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CADIZ -- Time flies when a group is busy making a memory of the coal industry that was a big part of Cadiz and Harrison County for years. The group of interested former miners, owners of mines and those interested in mines, stories and tales of the mules hauling out the carts loaded with the black substance, are kept alive by the Harrison Coal and Reclamation Historical Park Inc. at the annual dinner, auction and historical displays.
It was more than 25 years ago that the coal owners, coal workers and coal-minded gave thought to keeping the history of the industry that had gone on for years and made small communities of areas as such Robyville, Herrick, Piney Fork and many others. The younger generation might not have heard of the gigantic shovels, crawlers and all types of equipment that had been used to remove soil from the earth before their presentations and history of the machines.
They started a small park in the Cadiz area, but the displays had to be moved because a business was to be established there. They traveled a little more than one mile west of New Athens to find a new home. They have moved on now to the official Harrison Coal and Reclamation Historical Park, located on state Route 519 between U.S. Route 22 and New Athens. There are crawlers, construction and mining equipment, operating equipment for digging and moving large amounts of the earth and old trucks, big in size to hold a load of dirt.
Technically, it should be the 26th dinner and auction, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellation of the 25th event last May.
The event will be held Saturday at the Hopedale Social Hall. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the dinner will begin at 5 p.m., with the auction at 7 p.m. The meal consists of chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, noodles, green beans, salad and dessert, Claren Blackburn, a past president of the group, said. For tickets, contact Blackburn at (740) 937-2461 or Marilyn Monzula at (740) 942-3895.
Two big auction items after the dinner will be the Dave Barnhouse paintings, one of which is “The Pike Inn.” It’s a limited edition of a restaurant that provided fabulous steaks and pasta for wonderful dining. The restaurant was first owned and operated by the Gentile family and then Blanche and Domenick Topazio, who ran it for 31 years. Located on old Route 22 between Hopedale and Bloomingdale, it attracted customers from Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Cleveland and many other areas. The canvas “Old Friends” also will be up for auction. There will be shovel and mining pictures, Hanna magazines, mugs, baseball caps, carbide lamps, patches and other items for sale along with the usual items of imprinted T-shirts from the group, ball caps, mining photos, door prizes and a 50/50 drawing. Jay Kolenc, a Vietnam veteran, member of the Jefferson and Harrison County Veterans Association, was the winner of the 50/50 the last time the dinner was held. He shared his winnings with Darla Hoagland.
Dusty Welch, president, mentioned the death of Martin McKim, who served on the board of directors. He and his brother, David, started McKim Coal Co. in the Adena area and he joined the HCRHP in 1988. He later purchased Dal Watterson’s late 1930-40s Lorain shovel that operated each year at the Old Construction and Mining Equipment Show. He served on the Ohio Reclamation Board of Review for several years.
Welch noted that there is some donated equipment that needs to be transported. Anyone who could transport it, should contact him at (330) 401-5129 or Amy Welch at (330) 401-9881.