Powerful post, David, and a way to make better sense of the Miner's Lullaby.
I can't believe you went in the Trap cave. It sounds like the worst nightmare of many of us!
You might find it of interest that the last Sherlock Holmes novel, The Valley of Fear, is loosely based on the Molly Maguires and a Pinkerton detective. Of course, it portrays the coal mining union as corrupt and murderous, as Arthur Conan Doyle by that time had become a member of the English elite.
Your post also makes me wonder about the use of slate. I've gotten very interested in a lot of historical exploration by people around why there are so many classical building marvels in cities around the world from times when there was only horse and wagons. For example, https://www.youtube.com/@jonlevichannel. Where was all the product of those mines used? I never see slate house roofs, so it makes me wonder. Thoughts?
The slate from Bangor and surrounding areas comes from a vein of blue/black slate originating from the Blue Ridge and Kittatinny and is the only such vein known to exist. Every chalk board and regulation pool table in the world was made from Blue Ridge slate because of its black color and cleavability. Every house and barn was roofed with slate in this region; it was used for baths, sinks, trim and many household objects, even art. The quarrying dates to early American, but copper goes well beyond in the past.
I've always had a fascination with the subterranean world, spent my teenage years crawling in holes. Indian Echo Caverns was a skip from my school and there were many clandestine entrances, not to mention sinkholes and abandoned mine tunnels riddle Pennsylvania. I'm afraid the topic has taken hold of me, so more is coming (The Knox Mine Disaster).
It's been discussed as a strictly male phenomenon; we yearn to re-enter our mother's womb and travel the birth canal, emerging into the life-giving world of light.
Powerful post, David, and a way to make better sense of the Miner's Lullaby.
I can't believe you went in the Trap cave. It sounds like the worst nightmare of many of us!
You might find it of interest that the last Sherlock Holmes novel, The Valley of Fear, is loosely based on the Molly Maguires and a Pinkerton detective. Of course, it portrays the coal mining union as corrupt and murderous, as Arthur Conan Doyle by that time had become a member of the English elite.
Your post also makes me wonder about the use of slate. I've gotten very interested in a lot of historical exploration by people around why there are so many classical building marvels in cities around the world from times when there was only horse and wagons. For example, https://www.youtube.com/@jonlevichannel. Where was all the product of those mines used? I never see slate house roofs, so it makes me wonder. Thoughts?
The slate from Bangor and surrounding areas comes from a vein of blue/black slate originating from the Blue Ridge and Kittatinny and is the only such vein known to exist. Every chalk board and regulation pool table in the world was made from Blue Ridge slate because of its black color and cleavability. Every house and barn was roofed with slate in this region; it was used for baths, sinks, trim and many household objects, even art. The quarrying dates to early American, but copper goes well beyond in the past.
I've always had a fascination with the subterranean world, spent my teenage years crawling in holes. Indian Echo Caverns was a skip from my school and there were many clandestine entrances, not to mention sinkholes and abandoned mine tunnels riddle Pennsylvania. I'm afraid the topic has taken hold of me, so more is coming (The Knox Mine Disaster).
It's been discussed as a strictly male phenomenon; we yearn to re-enter our mother's womb and travel the birth canal, emerging into the life-giving world of light.
Very interesting. I'm fascinated by, and yet terrified for, spelunkers! Never heard the birth canal explanation.
Looking forward to more articles on this.