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||Many of these men were recruited from the states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Virginia - "transportation men" company agents did the recruitment of raw, unkilled laborers of black coal miners and sharecroppers to work the mines which was being opened under Black Mountain at Lynch. One of these agents, a legendary figure and remembered by the name of "Limehouse" would sneak these sharecroppers away from the white land owners in the wee hours of darkness, hidding the black recruits behind boxes of collard greens, sugar cane, and potatoes stacked in the trucks.
Employment in the coal mines would provide these men and their families with resources for a good living and a productive life. Daily work in the coal mines would provide a substancial income and the coal mine company owned house could be rented cheaply and would provided a better house often much better than what they had in their native states. When a man was employeed at the Lynch district mines, earned enough, he usually returned home and would return with his wife and children. He would convince other relatives and friends to move to the coal fields and take jobs. The coal company would also send an employment recruiter to these southern states and furnish transportation for these recruits and family members via passenger rail cars. Employment for blacks was also available in the mine offices as janitors. The United Supply Company owned chain of stores, hospital, and the hotel was also an opportunity for employment.
There was a shortage of housing in the African American community. Many families would allow others to take up residence in their rented house. Sections of the town was set aside for African American miners. The largest community of African American resided in the Number 1, 2, 3, and 5 sections of town. The elementary and Lynch Colored High School/West Main was located on Main Street in Number 1 and staffed with well qualified African American teachers with teaching degrees from Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY and these teachers demanded that their students work hard to meet the challenges of a changing world. These teachers were well respected by their students.
The Lynch Colored school system [Lynch West Main] was closed in 1964 and these students were integreated into the all white Lynch school sytem [Lynch East Main] and which was closed in 1984 and all students were transfered to the Harlan County Schools of Cumberland, KY.
Today African/American miner sons and daughters who grew up in Southeastern Kentucky mining towns still share a special bond. The sense of the mountain as home is a birthright enjoyed by these African/American miner families. Every Memorial Day former black residents living across the United States are welcomed home to the mountains. The Eastern Kentucky Social Club, housed in the old Colored School Building on Main Street a national organization with chapters in most major cities, has held annual conventions for transplanted Southeastern Kentucky African American for now near 30 years.
EDUCATION
William Turner, PHD
Jerome Ratchford, PHD
Carolyn Sunday - Teacher
Kemp Smith - Teacher/Coach
Joe Washington - Teacher/Coach
Jerry Edwards - Teacher/Coach
Marlissa Austin, Teacher
Eugene Traylor - Teacher Coach
Donna Cockril - Teacher
Gwendolyn Jackson - Teacher
MILITARY
Roosevelt Roscoe, Ret USN
James Curtis, Ret USMC
Jerry Rodgers, Ret USA
Terry Rodgers, Ret USA
OTHER
P G Peeples, Pres CEO Urban League, Lexington, KY.
Willie Bates -
Electronic Engineer
Charles Clark Jr, Policeman
Black Diamond Net USA @1997-8-9
The first school began in 1917 under a cliff over hang which was known as the "Rock Barn". When a more suitable structure was built for a school the "Rock Barn" became a carpenters shop.
The town was growing in stages and in 1919, the Lynch Independent Schools was formed. In September of 1919-20 the school year opened with 431 students enrolled and by April 198 additional students were admitted. The school was supported by the company owned facilities and a tax that was collected from the employees. The elementary and high school was contained in the same building construced of red brick. Around 1939 an addition was added to the east end of the building. The addition including a combination gym/auditorium and a home economics departed consisting of the latest state of the art appliances, [washing machines, clothes dryers, sewing machines, electric stoves, referigerators]. This building would now house eight elementary class rooms and the four year high school.
A history of those people who would direct and staff the educational facility. TRUSTEES: Robert O Wyatt, Arthur R Cobb, Arthur Simms, Jefferson D Gaither, and Sam Burks.
ROBERT O WATT, born in Georgia, occupation: driver/miner and member of a quartet singing group and whose wife managed a boarding house.
ARTHUR R COBB, born in Alabama, occupation: driver/miner and Pastor of Mt Sinai Baptist Church. Panny his wife was born in Tennessee.
ARTHUR SIMMS, born in South Carolina, occupation: Manager of the restaurant. Wife Anna was born in Georgia.
Jefferson D Gaither: Born in North Carolina. Minister of the Good Temple Church.
SAM BURKS: Born in Alabama. A clergyman. Wife Fannie also born in Alabama.
Quoting from the Harlan Daily Enterprise, March 21, 1924 "Lynch can boast of the largest Colored School in Eastern Kentucky, housed in a modern building and doing fine work under the supervision of Professor BB Smith with his faculty of six teachers."
BB SMITH: Principal (1924~1926) Full name, Berniece Branner Smith, 1900 Federal Census: Born May 1898, Rockwood, Tenessee, son of Mart & Malinda Smith. Employeed by Kline Medical Company. In 1920 Occupation: Teacher at La Follette Campbell County Tennessee. November 11, 1921 he married Rosa Lee Bell in Benham, Kentucky, Revered J D Gaither officiating. They were the parents of Rose Helen, Margaret Berniece and Lelia H Smith. In 1930 he was a Printer/Publisher residing in Cumberland, KY. Rosa, his wife, was a teacher of music.
The school year ending June 30, 1926 concluded with the following faculty.1926-29. Professor William H Craig became the principal. In 1930 he was residing in Winchester, Ky. His occupation was listed as a teacher. In 1935 he was teaching in Covington, KY., and in 1943, he was a Social Science Instructor at Lincoln-Grant School in Covington, Ky. In 1927 The faculty was listed as:
E-Mail audra-bill@earthlink.net
October 2006