By Don Beck

The book, “Coal Mining Town of Cumberland City,” written by Dorothy Drumright, brought back many memories of years past. My memory reflects back to the early 40s when my sisters Eva, Betty, Janette and I attended a little one room school called York’s Chapel.

The community was originally known for the church until the need for a local school was realized.

The school room was pretty well packed with children of the community ranging in grades from the Primmer through 8th grade. Students walked to school from all communities surrounding the school. Some were fortunate to have a dirt road to walk on but most had a walking path through the woods or across fields. There were no school buses.

The four teachers during my years at York’s Chapel were Jim Cole, Otha Marcum, Al Cook and Otis Brown. The teachers usually “boarded” with a family in the community. Benches lined one side of the room near the teacher’s desk and a large blackboard was across the back wall of the schools.

I remember a “pot bellied” stove sitting near the center of the room. During cold weather you would hope that your assigned seat was near the stove to keep you warm but not too close.

The teacher would call one class at a time to come forward for our class session, either to the benches or the blackboard, depending on the subject of the lesson.

Near the entry door of the school room was a long shelf where each family stored their lunch buckets and the families’ drinking cups. Two buckets of drinking water were placed there also. We carried the school drinking water from my Uncle Earl York’s spring which was several hundred yards down over the hill. The teacher would choose two students to go and carry the buckets of water as needed. Most of us were thrilled when we had permission to go, a chance to play along the way.

At the back side of the school grounds were two small buildings, the toilets, boys and girls on opposite corners. Inside the entrance into the school room on each side of the door were to cardboard tags dangling on strings, one for the boys and one for the girls. The tags had “OUT” written on one side and “IN” on the other side. After getting permission from the teacher to go to the toilet you would turn the tag to “OUT” on your way out the door and flip it to “IN” when you returned back to the class room.

We had three recesses during the day, morning, noon (lunch) and one in the afternoon. The recesses were where my most vivid memories of Dorothy (Shelton) Drumright and her siblings come in.

Most usually at recess, weather permitting, we would divide up in teams. Each team captain would choose their team. We would play “Board on Deck,” or “Andy Over.” We needed some of the more athletic ones to heave the ball over the school building. Dorothy’s two brothers, John and Charles, were two of the best choices. Her sister Evelyn and I were in the same class, then Dallas and Rudy were younger.

My father and Dorothy’s father were very good friends. They both served in World War I and had a lot in common. Our families visited each other at times, which I always thoroughly enjoyed.

One visit in particular I remembered they had a washing machine powered by a gasoline motor. This was really something in those days since no one in the community had electrical power.

Dorothy went on to school and got a job in Nashville. I didn’t see her much after our grade school days.

I heard she was doing a lot of research about the area where we were raised “North Eastern Clinton County.” This summer we heard Dorothy had completed a book which she has worked on a good portion of her life.

The book entitled “The Coal Mining Town of Cumberland City, Kentucky.” The book contains genealogy, land transactions, marriages, births and deaths, business establishments, post offices, churches and so much more historical information. I am amazed at the time she has spent in talking with people to compile all the information and facts.

My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed Dorothy’s book. I have been reminded of peoples names I hadn’t thought of in years. She has answered many questions which I have always wondered about in the book.

I knew Cumberland City was a mining community but didn’t know the extent of it. I just wanted to thank you Dorothy, for all your time and effort in compiling this very interesting and informative book and bringing back so many wonderful memories.

Don Beck

Monticello, Kentucky

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The Clinton County News is seeking short, personal stories from you, our readers, for our new feature area, “Let the readers write”

Tell us about an experience that resulted in a life-long memory, something that happened during your childhood or even yesterday. No hidden agendas. No politics. No religion. Don’t try to sneak in coverage for your 3rd grader’s basketball team. No poems.

In your own words, hopefully between 300 and 600 words, submit your article, along with a photo of yourself, via email to: gpcompany@kih.net, or bring a typewritten copy in to our office at 116 N. Washington Street in Albany. If you don’t have a recent photo of yourself, we’ll make it for you.

You can also mail your submission to P.O. Box 360, Albany, KY 42602. Include an address and phone number that we can use for verification purposes only.