King Coal

Backcountry Notes ^ | May 7, 2010 | Jay Henderson

[jay1949]

In the century following the Civil War, nothing brought change to Appalachia as much as did the development of coal mining. The western highlands of Southern Appalachia overlay vast fields of bituminous coal and the construction of railroads into the mountains opened up coalfields for commercial exploitation. By the end of the 19th Century, Appalachian coal was powering the industrial revolution in America, providing fuel for power plants, locomotives and other steam engines, and coke for making steel.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

If someone could invent the perfect coal, it would be called Pocahontas.

[Pessimist]

Hey,

Thanks for posting these links! I’m not “hill folk” myself, but I really enjoy them from the historical aspect.

[jay1949]

It’s not too late! I moved to the mountains (from the Piedmont) in 1981, and I “went native” and am married to a local girl, so I’m “naturalized” hill folk, truth be told.