Interview with Jeremy N. Williams, July 25, 2023

Interview Summary

Jeremy N. Williams, UK Extension Agent for 22 years, is the recipient of many award. However his wealth of knowledge and aptitude for story telling not only of the Extension Service, but also about the Tri-City area (Cumberland, Benham and Lynch) of Harlan County, Kentucky, elevates Jeremy to a level of a regional historian to which few can lay claim. Beginning in 1885 with the L&N Railroad seeking mineralogic surveys, to 1909 when the first load of Benham coal/coke was delivered by wagon and railroads on circuitous route to Chicago, to details of International Harvester building employee housing, schools, and hospital, or the entertainment budget of $750 in 1916 and the development of a competitive baseball team of coal miners, though to the decline of International Harvester and the sale of Benham homes to the miners (1960) followed by the sale of the business and closing of the Benham Coal Mine (1986), the pride of this grandson, son, and nephew of coal miners in his heritage is critical in preserving the coal miner's true story for posterity. Jeremy and his family have been significantly involved in Benham and Harlan County Mine Rescue teams, serving on national championship teams as well as rescue efforts after the Scotia Mine explosion. Of particular importance in this age of revisionist history, Jeremy's research into the major contributions by Benham coal miners, through International Harvester Steel for the USA war efforts in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam is of great significance.

Interview Keyword

Harlan County Extension Agent University of Kentucky Extension Service History of Benham, Kentucky International Harvester Captive coal mine Wisconsin Steel Works Railroad construction Timber Coal and coke production International Harvester steel production Mining Safety Teams Mining Safety Teams - Be Careful Buddy Sale of Benham Houses Robert "Bob" Hern Benham Credit Union Closing of Benham Mines Navistar Arch Minerals Benham bituminous metallurgical coal WWII Farm All Tractor Scout International Harvester Ml Garand rifle War products

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Interview Usage

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