My family (dad, grand parents, uncles, etc.) were all miners in West Virginia. Myself and my siblings are the first to not be working in the mines in our family. Great grandfather started mining coal when he was 9 years old. All of them belonged to the unions. All of them lived in mining towns. I actually have some of the mining script that was used at the company stores. I grew up hearing stories of starting unions and the coaling mining wars that took place. No love of the Pinkertons in my family. Black lung is a real thing. I still have family there. I go back as often as I can.
If anyone is interested in the history of getting the unions started in the Appalachians and the start of the coal wars, watch a movie called “Matewan”. I took my dad to see it when it came out in 1987. Only time I ever saw him cry watching a film.