In its booming 'hey' day 'the company' employed ten thousand employees and was serviced by a subsidary - United Supply Company which consisted of a chain of stores - a central department store, [Big Store] two satellite grocery stores [Little Stores] and a novelty store also know as the "Y". There was also a company owned Hotel, Movie Theatre, Gas Station and a Country Club with an adjoinning three par nine hole golf course, a Bank and Post Office Building, an Elementary school building and two High School Buildings - separate for Blacks - but equal.
There was also a Hospital for medical care of the miners as well as the mine family. Doctors were under contract to perform what ever medical procedures that were necessary. The 'company' [U S Steel] sold their hospital operation to the Sisters of Notre Dame and in later years the non-profit Sisters sold their interest to individuals. The Union [United Mine Workers of America] established a closed shop and built a chain of Hospitals [Appalachian Regional Hospitals] also known as Miners Memorial Hospitals through out the mining communites of West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky. UMWofA members were issued 'Welfare' ID Cards. A regional hospital was built in Harlan, Kentucky which provided health care to miners of Eastern Kentucky. These UMWofA regional hospitals were later sold to private interest groups.
The monitary exchange of this mine community consist mainly of scrip issued to employees, identified by name and mine check number exchanged for purchases at the 'company' owned stores. A line of credit could also be established with these company stores. The total mine operation was owned lock stock and barrel by the 'company' and wages were paid in United States Currency on a semi-monthly basis. The 'company' maintained the real estate, repairing painting, as well as right of way vegetation clearing. A four room house with an 'out house and coal bin' combination could be rented for $12 per month and a ton of coal could be purchased for two dollars. Plant protection officers served as the law enforcement agency for the community.
The school system was owned and operated by the company. The administrative personnel and teachers were interviewed by the superintendent of schools, who was appointed and hired by the company and therefore independent of county politics and accredited by the State of Kentucky Secondary Education Department. The Elementary and High School closed in the 1980's and this school system was merged into the Harlan County Schools.