With the beginning of most small operated coal camps the ownership philosopy was to hurry and establish the mining of coal. Small family owned coal operations did not have the adequate capital to build a large coal operation and therefore would decide to build employee facilities on a temporary basis. These operators wanted to invest in a business that would yield high profits for a short term. Many small mining operations would give rise to the mining of coal in Eastern Kentucky. Some of these mines would employ as many as five to fifteen miners or more.
Large operators that set up operations in Eastern Kentucky, 'the coal corporations', would have a different insight and attitude in turning a high profit. Their objective would be to have more than one product as well as several other investments which could and would sustain a long term interest from the large coal reserve that existed underground. The facilities in this type of coal camp could then be constructed on a more permanent basis as was the mine operation at Lynch. Italian stone cutters were imported from Italy to cut native quarried stone.
These companies could afford to construct more permanent structures of stone, brick, glass and concrete. There was a reputation to be up held as several large mining companies throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky were now competing for good employees Therefore the architecture of these 'camps' was more ornate, the dwellings and housing more substantially standard and the commercial building included recreational facilities.
Among the largest company owned coal camps of the day, there was none in existance that was quite unique or would equal the likes of the United States Coal and Coke Company owned camp and operation that took place at Lynch. This company decided that their operation would employ the best worker to build; mine coal and maintain their model of a 20th Century coal community after exploration in the hills of Harlan County at the foot of Big Black Mountain in the Appalachian Mountain Range of forest that contained virgin timber and which adjoined the southwest border of the state of Virginia. The coal seams [in the site at Lynch named the B and C Seams] that lay under these mountain valleys could be readily exposed. Drift or slope mines which could be driven into these valley forest near the level of the coal provided an easy access to coal without the need to resort to complicated and expensive lifting apparatus.
The United States was engaged in a World War so what better way to serve the war effort than to mine and supply coal to the war machine. "The United States Government had made a request of J. P. Morgan, founder and chairman of the board, to develop coal reserves to support the war machine."
The founding planners of Lynch would build in stages. They would divide and build the mountainious valley into six seperate numbered divisions and several other sections. Developing a portion and naming it Number 1 and so followed Number 2, Number 3, Number 4, Number 5, and Number 6. Another valley section would be named Gap Branch and some of the locals would refer to other areas as 'Shack Town' and 'Gobblers Knob'. One street, in a more fashionable neighborhood was named Silk Stocking Street, by towns people, a small street with elaborate stone dwellings for mine officials such as superintendent, assistant superintendent, as well as other department heads.
This community of coal mine families was a 'melting pot of humanity' and would eventually consist of many different nationalities recruited from around the nation. The housing would consist of several different configurations. A four room double which consisted of a living room with open hearth, kitchen, and two upstairs bedrooms with an open hearth. A three room double, a living room with open hearth, kitchen and a bed room with open hearth. There were also four room bungalows and two story duplexes. All these dwelling were constructed of wood with a slate roof. The toilet facilities consisted of an 'out house' divided by a coal storage bin. Safe drinking water and electricity was provided by the 'company'. There were also boarding houses built in the No 1, No 2-3, No 5, and Gap Branch sections of town. In order to gain occupancy, the head of the house hold was required to be an employee of the company. Political favoritism was practiced in the assignment of dwellings. Blacks miners were assigned certain locations, ethnic miners another. General mine and administrative personnel still another section. Applications for housing was completed in the Employment Office and the chief personnel clerk assigned the dwelling.
Churches were important to coal companies. Churches would give permanence, respectibility and restraint. In some instances United States Coal and Coke Company would contribute the land and one half of the construction cost. The mine operators would help with the construction of one community church which was to be used by all denominations and the company would retain the title to the land on a lease basis. This arrangement would allow the company to receive revenue to pay for the construction cost and this would give leverage in church affairs. There are seven churches in Lynch. The coal miner in the church community always felt the need for a church in which he and his family could worship.
The UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: The United States Coal and Coke Company, donated the church lot and contributed half of the estimated cost for this church building. Plans for construction began in 1918 and the contract specified 1920 as a completion date. The building is of superior construction of cut stone from the surrounding mountain side. Under the auspices of the Methodist Church, South, it would be named, Lynch Community Church as it was to serve all protestant denominations. Other names of this church has been, The Methodist Episcopal, The Methodist Church. The Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethen united in the late 1960's to form the United Methodist Church. Pastors are from the Kentucky Conference.
GREATER MOUNT SIANI BAPTIST CHURCH: The Mount Siani Baptist Church dates back to 1917. The Rev. Mr. A R Cobb, a coal miner, founded the church and began services in a residence. The site on which the present church stands was leased from United States Coal and Coke Company.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH: Church of the Resurrection, Diocese of Covington, Kentucky. The building is constructed of stone, quarried from the surrounding mountain. Cut marble highlights the sanctuary. The ceiling is Gothic and the choir balcony contains a beautiful old oak organ. The stained glass windows were made in Italy.FIRST BAPTIST MISSIONARY CHURCH: This church was founded in 1919.
GOODE TEMPLE A M E ZION CHURCH: Founded in 1919.
LYNCH BAPTIST CHURCH [White]: Founded in 1927. The Greek Orthodox Catholic Church building was purchased in 1928 from the St Nicholas Eastern Rite Orthodox Greek Catholic and this building became The Lynch Baptist Church and was dedicated in 1929.
Lynch was a town entirely isolated from any outside source of entertainment. Commercial buildings consisted of the [Victory Building] YMCA or "Y". This structure was destroyed by fire in January of 1931 and was never rebuilt. This building contained a theatre, a restaurant, a barber shop, two dance floors, a bowling alley a pool and billiard tables. Lodge meetings and ethnic festival dances would be held here. Other buildings were the main ['big store'] store of the United Supply Company, two branch grocery stores and a small wood frame store know as the "Y". A garage with new car show room, a theater, three school buildings, one for blacks which provided for elementary and high school students, one for white high school students, one for white elementary school students, a main fire station-police [plant protection] office, two lamphouses, two repair shops, two mine equipment repair shops, an electric generating plant, an office - bath combination, a water filtration plant, a 132 room Hotel and a funeral parlor.
This Lynch mining complex would become the largest coal mining operation in the world and boasted of the largest coal tipple of the world and would hold the world record for coal production in a eight hour shift of worker to coal tonnage ratio.
There are reports that "Buck Jones" aka Charles F Gebhart, Ken Maynard and Tom Mix worked for the United States Coal & Coke Company building Lynch. "Buck Jones" and Tom Mix were instrumental in convincing Kent Maynard to come to Hollywood. These men became great stars of Western Movies during the 1920s and 30s. Ken Maynard was born in Indiana and was stationed at Fort Knox, KY during WWI.
Recreational facilities were furnished, a baseball field with grandstand for accomodating spectators, a community band, and there was a bowling alley located in the hotel, an ice cream parlor, on the mezzanine, over looking the drug department of the main store. Parades were sponsored on the 4th of July and Labor Day with festive activities of games and contest; children were treated with ice cream, soda and candy. The 'company' recruited baseball players with job opportunities of surface or 'outside' work. The baseball team [Lynch Bulldogs or Lynch Steelers in later years] competed against other coal mining communities. In early 1922, Vasco Barton, who managed and played for the team was drafted by Cleveland. He went directly to the Major League without farm club experience. Other stars who played at Lynch were Nobe Ballow, who went to the Washington Senators, and Earl Combs, who played for the New York Yankees. There was also a Black baseball team the Lynch Grays.
