter of Archie Grant Jr.) and her story about the life of Archie Grant Jr. and his Sister Fannie Lee Grant. An example of life in the 1920's and 1930's and their journey in life.
Click Here  to read this article in PDF format.

Alva Memorial Gardens is on Find a Grave Website - Click Here

Added a link at bottom of page to video by  Matthew Roop - his visit to Black Star

3-26-18 We have added several "Coal Mine Links of Interest" at the bottom of the page.  Check these out.  Added a photo of the Commissary, Restaurant, & Doctors Office on this page a few clicks  down.

Black Star School fire 1985

We have updated names on some photos on the following sites:
Orbin Howard Photos
Bud & Selma Hodges - 9-12-05
Black Star Class of 1957 Photos
Black Star Reunion 2005 - submitted by Bobby & Phyllis Burnette
Black Star Reunion  1990 @ Cumberland Gap - Submitted by Eugene Crawford - Added to site 6-8-08
Lita Helen Bowles-Added 11-30-07
Joni Lidster Russell 2-1-08
Harold Rice Photos 12-15-10
Lana Manning Photos
Daisy Warfield Tipton & Sharon Tipton Steele Photos
1-17-17 Added a couple of new links to the Coal Camp links of interest at bottom of page
NEW 3-26-18 We have added several NEW items under Stella Hackler links below (including a YouTube video).  Click below to go directly down the page to her links.  Also new mine photos from Clayton Taylor, click his link under Clayton Taylor Photos.

Click here to go to directly to Stella's Links

1-17-2017 Added links to YouTube at bottom of page to Harlan County Documetary and Harlan County USA (full movie).
 

Old Doctors Office burns @ Black Star.  Coal Miners who worked for Black Star Coal Corp. and their families visited this Office for many years.
 

(12-11-13) From the Harlan Daily Enterprise:  Firefighters were battling a raging blaze at the main office of R&B Coal Company at Black Star late Wednesday. Volunteers from the Wallins Fire Department were dispatched around 4 p.m. Additional information on the fire was not available at press time. However, the structure burning was the old Black Star doctor’s office.  Photo courtesy of Margie Cervantes

Click Here for a list of people who have lived or worked at Black Star
Compiled by Nancy Hooker Powell

Click here for the Black Star Class of 1960 Fiftieth Reunion Video by Tim Cornett 10-6-10
(You will be redirected to You Tube to view the Video)

New Photo Links will be Highlighted in RED from now on

This website is dedicated to the miners and their families who worked at the Black Star mines in Harlan County, Kentucky.  We have some photos we hope you will find of interest.  After you click on a link...Click on any of the small photos to see a larger one in a new window.  If you have photos or stories to contribute to this page, please contact Ancil Hall P.O. Box 127, Barbourville, Ky. 40906.  If you live in SE Kentucky, contact Ancil Hall at the Knox County Attorney's Office in Barbourville, Ky. or email at ancilhall@aol.com or Trent Hall, email address is trent40906@yahoo.com

1938 New York Times Magazine
Behind the Conflict in "Bloody Harlan"
Click on photo for complete article in PDF format.  Will open in new window.

 Black Star Roadean Yearbooks
The Roadean - 1937 Yearbook donated by the Hackler Family
The Roadean - 1938 Yearbook donated by Flem R. Shoupe family.
The 1938 Yearbook will open in a PDF file on your computer.

Black Star Mountain Eagle Newsletters (in PDF format)

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Oct 1936 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Nov 1936 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Dec 1936 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Feb 1937 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Mar 1937 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Apr 1937 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- May 1939- donated by Flem R. Shoupe family.

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- April 1940 - donated by Flem R. Shoupe family.

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- May 1940- donated by Flem R. Shoupe family.

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- March 1941- donated by Clayton & Pauline Taylor.

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Jan 1957 - donated by Clayton & Pauline Taylor.

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Nov 1957 - donated by Clayton & Pauline Taylor.

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Class of 1958 - donated by Clayton & Pauline Taylor.

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Feb 1959 - donated by Clayton & Pauline Taylor.

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- May 1937 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Sept 1937 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Dec 1937 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Jan 1938 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Feb 1938 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Oct 1957 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- April 1960 - donated by Stella, Sarah, & Clyde Hackler

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Oct 1938 - donated by Bruce Rutherford

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Dec 1939 - donated by Bruce Rutherford

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- Feb 1940 - donated by Bruce Rutherford

Mountain Eagle Newsletter- March 1940 - donated by Bruce Rutherford

"Click here" for some Photos we started out with
Alva Memorial Gardens, Alva, Ky.

The complete Black Star School - Sept 1934 photo is large and takes awhile to load up. But, it is worth the wait. Click Below.
Black Star School - Photo of all Classes in 1934 - Click this link.

Black Star Commissary on Pay Day

Photo courtesy of Rosie (Williams) Hall    1915-2001

Pay Day at Black Star.  Notice the line on the left side goes all the way down the railroad tracks. This mine operated as Black Star Coal Company Inc. from 1923-1928 and employed 400 miners.  From 1939 to 1958 it was known as the Black Star Coal Corporation and employed 900 miners.

Below is another good photo of the Commissary, Restaurant (on right in front), & Doctors Office (behind Restaurant)

Below is the No. 4 Mantrip & Miners with their Superintendent

Below is the Dixie Star Incline Mantrip

This area was considered to be the "hub" of the Black Star Coal Mining Camp.
The Kelioka Tipple, Bathhouse, Lighthouse, Black Star #4 Mine & Conveyor, & Main Tipple. (Note houses on Bathhouse road).  This photo hung in the Commissary and other locations throughout the Mining Camp.  This photo courtesy of Clayton Taylor. 
 

Photo from Harold Rice

Mary Elizabeth Martin Birthday party @ the Restaurant at Black Star - 1939
L to R:  Sue Ann Hodges, Stewart "Bud" Hodges, George "Topsy" Lee, Unknown, Unknown, Mary Elizabeth Martin, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Joann Snograss, Virginia Snodgrass
Photo submitted by: Mary Elizabeth Martin

Black Star Troop 17 Boy Scout Photo below from John Julian

Black Star Boy Scout Troop 17 - Scout Jamboree, Boy Scout Camp, Camp Sequoia, Cherokee Lake, Tennessee, Late 1950's
Scouts - Left to Right
Paul (Brother) Stewart, Johnny Davenport, Gary Johnson, John Julian, Herbert (Skipper) Thompson
Scout Master: George Gross

BELOW:  Our Black Star friends have donated their personal photos of Black Star and the surrounding areas.
It was brought to our attention that the Black Star Reunion Photos for 2003, 2004, & 2005 was photographed by Vencil Engle. We wish to thank Vencil for his contributions.