Alabama Mining Museum
Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
When stepping into the Alabama Mining Museum in Dora, Alabama, one may sense a warm and welcoming atmosphere fostered by friendly and knowledgeable staff members Bonnie Groves, Dina Pozak, and Steven Thomas. This trio and their dedication to sharing the rich history of the mining industry in Alabama creates an experience that educates visitors and leaves them with an appreciation for the region's heritage and the individuals who shaped it.
"You must remember how important mining was in this area, and they wanted a museum to commemorate and display what had gone on years before. We mostly display things that were used before the 1940s," Steven explains.
Three of the museum's most popular displays include The Coal Car, The Blacksmith Shop, and The Shotgun House.
The Coal Car
The Coal Car was donated to the museum by the Cupps Coal Yard. Bonnie says visiting children love seeing the coal and fossils from one of the coal yard's creek beds. The Coal Car was attached to a mule and pulled along the tracks, carrying miners and coal in and out of the mines.
Men typically carried picks, shovels, and lunchpails. Their lunchpails held water in the bottom, and the middle sections contained foods such as cornbread, sweet potatoes, biscuits, and white meat. Miners also affixed small lights to their hats to illuminate the dark recesses of the mines.
The Blacksmith Shop
The tools showcased here come from a historic blacksmith shop in Barney, Alabama. Blacksmiths held crucial roles in the mining community, as they shod and harnessed the mules that pulled the Coal Cars. They were also responsible for making and repairing tools used for mining.
One notable blacksmith, Victor Hugo Sargent, served at the Barney mines from 1934 until their closure. After two years of training under his father-in-law, Felon O. Ware, Victor assumed charge of the shop upon Felon's retirement. This fascinating exhibit at the museum was generously donated by Victor's grandsons, Marty and Mike.
The Shotgun House
The Shotgun House represents an essential part of mining history. Mining communities were home to miners and their families, strategically located close to the mines and the commissary. The house showcased at the museum was constructed in the early 1900s using wood sourced from the Stalnaker Store and House in Bradley Town, Alabama.
A visit to the Alabama Mining Museum offers a unique opportunity to delve into the coal mining industry of the early 1900s, trace its evolution through the years, and gain insights into life within a historic Alabama mining community. 78
The Alabama Mining Museum is located at 120 East St, Dora, AL 35062 and is open Tuesday through Friday, 9 A.M. to 12 P.M.