Coeburn, Virginia: In the Coalfields of Appalachia

[@randyyork771]

Toms Creek .... that place is burned into my brain. Best place on earth for me to be a kid in the 60's. The brick building in the 60's was used to repair mine cables. The men that worked there would give us leftover tape to make baseballs. Right behind the large round tepel is where our house stood. We lived in the Supervisors house from where Toms Creek was a small mining town with over 3500 people living there in the early 1900's. Just watching your video makes me feel like a 10 year old playing in the coal piles. And some of my favorite spots haven't changed in over 50 years. Thank You, Randy

[@GeorgeSawtooth]

Beautiful town and another great video.

[@realappalachia]

thank you so much, George!

[@pvjohnson52]

Nice little town. Thanks for sharing

[@tonykiss]

Spent a lot of time there as a kid visiting my grandparents. thanks for the visit yall.

[@realappalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it, Tony

[@Redstagwsmnp]

I miss Coeburn. And the coal train running right next to Great Grandma's house. We walked the tracks to pick up coal

[@tonykiss]

Walked those tracks too! That train ran next to the home of my grandfather and grandmother. He was Dr HW Clement.

[@dianaoneil5469]

Always enjoy your videos and learning about Va, Ky, WV. Beautiful small little towns.

[@donlove3741]

Father grew up 40s in Toms Creek. Mom grew up on top of the mountain. VICCO was the company " in the 50s and 60s Virgina Iron Coal and Coke Tracy Stallard dated mom in HS. Reddy Kilowatt ! Electricity to power the world.

[@realappalachia]

Thanks for all that info

[@pamlove421]

Hey, my mom & dad grew up there too! Wait, that's right, you're my brother 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@donmeade1481]

Coeburn is my home town. Lived on top of the mountain, Sandy Ridge, above Tom's Creek.

[@conniehughes2532]

Was watching your show on coburn thanks for naming Tracy stallard he's a cousin of mine has since passed away

[@WilliamMoneyhun]

My dad was from Tom's Creek, grew up in Coeburn. When he was a kid, he named the local school team. The Blue Knights.

[@realappalachia]

One of the better local team names

[@MsRybak1]

Love your videos. Your such beautiful people!

[@realappalachia]

Thank you so much, Don

[@damiensullivan440]

I love seeing good old fashioned industry still in operation . Coal fields , steelworks , ship yards and car factories , the back bone of any nation . Wonderful channel to watch as a Brit .

[@1940limited]

Me too. I love coal. I'm glad to see an operation still going. We need more of that.

[@janicebell1666]

Thanks for this tour of my home area..my family from Dante, VA.....we always went to Coeburn, Norton, St. Paul for shopping..also the Tri-Cities..my families still live in the areas....My grandparents lived in St. Paul and Dante. Every summer...I stayed in the area from May-September...I live in Bronx, NY..I still love my southwest Va.........Beautiful autumn mountains during this time of year!..God Bless!...

[@EleanorHammond-k4m]

Coeburn Va was the best place to live ❤❤❤ I loved it ❤️❤️

[@pamlove421]

100% of my family comes from Coeburn, VA. The majority of my mom's siblings moved to southern & northern Ohio. Pretty much all my dads siblings stayed in Coeburn. I have been a lifelong visitor to the area. I was there in August for a family reunion. You did a great job highlighting that sweet town! 👍✌🇺🇸

[@realappalachia]

Thank you so much for the kind words, we appreciate the support and glad you think we did Coeburn justice

[@lostonwallace1396]

"Reddy Kilowatt" is the name of the little cartoon electricity character. He's a public domain character used by Appalachian Power and many, many other electricity conglomerates across the United States. I always thought that Clintwood and Coeburn were similar towns, but with Coeburn having those little bridges across the river to distinguish itself. I used to buy comics from the old Ben Franklin Store in Coeburn, and back in 1978, I got my first pair of glasses there. There wasn't any sort of eye care doctors in Clintwood back then. Don't know if there are even today, really? I left the area back in '93, so a lot has changed, but I'm not particularly up on all that has.

[@FrankJSmith76]

My wife and I used to live up on Sandy Ridge, which is past Tom's Creek. Your video brought back memories. However, you missed Coeburn Presbyterian Church. I was the pastor there from 2001 to 2004. Nice folks and good theology will await you there.

[@mikebass9943]

Y,all sure are pumping them out, and I am truly thankful . You two light up this dark world , and Melody made me laugh when she said woodbooger, here in Florida he's known as the skunk ape ,or my brother in law, but thats just between us ok. Love in Christ Mike

[@kayreid9788]

what caused this coal at great amount not all mountains have coal this what God allowed . Ronald Reid

[@BFTEgodswarrio5939]

Mike hahaha we gots jokes, Mike wait till Thanksgiving day dinner we'll see who has jokes Mike can't wait to see you then. Mama gots something to say to you too Mike bring your jokes funny boy 🙄✌🖖

[@beach2986]

The Allegheny mountains of western Pennsylvania are part of Appalachia. Would you consider doing a video there?

[@realappalachia]

Absolutely. We hope to keep growing and expanding as time goes on! - Melody

[@barbarahuffmansaunders2478]

Come visit narrows VA love to see you here

[@realappalachia]

We will put that on the hit list

[@peggy6126]

Hey y'all from DCCaney Ridge Coeburn VA. Transplant here , husband originally from Clintwood.

[@realappalachia]

Howdy to you

[@johnwhite993]

I grew up in Bristol and Lebanon. Sure do miss my mountains

[@billkitchin4123]

You two always riding around on a sunny day. Great videos. 😎🇺🇸

[@TraceDixon-su4wh]

I love your series! Keep up to the good work. FYI...the character on the Old Dominion Power sign is "Reddy Kilowatt".

[@tylerrobinson2074]

Actually that tipple was built by Vriginia Iron Coal and Coke in 1977 and that building that was falling down was a cable repair shop for the mines

[@Flightline_fanatic]

I love all your videos, but this is by far my favorite. Thank you.

[@1940limited]

Nothing like Jewell Valley, is it?

[@realappalachia]

No, Jewell Valley is about as rough as it gets

[@debbieepperly3821]

Was in St. Paul as an itty bitty kid to watch my brother pitch at a minor league baseball game! Been thru Coeburn & into Norton to a racetrack that used to be there...thinks it's closed now...but it's been years ago! Melody, you looked so cute in that big ol' rockin chair! Every time there's a video, I look for the Dollar General! Lol! Seems like one in every town! Enjoyed this ride y'all & of course the history! I love "riding along" with y'all! Thanks so much & God bless! Stay safe! 🤗

[@heatherfulmore3412]

A Dollar General is in almost every town.

[@heatherfulmore3412]

A Dollar General is in almost every town.

[@rhondawomble9036]

Grew up and still live in Big Stone Gap, VA. It's only 30 minutes from Coeburn. My daddy, Papaw and uncle's were coal miners. They worked hard to give their families what they needed. Proud to be a Coal Miners Daughter ❤ Blessed to live in this part of God's, to be from a small town where love knows no bounds. Thank you for your video and showing us respect. Contrary to what other's think.. we're not just a bunch of dumb hillbilly hicks.

[@larrym.johnson9219]

Good to see, Thanks Shane and Melody.

[@jtq69]

My grandmother loved the Frostie Bossie. They had one in Big Stone Gap and I always to go there and bring her a chili dog and milkshake. Great memories. Excellent video you two keep up the great work!!

[@pamlove421]

If anyone is an RVer or camper there is a nice inexpensive campground in Coeburn called Lonesome Pine Campground. It's a no frills place with nice secure campgrounds & very friendly folks! It's less than 1/4 mile from the Pizza Hut & LJS. ✌🇺🇸

[@averagewhiteboy6320]

its crazy i used to live in coeburn for about 13 years. now im in Okinawa Japan. time flys makes me home sick.

[@realappalachia]

Sounds like those are worlds apart.

[@kingofthecatnap6246]

I just came across your channel, excellent content, subscribed! My family, WV tri-state Wayne Co. Thank you!

[@realappalachia]

Thank you so much, welcome to the family

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

I sure would be scared to drive under those escalators (?). But, what gorgeous country. I would live happily ever after in a place like that.

[@zing913945]

I really enjoyed this video ! Coeburn isn't all that far from where I lived for a couple years outside Christiansburg Va. This was way back when in the 1970s . On weekends and holidays while working for the state, we used to pick up extra hours or comp time hauling coal to a power plant beside what used to be VPI now Va tech, in Blacksburg. In the winter, we were spreading salt and scraping snow off the roads. I had a good friend in Princeton too ! Go Gobblers

[@1RyanDaugherty]

Folks performing maintenance inspections and repairs on those belt lines get their workout in and then some. We had some similar to those at one of the now retired coal fired power plants I operated at and walking up one of those belt lines was always an adventure, Even more arduous when you had a roller fail and start a fire, then you had to make that hike in low visibility with turnout gear and an air pack on, what joy!

[@johnnielson7676]

There must be something special in the water there for the town to have two great artists both of the stature of Dr. Ralph Stanley and Jesse McReynolds. I’ve sat in the front row of many of both of their shows soaking in the beautiful music

[@realappalachia]

They definitely were fantastic, hope to see more talent spring up from the area

[@danielarmstrong9219]

The Frosty Bossie is a great place for ice cream! As well as The Hob Nob near Gate City.

[@Blacksheep-Ba-Ba]

I'm getting to retire. I'm looking in Virginia. My kids are in NC- however I prefer the distance. I will be coming from massachusetts but leaving the Democrat politics in massachusetts. I want peace and quiet. I am a hospital worker so I will need something that has peace but a place I can work part time. Any ideas?

[@realappalachia]

I would guess Abingdon or Wytheville would be your best bets

[@ebolawarrior451]

As someone who’s been here on and off for 39 years I’d say Abingdon you’d like, possibly wytheville like op said but abingdon is more cityish. Explore the area though because you can live 30 mins from work and it won’t take you 2 hours to get to and from every day like it does up there.

[@Blacksheep-Ba-Ba]

@@ebolawarrior451 listen I'm going to keep your information because I want to get some perspectives from people who live in those areas. I'm not going to be able to leave for 6 months because I have to finish my 6-month commitment to the hospital I'm working at, but trust me as soon as I'm at least a month from getting ready to leave- you'll hear from me again and we will definitely talk about stuff that's going on in those areas I seriously don't want to be in the city I want quiet at this point. I've been in the city here in Boston my whole life and I've had it!. thank you so much for getting back to me your information is quite valuable to me! Will talk again soon

[@beachbum9869]

Such a cute little town. Really enjoyed this video. Thanks.

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much

[@brendalane4228]

Yes, Jim passed away in 2002. The McReynolds brothers, Jim and Jesse, were a great bluegrass group. I had the pleasure of seeing them at Richlands High School somewhere around 1969 when they came to our town for a show. You have never met two nicer gentlemen in your life than these two. So sad to learn that Jim had passed away from cancer. Jesse has continued to perform all these years since.

[@donclark8484]

I live in Somerset County Pennsylvania we have a working call cleaning plant in Brotherton Somerset County. And we are only 5 to 6 miles to flight 93 if you’ve ever been there.

[@realappalachia]

Havent been there yet but would love to

[@1940limited]

Who owns that house with all the stairs? I hope it's not the only way to get into the place.

[@virginiavarble7818]

I live in ohio now but im from coeburn. I graduated class of 1995 at coeburn high. Go blueknights.

[@1940limited]

I've always had an interest in the Appalachian region of the country but have never been there. But I'm a Yankee and I've been told people down there don't take to strangers too much. At least that's what I was told about some of the poor areas of Kentucky. My "northern accent" would give me away in a second. :-)

[@audramatney1148]

Coal keep the lights on God bless the miners

[@johnmarshall2648]

I was told the old the old buiding there was the commisary, from the time when Toms Creek was more than just a coal operation. Used to be homes, businesses, and even a hospital there, but not in my lifetime.

[@pamlove421]

It sure was a commisary/store & there sure were houses around. My dad grew up there & my uncle was one of the last ones kicked off the area for strip mining. I remember going to that store & getting RC Colas & Pet ice cream in the mid 60s to early 70s! ✌🇺🇸

[@mikeanderson7165]

Really appreciate you guys 🇺🇸love the coal mine operation

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much!

[@laurascorner-f1m]

Good times down there lol I miss it... Y'all been to haysi too?

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Coal Trucks.... Is part of the Appalachian region

[@walterlangston7866]

in pax you see lots of coal trucks just about 7 miles from my house

[@shigella63]

Well done.

[@judypierce7028]

Mike Bass is quite correct with his comment. You are in a beautiful part of Virginia. Hope you had a great time. Any thirdary roads??

[@raymatthews4319]

Is that the coal mine east of Coeburn on rt58? If it is I remember my father driving past it in 1973 on the way home from Ralph Stanley's bluegrass festival in McClure. I believe the miners were on strike at the time.

[@ebolawarrior451]

Two years late but that’s the wash plant at toms creek if you came across from McClure you went past it. Deep 44 is over in McClure but I don’t think it was open back then.

[@brendalane4228]

Is this where the coal haulers bring the coal to have it cleaned?

[@realappalachia]

Yes, Brenda, it is

[@christopherrichard2606]

Do a video on Williamson,WV

[@crystalthechurchmousestitc1888]

Hi Shane and Melody. This is a beautiful little town and I love seeing coal still being mined. However, I prefer it to be shipped on the railroad rather than in trucks. If I remember correctly, and I am not exactly sure of the spelling, the advertising mascot of the electric company is called Reddi Kilowatt. I had a charm on my bracelet years ago depicting him that my aunt was given in home ec class when a representative from the electric company gave a presentation and gave the charms as mementos. I always thought he was so cute.

[@plumcreekfarms8138]

Truck drivers need the work as well.

[@1940limited]

I was thinking the exact same thing! I'd rather it was shipped by rail. There's still coal trains in Kentucky. A guy with a You Tube channel posts videos of them quite a bit.

[@carty120]

Use to be a cable shop

[@realappalachia]

Thanks for clearing us up on that one

[@belindalevy3564]

Eastside High School One Act Team is a 7-time consecutive state champion!! They compete in a super-region competition this weekend! Wish them luck

[@randykey5700]

We certainly enjoyed the video! It’s great to see the coal being mined ! Every time I mail my AEP bill I write on the back of the envelope BUY MORE COAL!!! I’ve done this for several years!! Coal brings jobs!!! Take care and we’ll catch y’all later! Keep up the great work!

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much, I like the idea about telling them to buy more coal. This area could sure use the jobs.

[@marshalljimduncan]

12:44 That's Paul Bunyan. He once carried an Axe in his arms.

[@tonimactavish9937]

I loved it!

[@djkrik]

Colburn is were were the famed Stanley Brothers Ralf and Carter put the drive in bluegrass music that is there birthplace

[@benniesteffey7487]

Frosty Bose is where you all should have eat at

[@lancemumford3106]

I had to laugh when I saw Melody in the giant rocker. She looks like a little kid.

[@SouthernGospelGal62]

Love me some Frosty Bossie 👍🏻

[@webrunner2407]

If you have not found the answer to your question about the little electric sign guy I believe you may be thinking of 'Reddy Kilowatt'.

[@realappalachia]

Bless you, I love that name

[@joesullivan6265]

I was just up there driving around. What camera do you use to record the drive?

[@meberatubelay4487]

Enoch/hanoche spoke of the fallen angels lead by azazel and simjaza and others. Eventually banned from heaven by Yahuah-God for corrupting men and sleeping with earthly women. They are now intombed in the earth then will be released in the end times. May the most high Yahuah-God bless you all.

[@dodgeramsport01]

Reddy Kilowatt

[@jeanneshannon5607]

Rosannadannadana!!

[@jeanneshannon5607]

Sorry..Edith Ann, Lily Tomlin in the rocking chair

[@walterlangston7866]

was in pemberton west Virginia and cud not say the name mad for funny video

[@benniesteffey7487]

Hi