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Wheelwright, Kentucky in 1946 |
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The Russell Lee Photographs |
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Several months ago, I made an exciting discovery. I discovered that the Still Pictures Branch of the National Archives has in its digital files ninety-seven excellent black-and-white 8 x 10 photographs of subjects relating to Wheelwright, Kentucky. The photographs were taken in 1946 by Russell Lee, one of the nation's best-known photographers. In that year Lee and several other photographers were commissioned by the U.S. Navy to document working conditions in the nation's coal mines and health conditions in the communities that served them. |
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Fortunately for us, Mr. Lee chose to interpret his mission broadly, and as a result, we now have an excellent photographic record of Wheelwright during its glory years. In the coming weeks, using this treasure-trove, Sam Hatcher and I will create several on-line galleries for your viewing pleasure. What you see here is only a small sample of the entire photographic file. |
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The photo at left, taken in 1946, shows the main building in Wheelwright's business section. It contained a community hall, post office, restaurant, barber shop, soda fountain, and drug store. All of the buildings were constructed by the Inland Steel Company, which owned and operated a large coal mine at Wheelwright. For a larger, less distorted version of this picture, click here. |
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The photo at right shows a crowd of miners and their families in the Wheelwright soda fountain prior to the Saturday night movie. For a larger, less distorted image, click here. |
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At left is the Wheelwright Municipal Swimming Pool. For a larger image, click here. |
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Mrs. Fain washing the breakfast dishes after her husband has gone off to work. For a larger image, click here. |
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Policeman and couple in soda fountain prior to Saturday night movie. For a larger image, click here. |
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Below is the Fain family at breakfast. When Mr. Fain worked on night shift, he had breakfast with his family. Otherwise, he and his wife ate breakfast together at 5:15 am. For a larger image, click here. |
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Harry Fain and his family liked to spend their evenings relaxing on their front porch. For a larger image, click here. |
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Ella Jane Fain (right), Harry's daughter, enjoying a coke in the soda fountain before going to the movies. The girl on the left was her cousin. For a larger image, click here. |
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Pastor of the Free-Will Baptist Church preaching to his congregation. For a larger image, click here. |
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A crowd in front of the Wheelwright movie theater. For a larger image, click here. |
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Harry and his friends putting on one of the greens of the Wheelwright Golf Course. The course was open to all employees of the Inland Steel Company. For a larger image, click here. |
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Harry putting his ball into the cup. For a larger image, click here. |
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Harry Fain talking to some visitors on Sunday morning. For a larger image, click here. |
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Geraldine Fain, daughter of Harry Fain, coal loader, setting the table for Sunday dinner. For a larger image, click here. |
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Sunday school class at Wheelwright Methodist Church. For a larger image, click here. |
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Front porch of the Harry Fain home on Sunday afternoon. Relatives and other company were frequent Sunday visitors. For a larger image, click here. |
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Below are two photos of a Local United Mine Workers Union meeting held on Sunday morning in Wheelwright High School. For a larger image, click here. |
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For a larger image, click here. |
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Guy Boone, President of local United Mine Workers union. For a larger image, click here. |
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Doorkeeper at meeting of local United Mine Workers union. For a larger image, click here. |
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Click here to view next group of Wheelwright photographs. |
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Go to Seed-Planting Exhibit |
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Back to Archive Main Page |
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Go to May House Calendar |
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Go to Oldest House in the Valley |
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Go to Friends of May House Page |
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Go to Wheelwright Gallery No. 2 |
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Robert Perry is Chairman of the Friends of the Samuel May House Photo Archive Committee. If you have any photographs which you would like to contribute to the archive, please contact him at robert.perry@kctcs.net or 606-886-3863, Extension 290. |
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