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     My name is Gertie Ellen Eachus.  I was born 4-4-1934 at
Barwick, Ky., in Breathitt County.   I was 12 years old when I moved to Kenvir,Ky. in 1946 from Dayton, Oh.   along with brother Taylor Stidham. My parents were Palmer and Margaret Lalie Neace Stidham.
I attended Black Mountain School 1946-1949 where I graduated  from the 8th grade  and  enrolled at Evarts High school in 1950. The school picture was taken in 1947 at age 13. I now reside in Dayton, Oh. Montgomery County, at the same address for 38 years. Raised my children here. Three beautiful daughters, one wonderful son and lots of   grand children. I lost my Husband, Glenn,  in 1998.
 

Gert's new front porch - 2002
 

Gertie age 4, Bonny Blue, Va.
 
 

Gertie, age 13, at Kenvir in 1947.

Gertie - 1948

Gertie, Buddy and daddy Stidham

Taken at trash dump below #1 camp in 1946
 

Gertie's parents in the Ky Explorer

 
 

Gertie with grand daughter Gracie- May 2000
 

Gertie's three daughters
Linda-Brenda-Peggy

Gertie's four children

Linda Gail ,Brenda Carol, Jimmy ,  and Peggy Sue.

 
 

Gert's Christmas Gang
 
 
 

Gert's home in Dayton, Ohio
 

Gertie Ellen Eachus - 2001

 
Gertie's NEW Picture Album   -updated Jun 8, 2008

Gertie's article in Sept-2000 issue of Ky Explorer

"The Kentucky Explorer"

"I Remember"

Remembering Kenvir, Ky.

   I wanted to continue my memories of Kenvir, Ky. My Friend,
   Glenn Wagers Robbins, helped me with this article.

        Kenvir is located in Harlan county ,which is in the
southeastern part of Kentucky. Kenvir is also known as Black
Mountain by the local residents. It is about three miles
east of Evarts , Kentucky.. It seems that Kentucky and
Virginia both had claimed the area which eventually became
known as Kenvir.In the end, Kentucky ended up with the land.
Because of the dispute, it is said that the first three
letters of Kentucky(Ken) and the first three letters of
Virginia(Vir) were joined to make up the name Kenvir. The
school was known as Black Mountain. I've seen wonderful
pictures of the school as it sets atop the hill, standing
out in view. Like the saying, "A city set on a hill cannot be
hid", showing the the winding road that led up to it.The
school had wonderful programs for it's students. I haven't
forgotten the the girls' home economics class. We learned
how to sew and the shortcuts to sewing. We learned how to
iron a shirt and blouse,and how to be a clean house-keeper.
We learned the ingredients of a pie crust, and how to make a
cherry pie. We,d get to sample the pie when it was done. The
guys on the other hand had their own programs to enjoy.
Kenvir was a great, booming place for the coal mines. My
father worked in the coal mines there from 1946-1950. Though
his wages were small we endured those days with dignity. The
houses were constructed well and populated with wonderful
people. The homes in Camp#1 had four rooms with a front
porch.The row my family lived in faced toward the camp's
dump,looking west. We had running water, but no indoor
plumbing for bath and toilet facilities. For baths,we used a
galvanized washtub. Our family didn't own a refrigerator,
Only an ice box. It had a round piece on top like a wheel.
Every week, the iceman would come with a block of ice,
carried by sharp like scissors. The ice was 50 cents.Our
heat in winter was a fireplace. Outside toilets were every
row of houses , one to each two families. When the cleansing
time came for them, sanitation workers would do their work
at night , while everyone was in bed. We could hear the
roaring of the motors of the trucks doing their job. Mr.
Hatmaker was the man who drove the rolling store on wheels,
with all the goodies. He should be well remembered by
everyone. he brought food to us at reasonable prices. His
counter was up in front , and we could stepup into a bus to
be get waited on. He'd be ready with a smile,for us to buy
something good. It was sort of like ice cream trucks are
today. Glenn Wagers Robbins describes his memories of Kenvir
like this: As you crossed the old railroad tracks,near the
the coal tipple,going straight was the road to camp#2, the
school etc., Making a hard left would put you in front of
the company store, which was on the right side. The first
door on the right was for the main store. The next door to
the left was the butcher shop,the third  and last door was
the post office. There was no self service in the
store."Glenn remembers handing his grandmother's shopping
list to Mr.Howell (the clerk) who would pull the order.
There was a large lot to the left of the store, with gas
pumps near the walkway. To the back was the bridge across
the creek, with the boardinghouse first, Rexall drug store
to the left , and the saloon was last. The theatre was to
the left of the lot, and the soda fountain was to the left
of the theatre. The soda fountain was called the
confectionary store. Next was the restaurant and then the
Dr's office Camp. Our families lived in camp#1, past the
Doctor's Office camp. A small bridge led over into the
Camp#1. Glenn told me that walking home at night,after a
movie with no streetlights, it was a real adventure; that
is, if it were a moonless night. Glenn tells how he
remembers that at Christmas time, he would help pass out the
brown bags of fruit and candy for the children of Kenvir.The
occasion took place near the company store. he said by the
time he helped pass them out, there would be none left for
him he would go home empty handed. Glenn left Kenvir in
1947, to pursue other interests. He later joined the
U.S.Navy and was assigned to the ship: USS Twinning (DD540)
in San Diego, California. My family left Kenvir in 1950,
moving back to Hazard, Perry County, Kentucky, Now out of
the coal mines, my father Palmer, worked on a road being
built up Cutshin, kentucky, with Claude Booth. Yet the
memories of Kenvir linger with us. A great part of Kentucky
is alive in our hearts and mind When Bill Monroe sang, "Blue
Moon Of Kentucky, Keep on Shinning,". It was for every part
of Kentucky, even Kenvir, the place Kentucky got to keep as
its own.

Gertie Ellen "Stidham" Eachus
32 N.Horton Street
Dayton,Oh.45403
 937/252-8453

Email:Peache2532@aol.com
 

 

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