McRoberts, KY
VIDEO: McRoberts Residents Speaks Out
Tuesday, January 16th, 2007
This video of residents of McRoberts, KY, telling their stories about the effects of mountaintop removal mining on their homes and community was created by Appalshop.
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November 2nd, 2007 at 10:27 pm
My husband, James A. (Jimmy) Huff (03/06/36-12/9/88) was born and raised in McRoberts, Ky…First house through the tunnel, Rev Clyde & Grace Huff’s son. Junior Huff, Loretta Huff Davis, Betty Huff Thomason, Opal Huff Johnson, Roy Huff, Bobby Huff, Trish Huff Elkins,and Carolyn Huff’s brother.(house burned down a few years back). I haven’t been back since Junior Huff was killed.
I can’t believe what they are allowing the coal companies to do. Why isn’t the Kentucky legislators doing something about this or are they all on the take from the big coal companies. I’m glad my in laws aren’t alive to see this mass destruction, where they lived and raised their family.
My prayers are with all of you who have to stay.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:34 am
My father Robert was born in McRoberts in 1920. My Grandfather Fred worked the mines for over 25 years.
My father took me to McRoberts in 1980 when I was 18 years old and showed me & my sister the house he was born in.
One of my most vivid memories was driving through this lush forest…and coming round a bend in the mountain…. Only to find the entire other side of the mountain gone…. like a child tearing away the side of a sand castle.
Tragic.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
My family lived in the area for years - my Granpa, Pops, uncles, brothers, cousins and me all worked in the mines.
Names connected to our family was Blevins, Gillespie, Kelly, Henderson and Payne.
We moved out long fore the strip minin begun but I can’t believe what they’ve done to that mountain.
My brother Joe still lives nearby at Rockhouse and the rest a the family are scattered round KY, VA and WV state line areas. I’m down near Saltville now and will speak out gainst the big companies till the day I die.
Mike
April 12th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
What does anyone suggest we do for work then? Say if coal left tomorrow? What then? There is nothing…we all can’t work at Pikeville Medical Center!
July 25th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
I was born in Fleming, Ky, my father,Noah Hardrick grandfather,John Hardrick, great-uncles, Charlie Harris, Theodore Harris and other members of our family worked in the coal mines. I left Kentucky at the age of 5 but, grew up listening to the stories of Fleming, Jenkins, Cromona, Haymond,and Kona. We lived for those nights as kids growing up when my parents would talk of their childhood in Kentucky, my dad speaking of working in the mines. As we grew older I couldn’t wait to be of age to return home to see these places that they had so fondly spoke of. I’m glad I was able to visit there in the early 1970’s, oh I know things had changed but… it was still at that time such a peaceful place to visit, going to sleep with your front doors open, talking throug the night on my great- aunts porches, we don’t do that too much in a big city. We visted Jenkins, McRoberts, and of course Pound, Va, a trip I would never forget seeing we had to take someone to the bus station there, oh my… I didn’t know it could be so dark that early in the morning… As I watch the video It was so heart breaking to see what they had did to the mountain and knowing that even though I wasn’t raised there I wanted my children and grandson to see my home.I showed the video to my father who is 88 years old and it brought tears to his eyes, he said ” would you look at how they have destroyed our home” maybe something will be done, I pray that it will, for no man should destroy what has God made. I wish my family and friends the best.
God’s Blessings To You All!