Interview with Willis Haws, June 23, 1986

Interview Summary

Willis Haws is a resident of Beauty (formerly known as Himlerville), Kentucky. He discusses the history of Martin County, the importance of coal to the local economy, and the history of Himlerville. He contradicts several previously accepted conclusions about America's only cooperative coal mining town. It was thought that only Hungarian immigrants worked in the Himlerville mines, and that Himlerville was a "dry" town. He also disputes a previously accepted fact that Martin Himler, the founder of the town, was revered by all the immigrants. According to Haws, American workers were employed by the Himler Coal Company, and that the town supported several taverns and distilleries were alcoholic beverages were made and sold. He also makes the accusation that Martin Himler may have left with a portion of the cooperative coal company's funds. These assertions raise suspicions over what is otherwise considered a utopian coal mining community. Haws also provides information on the town of Himlerville, and states that there was a theater, a Catholic church, and some of the best and most modern houses available to coal miners at that time.

Interview Keyword

Appalachian Immigrant Community Appalachian Region Beauty Kentucky Coal Mining Education Himlerville Kentucky Hungarian immigrants Immigrant Coal Miners Immigrants Martin County Kentucky Martin Himler

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Appalachian Region--Social conditions Coal miners Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region Haws, Willis Haws, Willis--Interviews Immigrants

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.