Life in a Coal Mining Town Presentation
Introductory Talk
The introduction for the presentation is an explanation of why and how Martin decided to pursue educating the public about life in coal mining towns in the early twentieth century.
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Documentary Showing
The showing of the documentary is after the introductory talk. It is a description of life in a coal mining family as Martin saw it during his childhood in the 1940s. It also includes his father’s reflections of how work was as a miner from 1928 to 1953. The documentary shows the hardships of not only the miner but also his family. There is also a description of the many variations in jobs in the underground mines. |
Artifact Explanation
During this part of the presentation, Martin discusses various pieces of equipment that were necessary for the coal miners of yesteryear. The artifacts he shows are actual pieces that were used by the miners in the early twentieth century. These include helmets, methane detectors, water canteens, lighting systems, and many other tools.
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Questions & Answers
This part of the presentation allows attendees to participate in a discussion on any of the artifacts, segments of the documentary, or any other topics including personal questions as well as general questions. Subjects often include coalmining families, their housing and schooling, purchasing food and household items at the company store, miners’ various job duties and their working conditions.