Thanks for the pictures Liz. I always wanted to down in the mines when I was little but girls were not allowed as it was considered bad luck. The first woman to go below (at least where my Dad worked and maybe actually THE first in any, was Elenore Roosevelt. She visited the mines where he worked and wanted to go so guess you didn't say no to the Presidents wife. My Great Grandfather (below), Grandfather, Daddy and one brother were all coal miners. My brother thankfully for only about 15 years. When I was little the mines were frequently idle for several days a week which made for rather difficult times unless seasonal work could be found in the orchards. I remember my Daddy's bucket and there were three sections, occasionally he would leave a bite or two in it for me as it always had a very distinct taste that I liked after being in it all day. There wasn't a company store but most grocery stores ran credit accounts.
My Great Grandfather was, in addition to being a miner, a fairly notorious person during the troubled times in Williamson County.