Centennial celebration begins Thursday

The Harlan County Historical Network has arranged a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the start of rail shipments of coal from the county.

The Coal and Rail Centennial will kick off Thursday with a series of events in downtown Harlan, including a meal for miners and retired railroaders; performances by local groups and speeches beginning at 5 p.m. at the courthouse; and, beginning at 6:30 p.m., an ice-cream social and presentations on railroad history at the Harlan depot.

Volunteers also organized a display of coal-themed art and hope to arrange other events in coming months.

The network is working with local businesses to issue scrip, the company currency that coal companies used to pay workers in the first half of the 20th century.

For more information, call Larry LaFollette at (606) 589-3131. The historical network also has set up a Facebook page: Facebook.com/login/setashome.php?ref=login#!/groups/176028185758024.

Bill Estep