Coal Camp Life
Coin Wrappers
A rare find. This scrip was manufactured in Cincinnati, Ohio and sent to the coal fields in standard coin wrappers. The roll pictured contains 50 uncirculated dollars for Carbon Fuel at Leewood on Cabin Creek. Miners risked their lives twice to acquire this piece of fake money—— once digging coal deep underground and once getting to the mine. They walked below the company machine gun bunker pictured on page 215 of WHEN MINERS MARCH and had to hope the guards did not want some target practice! Union miners reportedly wore targets pinned to their coats….
Paper Scrip
Original paper scrip (not script, as oft misspelled) from the OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM. Paper scrip was common but not durable so mine owners tended to prefer coinage–coins could be re-used ad infinitum. Cheaper. We will post pics of metal scrip in coming weeks. Paper scrip is generally of little value today but a single piece of what appears to be scrap paper has changed much of what we thought we knew of women’s experiences in the coal camps–and their exploitation by mine operators. This unique scrap of paper, known as Esau, will be featured in upcoming posts and you can learn more about it by reading the groundbreaking book, WRITTEN IN BLOOD.
Vintage Scrip Machine
Original paper scrip (not script, as oft misspelled) from the OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM. Paper scrip was common but not durable so mine owners tended to prefer coinage–coins could be re-used ad infinitum. Cheaper. We will post pics of metal scrip in coming weeks. Paper scrip is generally of little value today but a single piece of what appears to be scrap paper has changed much of what we thought we knew of women’s experiences in the coal camps–and their exploitation by mine operators. This unique scrap of paper, known as Esau, will be featured in upcoming posts and you can learn more about it by reading the groundbreaking book, WRITTEN IN BLOOD.
See the next page for photos of the second and third artifacts.
Machine for dispersing $1 New River Coal Scrip
Scrip Catalog
The OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM shares this amazing book that catalogs more than 1000 types of company funny money (scrip) known to exist in West Virginia and a rare piece of bimetal scrip from Kentucky. Thanks to Elwood and Betty Maples for these treasures! Elwood was a long time District 29 official from southern West Virginia. The story of scrip used at the company store is no longer taboo—shucks, even schools and government funded museums mention it! But….
Reflect for a moment and ask: How/why did the most rare scrip remain hidden for so long? Why do so many still suppress/ignore/deny the other scrip, Esau? The OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM is dedicating 2023 to teaching herstory. Only when truth is told completely and unvarnished can we grasp and move our story into coming decades!
Esau
Esau was a type of scrip issued to wives and daughters of injured miners in exchange for food. It was a gift unless a miner was off work for 30 days. Then Esau became a collateralized note with human flesh serving as repayment guarantee.
The unspoken horrors of the Esau system arguably led to the size and intensity of the battles that occurred on Cabin and Paint Creeks, as well as Blair Mountain. No one talked but everyone knew…
Women shared multiple stories about a shoe room in the Whipple Company Store known as the “Rape Room.” Miners’ families typically didn’t have enough money remaining, after necessities, to afford shoes. Company guards would notice women or their children without shoes and offer to help buy new ones. The Shoe Room was located on an upper floor of the company store, away from regular traffic. Once in the room, the guard, and sometimes multiple guards, would exact payment by raping the woman. One woman recorded that her mother never wore her new shoes, or any shoes, after that experience. Instead, she would wrap her feet in newspaper, cardboard, and twine.
Mary Hott
DEVIL IN THE HILLS
There is a devil in the hills…and he’s on the loose.
He’s a mean one, those company men have the power to abuse.
If you don’t believe me…at my word,
If you don’t believe one thing you’ve heard,
Then you’re guilty too.
Mary Hott
Whipple Company Store
The Whipple Company Store as it stands in 2023….boarded up and allowing no visitors.
Devil in the Hills
Badges
The OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM is delighted to announce the recent capture and availability for display of the badges pictured. We assure all Union miners that the original owners will never again torment miners — or their wives. It is not the policy of the Red Neck Army to take prisoners. The shell (note serrations on tip) came from the Model 95 Winchester on display.
Women’s History Month
Book: The Price of Bread and Shoes
Worth the wait! This week the OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM is delighted to share Lonormi Manuel’s powerful new novel, THE PRICE OF BREAD AND SHOES, as our artifact of the week. Lonormi spent years doing her homework to confirm the conditions of women in the coal camps in the early 20th century while state government, museums, and mainstream academics look the other way or arbitrarily deny what we now know to be true. Plenty of historians are offering up cut and paste rehashed versions of our past but this is herstory uncensored. More truth here than the powerful want told!
Why were the battles to Unionize the mines so violent? This book makes clear the realities….
Take the Esau
“TAKE THE Esau”
Quit your starin’ – on my feet I’m wearin’
cardboard, rope and twine. Suits me fine.
Ain’t got no Esau scrip, won’t pay those dues.
You can’t tempt me with no pretty shoes.
I don’t want no pretty shoes. I won’t pay those Esau dues.
Esau and Jacob, brothers long ago.
Bible tells us Esau sold his soul.
Gave up his birthright, traded for a meal.
He kept from starvin’ but he got a raw deal.
His brother lied and betrayed. Took Esau’s birthright away.
Mother took the Esau, had no choice.
Had no other option, had no voice.
Kept us kids from starvin’, kept our home.
She faced the consequences all alone.
Oh, the price she had to pay. Forced to give her birthright away.
Don’t take the Esau, such a price to pay.
Don’t take my birthright away.
Mary Hott