Hemphill Coal Mine Memorial
Written by Joanna Adams Sergent
There is a very quiet place in Letcher County in the Community of Hemphill, Kentucky. The Monument is a remembrance of all the Letcher County Men who died in the coal mines. A very moving monument to two coal mining disasters in Letcher County that happened two days apart killing a total of 26 men can also be seen. There are four black marble monoliths that have the names of each miner’s name listed. The monument is located in Hemphill beside of the Hemphill Community Center.
The Worst Coal Mining Disaster of Letcher County
Two gas and coal dust explosions in the Scotia Mine, the Scotia Coal Company located in Ovenfork, Letcher County Kentucky. The first explosion was March 9, 1976 in which 15 miners lost their lives and 91 miners escaped the disaster. The second explosion was on March 11, 1976 in which 11 men died and 2 escaped.
There is also a replica of a coal mine that can be seen under the stage that is located there.
Rest easy coal miners…the day is done. ~~ Kentucky Tennessee Living.
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I have attended the University of Kentucky. I have an Associates Degree from Hazard Community College and Technical School. I have also attended the University of Pikeville. I have taken several classes in Journalism as well as in the Appalachian History, Literature, and Sociology during my time at those schools.
I was born in Florida and grew up in Burdine, Kentucky. I have been married to David W. Sergent since May 4, 2013. I have two children and four grandchildren from a previous marriage. I currently live in Tennessee but my hope is to one day come back home to live in the beautiful mountains once more.
