Today, before the sun even rose, we packed our lunches and prepared for our first day of work with Kentucky Mountain Housing. When we reached the construction site, we were faced with the basic frame of a one-story house. We had no idea what was in store for us for the rest of the day on this project.
We started working with boards of plywood that towered over all of us. The assignment was to nail the boards to the exterior frame of the house on all four sides. Many of us took turns using the nail gun and circular saw in order to complete this task. It was definitely difficult at first because so many of us were unfamiliar with this kind of work. Also, due to the lack of tools, a lot more physical work was required than we might have thought earlier.
We faced many challenges, as we had to climb ladders to the point of fear or climb onto the roof for easier access to some areas. To make matters worse, the weather was absolutely miserable; drizzling rain and chilly temperatures do not bode well for a good work day.
However, as the day wore on, things seemed to get brighter. Everyone was getting the hang of the tasks and teams naturally developed to make everything seem a lot simpler and bearable. The biggest encouragement could have been that the contractors were extremely helpful and patient with each and every one of us.
We got to know them a good amount by the first day and they were absolutely wonderful people. They were a great representation of the people of Kentucky and had a lot to teach us. Over lunch, a few of us actually had the opportunity to join them for lunch and enjoy a traditional Kentucky meal of soup beans and cornbread. This was an exciting opportunity to sample the local cuisine and experience the local culture.
The rest of the group continued working diligently and upon the return of everyone else, we left the site a couple hours early that day. We had plans to visit the Coal Mining Museum and Portal 31 Exhibition in Benham. This called for a two and a half hour drive through mountainous, twisted roads. Also, for many of us, it meant an opportunity for a long, not to mention, much-needed, nap.
The museum was held open after-hours for our group. When we finally arrived, a lot of us definitely seemed skeptical. But once we were finally given the freedom to roam about the quaint, four-level building, it seemed like a kind of adventure. We explored the building from bottom-up. In the basement, there was a mock mining tunnel, complete with historically accurate mannequins. Making our way up, we saw pictures and depictions of old-time Kentucky and mining communities and lifestyle. The top floor served as a dedication to the life and music of country singer, Loretta Lynn.
The last part of our adventure on the road involved a real coal mine! Portal 31 Exhibition offered a small train ride through the coal mine, and as the exhibition mentioned, a “travel through time” as well. The train ride took us to several stops where there were animatronic people, which shared the history of coalmining in the area. The information they presented told the history of coal miners and the coal mine itself. It was really interesting to see how everything was depicted as well as the actual information because so much of it was unknown to most of us.
The train ride was taken in two trips so while one group was waiting for the other, the group stayed busy conversing with the manager of the grounds. Bob was the sweetest man any of us had ever met and took us all on a tour to old, non-functioning trains and the depot for coal mining. We were able to delve even further into the lives of coal miners and talk to an actual coal miner of many years.
Bob was just another citizen of Kentucky that influenced us all so much that he really will never be forgotten. Speaking to him about his past, his profession, and his personal life was extremely enlightening and heartening.
Once we all had our fun in Benham, we got back on the road for the long drive home and prepared our stomachs for the delicious meal we would be having. Because so much time was taken with all the fun activities of the day, we decided to eat out at a Mexican restaurant, El Cazador. We were able to talk with the waiters of the restaurant and hear of their stories as immigrants from Mexico. I could write a whole paragraph on how good the food was and how stuffed everyone was by the end of the nigh. Let’s just say, we were all grossly satisfied.
We finished off the night with a traditional game of Mao. Okay, maybe more than just one game. We probably stayed up longer than we should have but eventually went to bed, ready for another night of construction!
