To any that know me, they are aware that I have been involved with the coal mining business for over 25 years. The history of coal mining fascinates me as do the artifacts and people involved in the early mining industry. Imagine my surprise to find that a jewel of yesteryears mining was restored and located within a 40 minute drive of me. I made my first, of many, trips to the Barthell Coal Camp in April of 2004 and met the nicest people in the world that own and run this beautiful and unique part of American history. To my knowledge this is the only known restored coal mining camp in the United States and is located in the beautiful Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. This is the flagship camp of the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company and was built in 1902. To date, the Barthell Camp includes the Doctor's Office, the Barber Shop, the Bath House with the original shower room, 3 of the original mine openings that you can visibly see into, a Machine Shop, a School House/Church combination, The Company Store, a Pavilion for singing and dancing, Granny's House, a Motor House which contains one floor of antique cars, a museum and lounge for overnight guests on the second floor, and meeting rooms on the third floor. There is also a restaurant that serves three meals a day, a gift shop, and personal tours. Oh, least I forget, there is also 12 restored “camp houses” that are available for your overnight or weekly stay. Everything here is located on the original sites, the houses, the store, even the “out houses” are all located as originally as possible. In the words of the man who made this possible, Mr.Harold "Sonny" Koger, “With love and hard work, we have reconstructed the Barthell Coal Mining Camp from old photographs along with oral and written history”.

Barthell Coal Mining Camp

R10-17-04 - Company Store & Miners Houses	R10-14-04 - Bathouse, Diner, Office	R10-5-04 - Miners Houses
R7-10a-04 - Coming into Mine Camp	R7-3a-04 - Diner, Bathouse, Office	R8-14-04 - Main Mine Entrance
R8-15-04 - Main Mine Entrance	R8-17-04 - Company Store	R8-5-04 - Overlook of Diner, Office, Dr's Office

R8-8-04 - Cutting Machine	R9-10-04 - Schoolhouse/Church	R9-17-04 - Company Store & Paunch Creek
R9-6-04 - Inside Schoolhouse	R10-6-04 - Miners House	R7-13a-04 - Pony Mine Car
R7-24a-04 - Museum	R7-4a-04 - Museum, Meeting Rooms	R8-18-04 - Company Store

Coal Camp Layout

A cd of these photos, plus more (284 total), is available for $25. Contact me below.
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© 2004-2006 Carter Photography
Gary W. Carter
380 Ridgewood Drive
Somerset, Kentucky 42503
Phone : (606) 678-7541
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