Interview with Florence Ramey, June 12, 1987

Interview Summary

Born in Elkhorn City in 1900, Florence Ramey was the daughter of Hattie McCown and Orville Cure. Her father, a renowned carpenter, built several of the early tipples for the coal companies, as well as the Elswick Store in Elkhorn City and many of the homes in the area. Ramey's mother, who died in 1914, kept boarders to supplement the family's income. As a result, Florence Ramey owned boarding houses at several coal camps in the Marrowbone and eastern Kentucky area. She recalls that sometimes she would have as many as 35 miners boarding in her seven-room house. The miners would "double-shift," meaning that one group of miners would sleep while the other shift worked. The Henry Clay mine, for example, operated three shifts, 24 hours a day. Ramey also ran a boarding house at the Edgewater camp in conjunction with the coal company, Semet-Solvay, on Marrowbone Creek. Her sister operated the clubhouse where the office workers and company employees lived. Ramey made use of a "hired girl" to help her run the boarding house. When Henry Clay miners tried to organize the UMWA in the mid to late 1930s, a violent strike ensued. Ramey recalls the gun battles and states that she kept a gun at her boarding house where the company guards ate frequently. She resented the intimidation tactics of the striking miners. In her view, the outsiders brought in to fight for the union were "pretty bad." She avoided taking sides, however, because, "I didn't have no say. I was taking care of my children."

Interview Keyword

"Hired girls" Boarding houses Coal camps Coal strikes Company guards Edgewater coal camp Henry Clay mine Elkhorn Coal Field Henry Clay coal camp Mountain carpenters Semet-Solvay Strike violence Boarders Family Edgewater Mining Company Hellier (Ky.)

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Coal miners Coal miners--Kentucky--Elkhorn City Coal miners--Kentucky--Pike County Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--Elkhorn City Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--History Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--Pike County Pike County (Ky.) Pike County (Ky.)--Social life and customs Ramey, Florence, 1900-1991 Ramey, Florence, 1900-1991--Interviews United Mine Workers of America Elkhorn City (Ky.) Fathers

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Interview Usage

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