MilitiaHillWorkNov2015

Restoration of Fort Anderson on Militia Hill by Coal Creek Scholars and other volunteers Saturday, 14 November 2015 If you want to see TONS more photos of the day visit Flickr at: www.flickr.com/photos/95516223@N08/sets/72157658913228203	At the completion of our work, volunteers surround the cannon which is aimed at the town of Coal Creek just like during the Coal Creek War
Coal Creek Scholars learned today that a job gets done quickly when you have lots of volunteers to help. That’s what happened on the cold Saturday morning of 14 November 2015 when twelve Scholars and eleven other volunteers continued the on-going restoration work at Fort Anderson on Militia Hill. Each of the students had been there before as part of their annual history field trip at Briceville School. Some even helped plant American chestnuts or place mulch in the parking area, while others had helped install the eleven historical markers around the property as shown at http://www.coalcreekaml.com/HistoricMarkersNov2012Install.htm and http://www.coalcreekaml.com/MilitiaHillMarkerInstall.htm, so they knew the historical significance of the site.	Girls don't need chainsaws!
	What most had not seen before was the new cannon emplacement. With its strategic location overlooking the Wye Gap in Walden Ridge and the town of Coal Creek, artillery at Fort Anderson could control access to the valley during the Coal Creek War. That scene was on display today. Convicts were first brought to Coal Creek in 1877 to replace striking Welsh miners in the Wye Community. More Coal Creek miners lost their jobs in 1891 when convicts were brought to mines in Briceville. Coal Creek miners met with Governor Buck Buchanan about losing their jobs, but were told that Tennessee had a revenue problem and needed the convict lease system. Elected officials offered no help, so Coal Creek miners captured guards and convicts, put them on trains to Knoxville, and burned convict stockades. Each time, miners sent telegrams to the Governor, informing him that convicts would not be allowed in Coal Creek.
Soldiers and convicts then cut trees on Militia Hill in January 1892 to build Fort Anderson as the base of operations for the Tennessee National Guard to fight miners who opposed the use of convicts in Tennessee coal mines during the Coal Creek War. When attacked by miners, the Tennessee Militia would fire mud-filled cans through the Wye Gap in Walden Ridge into the town of Coal Creek to restore order. The fort was abandoned in late 1893/early 1894 when newly-elected Governor Peter Turney fulfilled a campaign promise and the Tennessee Legislature appropriated funds to build Brushy Mountain State Prison, Coal Mine, and Coke Ovens, thus ending the convict lease system in Tennessee. The workday was led by Gary Tackett, the Sentry of Militia Hill, who has worked the past several years getting the site ready for school field trips now that the Coal Creek Labor Saga is part of the state’s education curriculum for 5^th, 8^th, and 11^th graders.	Volunteers planted more American chestnuts
Pat Holm and her husband Larry volunteered with us today. Her company Leidos has contributed to the Coal Creek Scholarship Fund.	Tom Kesterson, the great, great, grandson of David R. Thomas volunteered and learned how Barry Thacker teaches Coal Creek history in Tennessee classrooms as a living historian by portraying David R. Thomas http://www.coalcreekaml.com/PetrosJoynerSchool.htm. Pat Holm from Leidos in Oak Ridge attended and we informed Scholars how Leidos has contributed to the Coal Creek Scholarship Fund, which helps them to go college. A special treat for us was the participation of Chip Throckmorton and his son James, who is a freshman in civil engineering at UT. They are the son and grandson of one of our mentors, Ray Throckmorton. Life is good in Coal Creek and we hope the same is true for you. Coal Creek mining descendent Tom Kesterson and and scholar Seth Taylor show off their American chestnut planting
Coal Creek scholar college freshmen, Emily and Kim Phillips continue to volunteer and mentor others	Sean Foster blowing leaves and prettying-up the historic area where the cannon is mounted



Coal Creek Scholars participating in the event included: Foster, Benny Foster, Sean Housley, Jeffery Housley, Jessica Long, Krystina Long, Paul Lovely, Jackie Payne, Javen Phillips, Emily Phillips, Kimberly Taylor, Seth Wilson, Isaiah Other volunteers included: Holm, Larry Holm, Pat Kesterson, Tom Moore, Carol Mr. and Mrs. Housley Phillips, Ruby Tackett, Gary (the Sentry of Militia Hill) Thacker, Barry Throckmorton, Chip Throckmorton, James	TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMAZING, RICH COAL MINING HISTORY OF COAL CREEK, CHECK OUT OUR WEB PAGE AT www.coalcreekaml.com/Legacy.htm Click to learn more about our Coal Creek Scholars Program If you want to see TONS more photos of the day visit Flickr at: www.flickr.com/photos/95516223@N08/sets/72157658913228203
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