Life in the mining community of Cokedale (part 3 of 3)

Life in the mining community of Cokedale (part 3 of 3)

Margolis, Eric, 1947

McMahan, Ronald L

5/22/78

Emilio came to Colorado in 1910 from Italy and began working the coke ovens. He describes this and other jobs in some detail, including working both with mules and machinery. He speaks of the bathhouse and union activities at the local saloon. After WWI he met Gertrude in occupied Germany and eventually they married, though they had no language in common. Cokedale did not experience the violence that other towns did during strikes. The couple doesn't mention any harsh treatment from the coal company. Gertrude remembers the close-knit community, baking bread in outdoor ovens, dancing at summer parties, involvement in school activities, and the Victory gardens of the Depression. People had good times in spite of having little money. Everyone was friendly and ethnic background played no role. Mining ended around 1947 and many inhabitants moved away, while others bought the company house they lived in and stayed. Video interview resumes on pg. 62 of pdf transcript; 10:00 -- Mr. Ferraro discusses the effect when Kaiser closed their coke ovens (pg. 69 of pdf transcript); 20:00 -- Retirement in the early 1950s, sharing pictures from their early married life (pg. 73 of pdf transcript); 30:00 -- Use of mining machinery (pg. 76 of pdf transcript); 40:00 -- Interviewing Mrs. Malovich about life in Cokedale (pg. 80 of pdf transcript); 50:00 -- She describes changes since Cokedale was a busy town with coke ovens in operation (pg. 81 of pdf transcript); 60:00 -- Her memories of 1913-1914 strike, the Ludlow Massacre, and the 1927 strike (pg. 87 of pdf transcript).

Coal mines and mining

Quality of life--United States--History

Coal miners--Personal narratives

Coking coal--United States

United States--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century

Husband and wife--United States--History

Interviews

Plains to Peaks Collective

moving image

https://cudl.colorado.edu/luna/servlet/detail/UCBOULDERCB1~76~76~1102643~285530