My grandfather worked blue diamond mine near Hazard. The there was a cave in early 1950 where his back was broken. He spent the rest of his days in a wheelchair I grew up on these stories. Thank you for keeping our heritage alive.
Bless his heart. My Mom fell and broke her neck and was a quad for the last 5 year she lived. It was so hard on her, just getting thru the day sometimes. May they both rest in peace.
I worked for the company that bought blue diamond out all the way to this last bunch Black Hawk. I'm out now myself because of being hurt underground. I'm sorry your papaw had to spend his days in a wheelchair. Trust me when I say this, they still don't care about their men. I miss the coal mines bad. Not the mining but working with the men. God bless your papaw. I hope and pray you and your family never had to go underground and work.
My grandfather worked in the Harlen mines. He told a story about a demon that looked like a miniature white horse with red eyes. He said it would torment the miners and was a precursor to bad incidents. Thank you Donnie for your wonderful videos.
My dad was a coal miner in WV and he told us a story about someone calling his name he got injured in the mines became disable for the rest of his life he had black lung on top of his injury, I loved him very much he was a good man and a very good dad but he’s in heaven with our father now,men worked very hard in the coal mines.
A lot of my family worked in the coal mines. Partin’s I’m told we were called the Grudgers as there were more than 1 set of Partin’s from chenoa frakes area. My papaw walked Fonde mountain to coal mines and would stay all week and walk home. He died of black lung in 1976
Jesus Saves. I'm sorry about your papaw, my Grandad worked on railways in Melbourne Australia for 40 years from the 1920's on, steam engines required coal obviously. Peace be with you and yours friend.
Wow bless his heart. Coal miners are a rare breed for sure. My grandfather was a coal miner too I think he was from Logan County him and his brother worked together their names was McComas. GOD bless you and your family.
Wow! Another great story, Donnie. In 1916, the morning shift was just starting when my grandpa heard some one calling his name from outside the mine. He went to see who was calling him and as he stepped past the portal, the mine caved in. No one was at the mine entrance. That ghost voice saved my grandpa's life.
WOW! I’ve heard friend and family stories about these kinds of things happening and saving people. My husband has a WWII story about his father having an invisible hand spare him from an explosion. It held him down long enough for the explosion to happen and him to be saved from it. He was so young and did return home, got married, and had 4 children. God knows all mysteries! Thank the Lord for His Providence. I have a husband because of it! And, he has some amazing stories to tell about his own life. From generation to generation the Hand of God is at work! Makes you pause and praise!
My uncle Walter worked in a mine near Pikeville and he got caught in front of one of those machines that cut the coal out and he was killed. That thing looked like a big ol chainsaw. God rest his soul.
My brother-in-law worked in various coal mines over the years. He told me a story once about in one coal mine in particular whenever they would get a new miner they would tell him about the ghost of "Old George", a miner that died in a collapse some years previously. They said that when the mines was quiet toward the end of a shift you could hear George way in the back, wheezing out his last breaths like he did the day he died. A long slow rattling inhale, a pause, and then a long shaky exhale. The new guy would always end up hearing the breathing after being told the story. One really freaked out and said "I can hear Old George back there! You guys are gonna get me out this mines, right now!" That's when the crew would laugh and lead the new guy into the back of the mines where a large pump was for keeping water out of the tunnels. When the pump was idle it would make long, shuddering breathing-like noises. I dunno how many new miners got the story of Old George told to them just so they would hear that water pump and freak out xD
I lived in Treharris and Pontypridd, South Wales, UK in 1973 they are coal mining towns with many tales of strange things and ghost stories. Loved the people and area very much. Thank you my friend and God bless you always.
My father's family worked in Tenn. copper mines since 1865. My Dad and his five brothers...all started working mines at nine years old. Their father, granddad, uncles, cousins...worked there too. My Daddy hated it, you went in before full daylight and worked until sunset. When World War II started, all the boys joined...even my 16 yr. old future Daddy, who claimed he was 18 yrs old. After war, Daddy was the first...and only...family member to go North. He worked in the new tire factories, very hard work. He would sometimes come home late after mandatory extra hours and he would sit on our back porch, fumbling with a rock that had copper veins in it. He would sit there, then say, "a bad day at the factory....is better than a lifetime in a mine." He was the toughest man I ever knew. Bare knuckled fought in professional boxing tournaments, for the extra prize money, to help feed his five children...and he never lost. HE is long gone now, but that piece of copper rock he secretly kept for himself...has pride of place in our family mementos. Our family learned a lot from that hardworking, hardheaded, strict Southern Daddy.
Reminds me so much of the movie _ SONGCATCHER_ with Aidan Quinn . To hear him sing " When mountains cry " is a massive treat for anyone that has family history growing up in these types of places .
From what I've learned, the spirit doesn't know to cross over (stuck). They can cross over, but need someone who knows what they're doing, to do that. Thank you for telling their story
Personally I don't believe that about not knowing to cross over. I believe once a person dies the human spirit is either with the Lord in heaven or they go to hell, the ones that don't accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Now the spirits that some witness here on earth I believe to be demonic spirits that can mimic human spirits that have already passed on. I believe they are a deception.
My grandfather worked in the mines in West Vergina. My mom told us so much of our people and how they lived. Mom said when her dad came out they didn't know witch one he was where all was covered with coal. A lot had lung cancer after years. Thank God they made it so all of us grandkids are here today. Thank you for sharing with us.
the North East of England used to be an area of coal mining history. All the mines are closed now. Not long ago I visited a coal mine museum and we were taken down into a mine, did the routine the miners did and decended into the bowels of earth in a cage. My God. Hats off Indeed to those miners. To think also that little children sat in that utter darkness a d opened doors and did it alone for hours. I pity too the poor horses used in the mines who died and suffered along with the men. The poor people who did this job need acknowledgment. I'm not surprised the spirits of the dead are still there. Thank you for your video. I really enjoy listening. God bless you.
These stories are absolutely fascinating. It takes a hard-working, brave man to work in a mine. God bless you, Donnie, and every man's who's done (or is doing) that job!
Enjoyed the video Donnie....alot of lives were lost in the mines and remains never recovered or found..... My Grandpa was in the geologist end of mining...but we use to go up in Az.and carefully explore some abandoned mines..and have been up to the Cero Gordo mine as well ....and a couple times I could feel like something was there ...then something would clank ...or a rock would tumble...it can get spooky for sure.... Thanks again for the video Brother.
Yes....I guess there was a fire up there ...probably a lighting strike...but it burned the old hotel remnant down...he has gone through quite a struggle against nature and getting materials up there...but some building material owners and contractors have done some donating...the last time I was up there was back in the late 1970s..and it was abandoned and still in its natural state...and the road up there was always washing out...so an offroading vehicle was necessary ..a real neat place for sure...alot of history around there with the owens river and all...and the old Dolomite mine road turnoff is right up the road going towards Lone Pine...and the ghost town of Darwin ,Ca. Is several miles to the south by southeast of Keeler..which is a ghost town with some people still living there...we used to know some people with saddle mules down in Keeler , and we would go rIding up into those mountains ..the Sierra Nevadas and Mt. Whiney is to the west...and on the other side of the White Mtn.range to the east and southeast is Death Valley....rugged country.
My husband's family was from Kentucky and West Va. My Father-in-law worked in the coal mines and I loved sitting by the woodstove listening to his stories. Your stories are so amazing and I appreciate you taking the time to share them. ❤
DONNIE LAWS Greetings, Mr. Donnie. What an amazing and compelling tale! I so appreciate that you're creating historical recordings for everyone to remember. Many of my ancestors were coal miners I n the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania (Schuylkill County), so your coal mining remembrances hold a special place in my heart. My great-grandfather was a Fire Boss in the mines. Thank you so much, and God bless, Mr. Donnie. Your friend, Lois in PA
I visited the Blue Heron Mining Community in SE Kentucky which is now a living history museum. It was interesting listening to the recorded memories of people who had lived there. It was a hard life but they did their best and found joy where they could.
Thanks Mr. Donnie for sharing this story with us... My heart breaks for all them old coalminers that was such a hard life but they had to make a living to feed their families.... God Bless y'all
Thank you Mr Donnie I just recently found you and my grandma and my dad are from loveiston va , Buckingham Co va, Nelson Co va. I was born in the blue ridge but moved when I was 3 . You connect me so much too them beautiful hills that I love . My grandma Spencer would tell me about stories an such just like you do . I'm not so home sick when I listen too you . Bless you
Thank you for taking the time to share this story. I've seen and heard things in the past, around the mines and in the woods myself, so I can believe every word.
My grandfather worked in a mine somewhere around pineville he died before i was old enough to get to hear any of his stories but thru your stories it is like listening to something he may have told me if he had lived thank you for all your great stories i dont miss any GOD BLESS
My great grandfather went in the coal mines in Bibb county Alabama in 1920 at 7 year old and spent nearly 30 years underground shoveling coal until he went to the railroad as a fireman still shoveling coal. I miss him and his stories but thanks for keeping them going.
Love hearing your old stories...I fell in love with the mountains my first trip here 1979...took til I retired in2015 to get myself moved down here...loving every minute...keep them old stories comin ...
I remember visiting kin in Scranton PA . Ih the large piles of coal , but the houses were covered black from the dust. Terrible how all the miners worked so hard for nothing. God bless love your stories
Thank you mr.Laws for keeping us informed on this history that allows folks across this country to know that life was not always a "Bowl of Cherries" and easy sailing for some of our ancestors. It absolutely was backbreaking work back then,yet,our pioneers withstood it with both strength, grace and dignity which have made our country,"America!!.Dare we not forget yours,my and all of our blessed history which you present to us fondly. Thank you kindly,sir.
Hi Donnie, this story really hit home for me. Thanks for posting. I had a few haunted experiences in old Virginia. During the 1980s I worked in a limestone mine under Butt Mnt. as a safety map surveyor. It was unlighted where we were working, in a less mined area one day & I was showing a traverse point to our transit man, when I began to feel cold. Of course, 7-8 miles down, the temp doesn't change enough to notice. I also felt a nearby presence. As we waited for our ride out in the back of a pickup that afternoon, one of the miners asked if we'd noticed anything in that section. I kept quiet but my boss asked about his question. He replied that the section had been where several German POWs had lost their lives due to bad top crushing them back during the 1940s. The men who'd worked in that now fairly quiet area had many other haunting experiences over the years. ☠💀
My mother's dad, Gramps, had black lung and lost a lung to the coal mines. His father died of TB, and so did his wife, my beautiful young Grandmother. It was my Grandmother's father who lost his own life in a mine collapse. Life was hard for these coalminers and their families, too... there were always ghost stories and sightings of spectres of the past. It was a way of keeping their dead yet alive and still amongst them. Thank you for telling the stories of our Mountain Folk. May they rest in Heaven now.
Hey Donnie. I love the old pictures you included. It reminds me of the steel mills in my town where my great grandfather started workin in 1898. Makin steel with Tennessee coal! Thank you friend and have a good night.
In my younger days I spent alot of time around Hendersonville and Brevard NC. Hiking all through the mountains. Today I'm up near the Adirondack mountains of NY. Been around mountains most of my life, I'm now 65. There are so many stories to tell of the old mountains. And Donnie, you tell em so well my friend. See ya over the ridge top.
I heard the stories about the "Tommy Knockers" from the UK coal mines,I can see how those legends would come to the USA. I have respect for those men and boys who went into those mines. I have watched some mine explorer video on RUclips, and there is no way I would even attempt to go down those mines myself. Far too creepy! Thanks for the story, may those poor souls find peace🙏🌹
So many mine disasters in our region. Fraterville Tennessee. Scotia KY. Yancy Kentucky. Darby Mines. I wouldn't even begin to be able to name them all.
Wonderful video Donnie! There was a part in this video that actually made me jump! Always appreciate your storytelling and hope to meet you one day, sir. Have a good one!
Another great story Mr Donnie. Always appreciate them. If don't mind me asking, have you ever ran across things like this when you worked the mines? Well thanks again Mr Donnie
Got me some goosebumps lol. Great episode donnie. I beleive all will be revealed to each n every one of us in due time. Until then, I'm going to love this earth, myself and thy neihbor and hope to see the home that was built for me by our creator. Christ is king. God bless. And cant wait fur the next one.
I love these old stories. There is a lot of history in this area, and it might be lost if people like you don't tell it. Thank you so much for doing these videos.
I'd like to think that the spirits stayed at that mine to watch over the miners and to keep them safe (sounds good on paper but try to convince yourself that you aren't seeing a haunt - that's a pretty tall order there). When I hear of mining going wrong, I think of the song "Big John" and wish with all my heart that all mines could have a Big John there to get them out. 😢💔
I can't express how that song affected me as a small child. I saw everything in my imagination and was deeply saddened when Big John didn't make it out. I bet there were many big Johns in reality in their own way of trying to help others and putting their own lives at risk. God knows each and every one of them. Rest assured that they live in Paradise and after the resurrection, will live in Heaven. But just like the ballad, very few Big Johns are around in today's society. ......
@@josephvanwie6706 I believe they are still there. I believe there are still Big Johns. We only seem to hear the bad news. Just the other day a ball team of teenagers pulled someone out of a burning car.
@@josephvanwie6706 So very, very true, unfortunately. If you check history out, there are multiple legends that speak of those who have passed are still here and keeping an eye on their loved ones. I'd like to think that there are more Big Johns out in the world than we know.
Such interesting stories! Had to be terrifying for the coal miners! They were exhausted already, then seeing the spirits, the men who kept gong back in, were very Brave men! 🙏😳🙏
Nice video Donnie would have been a rough time as being a child back in them days or even in your days hard work liked your video your friend Dave from Indiana
What a spooky story! I gotta be honest I would've quit too! I've never been in a mine but seems like from the pictures being in one would be spooky enough without seeing things like that!
Love me a good ghost story Donny, thanks! Those pictures were fantastic too, I love old photos like that. I Couldn't imagine working in one of those mines
People in general and children especially do not know what a rough life is. Back then everybody worked hard to eek out their daily bread. And if anyone had something rude to express, they were assured a dental appointment without visiting the dentist. As my father used to say, you've got 32 teeth, would you like to try for 24? Our country needs all of this again to get Luke thinkin right! Thanks Donnie for another fine presentation. ....
I do believe they are souls that have passed on and are able to visit because they are now inter dimensional beings able to travel multiple dimensions at will because they have no physical realm restrictions. Thanks for sharing this , Donnie
Many mine stories around here in Central PA. Have you ever heard of the story of the Porter mine? They hit a bootleg mine not on the maps that was flooded. There was so much water the mine entrance ran solid for over 25 minutes. It blew mine engines over 1/2 a mile down the valley. Many lost their lives. It was in Tower City PA. Only about 20 minutes from me. But one of hundreds of stories from the Appalachian mountains. What a harsh life.
Love your channel and listening to your voice. There are so many things that are unexplained and many come from folks who aren't prone to telling lies. Makes you wonder!
My grandfather worked blue diamond mine near Hazard. The there was a cave in early 1950 where his back was broken. He spent the rest of his days in a wheelchair I grew up on these stories. Thank you for keeping our heritage alive.
That's so sad my friend. God bless him. Thanks for sharing.
Bless his heart. My Mom fell and broke her neck and was a quad for the last 5 year she lived. It was so hard on her, just getting thru the day sometimes. May they both rest in peace.
@@WhispersFromTheDark God bless you friend.
I worked for the company that bought blue diamond out all the way to this last bunch Black Hawk. I'm out now myself because of being hurt underground. I'm sorry your papaw had to spend his days in a wheelchair. Trust me when I say this, they still don't care about their men. I miss the coal mines bad. Not the mining but working with the men. God bless your papaw. I hope and pray you and your family never had to go underground and work.
My grandfather worked in the Harlen mines. He told a story about a demon that looked like a miniature white horse with red eyes. He said it would torment the miners and was a precursor to bad incidents.
Thank you Donnie for your wonderful videos.
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Wow that would be scary!
That is very interesting
@Boho Chic my dad and brothers have seen it too. It's something to do with the males in the family.
@Boho Chic WOW!
My dad was a coal miner in WV and he told us a story about someone calling his name he got injured in the mines became disable for the rest of his life he had black lung on top of his injury, I loved him very much he was a good man and a very good dad but he’s in heaven with our father now,men worked very hard in the coal mines.
So sorry my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.
What part of WV? I am from WV.
@@jasonrunyon2663 shady spring wv
@@marleneclaypool5583 I was raised down in Mingo County. Great to see a fellow West Virginian on here!!
Lord bless your dad. He has no pain now..no illness. He worked beyond hard.
A lot of my family worked in the coal mines. Partin’s I’m told we were called the Grudgers as there were more than 1 set of Partin’s from chenoa frakes area. My papaw walked Fonde mountain to coal mines and would stay all week and walk home. He died of black lung in 1976
So sorry to hear that my friend. God bless you.
Jesus Saves.
I'm sorry about your papaw, my Grandad worked on railways in Melbourne Australia for 40 years from the 1920's on, steam engines required coal obviously.
Peace be with you and yours friend.
Wow bless his heart. Coal miners are a rare breed for sure. My grandfather was a coal miner too I think he was from Logan County him and his brother worked together their names was McComas. GOD bless you and your family.
@@sharonmccomas4173 Awesome my friend.
A rugged Breed of Men.
Sorry you lost Him to that😨. Nasty occupation to feed your Family 💗.
JO JO IN VT 😆💕
Wow! Another great story, Donnie. In 1916, the morning shift was just starting when my grandpa heard some one calling his name from outside the mine. He went to see who was calling him and as he stepped past the portal, the mine caved in. No one was at the mine entrance. That ghost voice saved my grandpa's life.
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.
WOW! I’ve heard friend and family stories about these kinds of things happening and saving people. My husband has a WWII story about his father having an invisible hand spare him from an explosion. It held him down long enough for the explosion to happen and him to be saved from it. He was so young and did return home, got married, and had 4 children. God knows all mysteries! Thank the Lord for His Providence. I have a husband because of it! And, he has some amazing stories to tell about his own life. From generation to generation the Hand of God is at work! Makes you pause and praise!
@@kendramalczyk2613WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
Love your videos! I live in western North Carolina and i love these mountains
Thank you friend. God bless you.
My uncle Walter worked in a mine near Pikeville and he got caught in front of one of those machines that cut the coal out and he was killed. That thing looked like a big ol chainsaw. God rest his soul.
So sorry to hear that my friend. God bless you.
I bet you could do an entire series on the spirits and the fear they created for those living life in the hole. Interesting!
Thanks for sharing this.
My brother-in-law worked in various coal mines over the years. He told me a story once about in one coal mine in particular whenever they would get a new miner they would tell him about the ghost of "Old George", a miner that died in a collapse some years previously. They said that when the mines was quiet toward the end of a shift you could hear George way in the back, wheezing out his last breaths like he did the day he died. A long slow rattling inhale, a pause, and then a long shaky exhale.
The new guy would always end up hearing the breathing after being told the story. One really freaked out and said "I can hear Old George back there! You guys are gonna get me out this mines, right now!"
That's when the crew would laugh and lead the new guy into the back of the mines where a large pump was for keeping water out of the tunnels. When the pump was idle it would make long, shuddering breathing-like noises.
I dunno how many new miners got the story of Old George told to them just so they would hear that water pump and freak out xD
WOW awesome story my friend. That's a good one. Thanks for sharing this.
Mr. Laws, history is so important! Thank-you for keeping it alive! God bless you and yours!!
Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing this.
I lived in Treharris and Pontypridd, South Wales, UK in 1973 they are coal mining towns with many tales of strange things and ghost stories.
Loved the people and area very much.
Thank you my friend and God bless you always.
Awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing this. God bless.
My father's family worked in Tenn. copper mines since 1865. My Dad and his five brothers...all started working mines at nine years old. Their father, granddad, uncles, cousins...worked there too. My Daddy hated it, you went in before full daylight and worked until sunset. When World War II started, all the boys joined...even my 16 yr. old future Daddy, who claimed he was 18 yrs old. After war, Daddy was the first...and only...family member to go North. He worked in the new tire factories, very hard work. He would sometimes come home late after mandatory extra hours and he would sit on our back porch, fumbling with a rock that had copper veins in it. He would sit there, then say, "a bad day at the factory....is better than a lifetime in a mine." He was the toughest man I ever knew. Bare knuckled fought in professional boxing tournaments, for the extra prize money, to help feed his five children...and he never lost. HE is long gone now, but that piece of copper rock he secretly kept for himself...has pride of place in our family mementos. Our family learned a lot from that hardworking, hardheaded, strict Southern Daddy.
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. Thanks for the story. God bless you.
Reminds me so much of the movie _ SONGCATCHER_ with Aidan Quinn .
To hear him sing " When mountains cry " is a massive treat for anyone that has family history growing up in these types of places .
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
From what I've learned, the spirit doesn't know to cross over (stuck). They can cross over, but need someone who knows what they're doing, to do that. Thank you for telling their story
Thank you friend for sharing this. God bless you.
Personally I don't believe that about not knowing to cross over. I believe once a person dies the human spirit is either with the Lord in heaven or they go to hell, the ones that don't accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Now the spirits that some witness here on earth I believe to be demonic spirits that can mimic human spirits that have already passed on. I believe they are a deception.
sometimes they're attached by trauma...they think they're still alive, and nobody can answer them....
My grandfather worked in the mines in West Vergina. My mom told us so much of our people and how they lived. Mom said when her dad came out they didn't know witch one he was where all was covered with coal. A lot had lung cancer after years. Thank God they made it so all of us grandkids are here today. Thank you for sharing with us.
Awesome my friend. Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing this.
the North East of England used to be an area of coal mining history.
All the mines are closed now.
Not long ago I visited a coal mine museum and we were taken down into a mine, did the routine the miners did and decended into the bowels of earth in a cage.
My God. Hats off Indeed to those miners. To think also that little children sat in that utter darkness a d opened doors and did it alone for hours.
I pity too the poor horses used in the mines who died and suffered along with the men.
The poor people who did this job need acknowledgment. I'm not surprised the spirits of the dead are still there.
Thank you for your video. I really enjoy listening. God bless you.
These stories are absolutely fascinating. It takes a hard-working, brave man to work in a mine. God bless you, Donnie, and every man's who's done (or is doing) that job!
Thank you friend. God bless you.
Enjoyed the video Donnie....alot of lives were lost in the mines and remains never recovered or found.....
My Grandpa was in the geologist end of mining...but we use to go up in Az.and carefully explore some abandoned mines..and have been up to the Cero Gordo mine as well ....and a couple times I could feel like something was there ...then something would clank ...or a rock would tumble...it can get spooky for sure....
Thanks again for the video Brother.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome. Stay safe!
There's a guy here on YT that bought an old abandoned mine in Cerro Gordo. He has some pretty interesting videos up on it!
Yes....I guess there was a fire up there ...probably a lighting strike...but it burned the old hotel remnant down...he has gone through quite a struggle against nature and getting materials up there...but some building material owners and contractors have done some donating...the last time I was up there was back in the late 1970s..and it was abandoned and still in its natural state...and the road up there was always washing out...so an offroading vehicle was necessary ..a real neat place for sure...alot of history around there with the owens river and all...and the old Dolomite mine road turnoff is right up the road going towards Lone Pine...and the ghost town of Darwin ,Ca. Is several miles to the south by southeast of Keeler..which is a ghost town with some people still living there...we used to know some people with saddle mules down in Keeler , and we would go rIding up into those mountains ..the Sierra Nevadas and Mt. Whiney is to the west...and on the other side of the White Mtn.range to the east and southeast is Death Valley....rugged country.
@@gregoryj.m.8985 WOW Thanks for sharing this story my friend.
You are so kindly welcome Brother...Thank you for all you do...
My husband's family was from Kentucky and West Va. My Father-in-law worked in the coal mines and I loved sitting by the woodstove listening to his stories. Your stories are so amazing and I appreciate you taking the time to share them. ❤
Thank you friend. God bless.
DONNIE LAWS Greetings, Mr. Donnie. What an amazing and compelling tale! I so appreciate that you're creating historical recordings for everyone to remember. Many of my ancestors were coal miners I n the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania (Schuylkill County), so your coal mining remembrances hold a special place in my heart. My great-grandfather was a Fire Boss in the mines. Thank you so much, and God bless, Mr. Donnie. Your friend, Lois in PA
Awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing your memories. Your very welcome. God bless you.
I visited the Blue Heron Mining Community in SE Kentucky which is now a living history museum. It was interesting listening to the recorded memories of people who had lived there. It was a hard life but they did their best and found joy where they could.
Awesome my friend. Thank you friend for sharing this.
Thanks Mr. Donnie for sharing this story with us... My heart breaks for all them old coalminers that was such a hard life but they had to make a living to feed their families.... God Bless y'all
Amen my friend. Your very welcome. God bless you.
Thank you Mr Donnie I just recently found you and my grandma and my dad are from loveiston va , Buckingham Co va, Nelson Co va. I was born in the blue ridge but moved when I was 3 . You connect me so much too them beautiful hills that I love . My grandma Spencer would tell me about stories an such just like you do . I'm not so home sick when I listen too you . Bless you
That's awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing your memories. God bless you.
Thank you for taking the time to share this story. I've seen and heard things in the past, around the mines and in the woods myself, so I can believe every word.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
My grandfather worked in a mine somewhere around pineville he died before i was old enough to get to hear any of his stories but thru your stories it is like listening to something he may have told me if he had lived thank you for all your great stories i dont miss any GOD BLESS
Thank you friend for sharing this. God bless you.
My great grandfather went in the coal mines in Bibb county Alabama in 1920 at 7 year old and spent nearly 30 years underground shoveling coal until he went to the railroad as a fireman still shoveling coal. I miss him and his stories but thanks for keeping them going.
Coaling at 7? Lord have mercy! They don't make em like that anymore
@@xxkissmeketutxx they sure do not. I do my best to carry on the hardworking ethics of my family in my career as a millwright.
Awesome story. Many of my family members worked the coal mines and they had stories and truly believed in ghosts of dead miners. Thanks for this
Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing this.
I just love your stories. It doesn't matter if its unexplained, history, or just plain ol' storytelling. I love it all. ❤
Thank you friend. God bless you.
@@donnielaws7020 Bless you as well!
Love hearing your old stories...I fell in love with the mountains my first trip here 1979...took til I retired in2015 to get myself moved down here...loving every minute...keep them old stories comin ...
Awesome my friend. Thank you friend for sharing this. God bless you.
Very interesting and thank you for sharing. God bless you and your family sir.....🙏❤🙏❤🙏😊🙂😀
Thank you friend. God bless.
I remember visiting kin in Scranton PA . Ih the large piles of coal , but the houses were covered black from the dust. Terrible how all the miners worked so hard for nothing. God bless love your stories
So sad my friend. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.
Sir, you tell a great story. Thanks for bringin it to us, keep em commin please
Thank you friend.
I swear if I could go back in time it’d be about 100 years ago Appalachia. Ty Donnie, love this stuff and them old pictures
Your very welcome my friend.
Thank you mr.Laws for keeping us informed on this history that allows folks across this country to know that life was not always a "Bowl of Cherries" and easy sailing for some of our ancestors. It absolutely was backbreaking work back then,yet,our pioneers withstood it with both strength, grace and dignity which have made our country,"America!!.Dare we not forget yours,my and all of our blessed history which you present to us fondly. Thank you kindly,sir.
That's so true my friend. Your very welcome. God bless you.
Yes! It’s true! Without their labors of love and toil we’d not be here and what we are today! Sure makes us reflect!
Hi Donnie, this story really hit home for me. Thanks for posting. I had a few haunted experiences in old Virginia. During the 1980s I worked in a limestone mine under Butt Mnt. as a safety map surveyor. It was unlighted where we were working, in a less mined area one day & I was showing a traverse point to our transit man, when I began to feel cold. Of course, 7-8 miles down, the temp doesn't change enough to notice. I also felt a nearby presence. As we waited for our ride out in the back of a pickup that afternoon, one of the miners asked if we'd noticed anything in that section. I kept quiet but my boss asked about his question. He replied that the section had been where several German POWs had lost their lives due to bad top crushing them back during the 1940s. The men who'd worked in that now fairly quiet area had many other haunting experiences over the years. ☠💀
WOW, Great story my friend. Thanks for sharing this experience.
My mother's dad, Gramps, had black lung and lost a lung to the coal mines. His father died of TB, and so did his wife, my beautiful young Grandmother. It was my Grandmother's father who lost his own life in a mine collapse. Life was hard for these coalminers and their families, too... there were always ghost stories and sightings of spectres of the past. It was a way of keeping their dead yet alive and still amongst them.
Thank you for telling the stories of our Mountain Folk. May they rest in Heaven now.
Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing your story with us. God bless you.
@@donnielaws7020 And God bless you and yours!
I love history especially when a ghost story of the Appalachain is included! Well done Donnie 🙌
Thank you friend.
Hey Donnie. I love the old pictures you included. It reminds me of the steel mills in my town where my great grandfather started workin in 1898. Makin steel with Tennessee coal! Thank you friend and have a good night.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
Wonderful story. Thank you Mr Donnie. If you wrote a book with all these fabulous stories, it would surely be a bestseller
Thank you friend.
Mr. Laws I just love to listen to these stories thank you!!!!
Awesome, your very welcome my friend.
In my younger days I spent alot of time around Hendersonville and Brevard NC. Hiking all through the mountains. Today I'm up near the Adirondack mountains of NY. Been around mountains most of my life, I'm now 65. There are so many stories to tell of the old mountains. And Donnie, you tell em so well my friend. See ya over the ridge top.
Awesome, Thank you friend. God bless you.
THANK YOU FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AND HISTORY. GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL THE MEN WHO WORK IN THE MINDS
Your very welcome friend. God bless you.
Wow , what those men had to go thru is amazing, I don’t blame the ones who walked out and never came back , thank you, keep ‘em coming please 💕😎🎨🍄🌷🍄🎨😎
Thank you friend.
I heard the stories about the "Tommy Knockers" from the UK coal mines,I can see how those legends would come to the USA.
I have respect for those men and boys who went into those mines. I have watched some mine explorer video on RUclips, and there is no way I would even attempt to go down those mines myself. Far too creepy! Thanks for the story, may those poor souls find peace🙏🌹
Thank you friend for sharing this. Your very welcome.
Ooh good call, I'd forgotten about The Knockers 😮
Love to hear good old ghost stories of Appalachia Donnie interesting
Thank you friend.
My pleasure buddy
Thank you Donnie. Very descriptive and respectful presentation.
Your very welcome. Thank you friend.
Wonderful, thoughtful story telling. We really enjoy these tales of the Appalachia! Thank you.
Your very welcome my friend.
There are so many stories in those hills! Thank you for telling them to us! ❤️
Your very welcome my friend
Thanks Donnie for sharing this great story about coal mining.
Your very welcome my friend.
Another very enjoyable video! 👍🏻❤️
Thank you friend.
Thank you Donnie another awesome video, God bless you you take good care🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Your welcome friend.
Thank you for another great story Mr Donnie. God Bless you and yours.
Your welcome friend.
You have so many great stories. Please keep sharing!
Thank you friend.
Excellent tale from the coal fields.
Thank you friend.
So many mine disasters in our region. Fraterville Tennessee. Scotia KY. Yancy Kentucky. Darby Mines. I wouldn't even begin to be able to name them all.
So true and so sad my friend. God bless you.
Wonderful video Donnie! There was a part in this video that actually made me jump! Always appreciate your storytelling and hope to meet you one day, sir. Have a good one!
Thank you so much my friend.
Hi Donnie - thanks so much for this story. These are so interesting and your narration just adds to it.
Thanks, Your very welcome.
Great stories. Keep them coming. I am the grandson of a northeast Pennsylvania coalminer. Love the history of it.
Thank you friend.
Enjoyed this story Mr. Donnie. Thanks for sharing. 🙏🏻😇👍🏻🙌🏻
Your welcome friend.
Pastor lon 🤗We follow some good people don't we😇
Another great story Mr Donnie. Always appreciate them. If don't mind me asking, have you ever ran across things like this when you worked the mines? Well thanks again Mr Donnie
Thank you friend. Your very welcome. God bless.
Got me some goosebumps lol. Great episode donnie. I beleive all will be revealed to each n every one of us in due time. Until then, I'm going to love this earth, myself and thy neihbor and hope to see the home that was built for me by our creator. Christ is king. God bless. And cant wait fur the next one.
Awesome, Amen my friend. God bless you.
I love these old stories. There is a lot of history in this area, and it might be lost if people like you don't tell it. Thank you so much for doing these videos.
Your very welcome my friend.
It's been a while seeing your video's due to sickness,,, I really do enjoy them, please keep up good work !!!!
Hope your feeling better my friend. God bless you.
Thank you for the story Donnie, I am glad you are keeping these stories alive for everyone!
Your very welcome friend.
Love all your stories!!
Thank you friend.
I sure do love these stories Mr. Law's. You sound so much like my Daddy. I miss him and mommy so. Thank you W.V
Thank you so much for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
Enjoyed the story Donnie. Your channel is one of a kind. A good mix. God bless you too.
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
always enjoy your stories - thank you
Your very welcome.
They did have hard lives. Thank you for sharing their stories with us! Take care Donnie!
Your welcome friend.
I'd like to think that the spirits stayed at that mine to watch over the miners and to keep them safe (sounds good on paper but try to convince yourself that you aren't seeing a haunt - that's a pretty tall order there). When I hear of mining going wrong, I think of the song "Big John" and wish with all my heart that all mines could have a Big John there to get them out. 😢💔
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
I can't express how that song affected me as a small child. I saw everything in my imagination and was deeply saddened when Big John didn't make it out. I bet there were many big Johns in reality in their own way of trying to help others and putting their own lives at risk. God knows each and every one of them. Rest assured that they live in Paradise and after the resurrection, will live in Heaven. But just like the ballad, very few Big Johns are around in today's society. ......
@@josephvanwie6706 I believe they are still there. I believe there are still Big Johns. We only seem to hear the bad news. Just the other day a ball team of teenagers pulled someone out of a burning car.
@@josephvanwie6706 So very, very true, unfortunately. If you check history out, there are multiple legends that speak of those who have passed are still here and keeping an eye on their loved ones. I'd like to think that there are more Big Johns out in the world than we know.
@@colleenhelminiak1429 We have a BIG God! So, there are most likely many! ❤
Thank you for remembering the men from coal mines.
Your very welcome. How could I ever forget my people.
@@donnielaws7020 absolutely. It's special when we have coal miners in our family we understand just how hard their lives were.
Thank you for sharing this video Donnie. I can't even go to the basement to do laundry now. I will have to send my wife.
Thanks for sharing.😁
Such interesting stories! Had to be terrifying for the coal miners! They were exhausted already, then seeing the spirits, the men who kept gong back in, were very Brave men! 🙏😳🙏
Had to be! Thanks for sharing this.
This is a great spooky video,I will watch it a lot.mr Donnie please tell More videos like this okay, thank you..
Thank you friend. Thanks for sharing.
Nice video Donnie would have been a rough time as being a child back in them days or even in your days hard work liked your video your friend Dave from Indiana
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Enjoyed it Donny see ya next time God Bless.
Thank you friend.
Love these stories, so interesting. Thanks Donnie for sharing.
Your very welcome.
Donnie Laws, enjoyed this emincly very sad but facts and history is what got use here now .God bless one and Ali
Thank you friend for sharing this.
Thanks for the story Donnie ... a great tale.
Thank you friend. Your very welcome.
What a spooky story! I gotta be honest I would've quit too! I've never been in a mine but seems like from the pictures being in one would be spooky enough without seeing things like that!
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
@@donnielaws7020 you're welcome! Thank you for sharing this story!
Thank you for sharing your history and keeping record of it. Future generations need to know. Blessings sir
Amen my friend. Your very welcome.
My grandpa on mom's side worked in west Virginia in coal mine. There was a ghost show one time they went into mines. Great video
WOW Thanks for sharing this.
Bless their hearts. May they all rest in peace. Thanks for telling us the story Donnie.
Your very welcome my friend.
I love listening to your stories
Thank you friend for saying.
Love me a good ghost story Donny, thanks! Those pictures were fantastic too, I love old photos like that.
I Couldn't imagine working in one of those mines
Thanks for sharing my friend. Your very welcome.
Thank you, Sir. Good story!
Your very welcome friend
Lo ve to hear these wonderful stories!😃
Thank you friend.
Wow!
Thank you, Donnie, for another amazing story.
God bless.
Me and my wife enjoy hearing your stories. You do a amazing job keep up your good work always looking forward to your videos.
Thank you friend.
People in general and children especially do not know what a rough life is. Back then everybody worked hard to eek out their daily bread. And if anyone had something rude to express, they were assured a dental appointment without visiting the dentist. As my father used to say, you've got 32 teeth, would you like to try for 24? Our country needs all of this again to get Luke thinkin right! Thanks Donnie for another fine presentation. ....
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome.
Mr. Donnie, I plan to go back and watch all your videos. I love history and you are a great historian.
Thanks for all your work!
Awesome my friend. Thank you so much. Your very welcome.
born & raised in sw va, love your channel ❤️ coal mines were our lively hoods, tobacco, dairies & mines & the govt has ruined all of that for us...
Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
@@donnielaws7020 God Bless You 🥰
I do believe they are souls that have passed on and are able to visit because they are now inter dimensional beings able to travel multiple dimensions at will because they have no physical realm restrictions. Thanks for sharing this , Donnie
Thanks for sharing! I believe in long lost spirts! 👍❤️
Your very welcome my friend.
Thank you Donnie for keeping the mountains memories and lore alive.
Your welcome my friend.
Love the stories!
Thank you friend.
That would make a great story for Halloween Donnie! Lord knows all those men saw a hard time.
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Many mine stories around here in Central PA. Have you ever heard of the story of the Porter mine? They hit a bootleg mine not on the maps that was flooded. There was so much water the mine entrance ran solid for over 25 minutes. It blew mine engines over 1/2 a mile down the valley. Many lost their lives. It was in Tower City PA. Only about 20 minutes from me. But one of hundreds of stories from the Appalachian mountains. What a harsh life.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. I haven't heard of that.
Thanks for sharing with us
Your very welcome my friend.
Thank you! I love ghost stories. I wonder if anyone went in there to try to help those trapped spirits?🐝🤗❤️
I don't know my friend.
@@donnielaws7020 Ok, thank you so much🐝🤗❤️
Brother donnie , glad to hear this good old story. Great hearing you tell it too. Hope you good and tour family.
Thank you friend.
Love your channel and listening to your voice. There are so many things that are unexplained and many come from folks who aren't prone to telling lies. Makes you wonder!
Thank you friend.