newstraitsville

New Straitsville Post Cards

Birdseye View of New Straitsville Ohio

Another birds eye view of Straitsville

Civil War Vets of New Straitsville July 4th 1910
no names listed, anyone have names for this postcard?

New Straitsville takes pride in its past
taken from the Columbus Citizen-Journal June 13, 1974 by Ed Heinke
Submitted by Lorinda LeClain

New Straitsville, O. Here's that latest from this little village in southern Perry County that may have more pride in its heart than any other small town in Ohio.

The New Straitsville Betterment Association backed by the 947 residents, concluded its fifth and most successful Moonshine Festival with a net profit of $2000. This will complete payment on the new $1845 riding mower for the two cemeteries, with money left over for other projects-perhaps outfitting the high school band.
Betterment Association Chairman Mrs. Betty St. Clair immediately announced plans for its second "Fire and Foliage Jubilee to be held Oct. 6, 7, and 8.
Village Historian Mrs. Myrtle Wallace a spry 74 is firing off a letter to Arnold Miller president of the United Mine Workers, asking designation of New Straitsville as the birthplace of the UMW in 1899, which it was. She has tried before with previous UMW presidents without success.

Now if the UMW complies and Miller would make the requested dedication speech at Robinson's Cave in the rear of the "Kool-Way Laundry Mat" where the miners first were organized it would be the little village's third appearance on the national even international scene. There even would be a fourth-the great oil boom of 1910 when derricks dotted Main Street.

But this was far overshadowed by the moonshine-the famous "Straitsville Straights" manufactured in the coal mines during prohibition-and the largest coal mine fire in the world (still burning by the way). The foliage aspect of the October festival is, of course, obvious. the same goes for the moonshine liquor, remembered well by he older persons who were part of the 10,000-15,000 attending the festival Memorial Day.

But to younger persons, the big fire and formation of the first miners union take some explaining. You could say the miners' union stemmed from a ???? poem, published long, long ago in the New Straitsville area. It went like this:

The Miner

"Tired and hungry, he came from the mines,
Limping along with a kink in his spine.
He reaches his shack more dead than alive.
He's been in the mine from seven to five."

It was on July 19, 1870 that the New Straitsville Mining Co. laid out and dedicated New Straitsville. An edition of the New Straitsville 1870-1970 centennial magazine described conditions and events. "There was no modern equipment and the men worked long hours and dug coal out of the earth with picks then loaded it onto mine cars or wheelbarrows with shovels. The early mines were dangerous, and there were many accidents. Safety regulations were scant.

Miners were paid once a month. After the company had taken out what the miner owed at the company store there usually was little cash left for "take home" pay. One miner's monthly pay slip from Raccoon Coal Co. for the month of November 1888, shows he mined 51 tons of coal at 70 cents a ton earning a total of $35.70 for the month. He owed $24.25 at the company store and $4.00 rent for his company owned house, which was not exactly a castle. He also owed the company $2.00 for a cash advance and 71 cents for "smithing" probably because he had to get his tools repaired or his mule shod. This left him $4.74 in cash after a month of the most difficult labor. "By 1884 the working conditions, long hours and low wages were causing dissatisfaction, and uprisings were beginning. Labor unions were being talked of by men who began to meet in secret places to see what could be done.

One place was Robinson's Cave back of Main St. This is said to have been the birthplace of the United Mine Workers. Men of the Progressive Union and the Knights of Labor me there and talked unity and later met with men of surrounding communities, resulting in organization of the UMW in Columbus in 1890. The big strike of 1884 resulted, and it was a memorable date in the minds of the residents of New Straitsville. Guards were brought in by the operators to guard mine property and keep order. On Oct 13, 1884 while a great political rally was going on, a group of men who opposed the union agitation thought if they couldn't work, then no one should.

They secretly ignited bank cars oil-soaked timber and sent them into several mines around the district. It was not until several days that the fire was discovered, and when the men saw it could not be brought under control, they realized what a catastrophe was upon them. The interiors were flooded with waster and filled with dirt, but these did not quench the monster. It was like a devastating cancer eating into the heart of the valuable coal fields, leaving only scars upon the beautiful hills forever. People would come from far and near to view the spectacular scene. Many cave-ins resulted, dangerous to children and cattle. In 1938 the Government granted the WPA (Works Progress Administration $250,000 to bottle up the great fire as it enveloped 241 square miles and resulted in the loss of $50 million worth of valuable Kittaning coal. The fire was finally bottled up in the main but even on a steamy day, one may still see wisps of steam arising form crevices in the hills.

In 1939, Ernie Pyle, a roving correspondent for Scripps-Howard newspaper donned miner's apparel and went through the Lost Run Tunnel into the burning mine to get his story. Moonshine, fire, oil boom and a great union's formation-New Straitsville has lived through it all. But somehow, some way, New Straitsville again will be in the limelight of the nation if not the world. This the residents vow.