11 year old Tipple Boy at Turkey Knob Mine
Date & Place:
in WV
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11 year old Tipple Boy at Turkey Knob Mine
Updated Jun 26, 2025
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AncientFaces
382k+ followers 411 favorites
01/11/2012
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AncientFaces
382k+ followers 411 favorites
10/26/2016
11 year old coal miner from West Virginia taken in 1908.
via Facebook
Probably a light that uses a wicking system so he can see
via Facebook
Back when America was great - do we really want it to be great again?
via Facebook
Great? You call that great. That was a shame. Child laber is a shame.
Jean White
via Facebook
Yes, I want it to be great again. Were there issues? Sure. But now we have grown men who won't work to support their own children.
via Facebook
Wvery generation talks about the good old days but in reality we don't have to work near as hard ergo we're on here. Read so many books on the coal mining days! That song 16 Tons sums it up well!
via Facebook
I always thought ( could be wrong) that " back when America was great"
Referred to a the forties and into the fifties.
Referred to a the forties and into the fifties.
via Facebook
We want to work not raise lazy entitled people that generation was a working self reliant one not wats in it for me
via Facebook
My Dad went to wok in a coal mines as a child. He only had a 1st grade education because he was the 2nd oldest in a family of 12 siblings. He worked until a timber fell on both feet at age 13 putting him out of the mines. A hard life for children and adults back then.
via Facebook
Wow...I have a grandson this age...he's just a baby... :(
Neill Augustine
9 favorites
10/26/2016
You just cannot imagine him having to go down in that black hole, cope with all of the immediate dangers and the ones that waited decades to catch up to them, can you?
via Facebook
Grandpa worked in WV coalmines, moved to Hamtramck, MI long enough to work at the Hupmobile factory, and to take this pic of Dad and Babe, then went back to the mines....passed away in 1962.
Mark Stohlin
Mark Stohlin
via Facebook
Thank you, Dad was so proud of it he showed to people his whole life. Nearest I can figure, dad born in 1924, so it's 1928 or 1929.
Babes wearing Dad's sailor hat 🙌
Babes wearing Dad's sailor hat 🙌
via Facebook
There Is a slight reflection. It's under glass. Lol
via Facebook
LOVE this photo. Be proud you have a great story. :)
via Facebook
Holy cow a picture of your dad and THE Babe???? Priceless!
via Facebook
Thank you. I continue his memory in sharing it when I can. Yes, strange as it may sound since I've known about it when I was a kid I have to remind myself how special this is.
Akin to a photo with Franklin Roosevelt or Charles Lindberg.
It really is a special thing. Thank you.
Akin to a photo with Franklin Roosevelt or Charles Lindberg.
It really is a special thing. Thank you.
via Facebook
Yes my goodness that picture is definitely a kidney to a picture with a president or Charles Lindbergh. Most definitely. I'm so very happy for you that you have it what a precious keepsake.
via Facebook
via Facebook
Coal industry is these people life and it is being destroyed today, we should be improving it not destroying their life's!
via Facebook
Sadly, there were no child labor laws back then and children were abused, overworked and often died laboring for a few cents an hour.
I hope we never go back to this way of life, however, if safety laws & regulations are obliterated it could happen again.
I hope we never go back to this way of life, however, if safety laws & regulations are obliterated it could happen again.
via Facebook
Viki Rossi - there are political groups who work to obliterate laws they feel cost the government & companies money. They don't believe government should include departments - such as labor, safety or environmental protection - they feel they're a waste of tax dollars and are working to terminate them.
via Facebook
Never ever read anything about that ! Anyone else ? Have you, Dawn Nickelson Winkle ? It sounds ridiculous !
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Unions would stop that even if there weren't laws. Donnie Hunt please tell me where you got that from.
via Facebook
Vickie Duke Allen, the states are the ones that put child labor laws into effect. After the depression the feds signed in some protection. Wasn't that tough because adults were begging for jobs. The laws were in unison with public education. Couldn't find any folks trying to repeal any of these laws.
via Facebook
Vickie Duke Allen. Government agencies don't as much good as you think. Most are bloated and are buried in red tape. They cost way more than the good they do. If you ever reported anything to safety you would know what I am saying. They do vertually nothing. The good intentions are there at creation and then become money pits.
via Facebook
Unfortunately child labour is still around now Vickie Duke Allen - its very sad but children are still being exploited in many third world countries :(
via Facebook
Ally Clayton-Vincent - I agree, that's why so many U.S. companies move overseas, they have no laws against it.
Neill Augustine
9 favorites
10/26/2016
The primitive lights they used down in the mines, I think. I'm fairly certain they couldn't use open flame lanterns for the fire hazard, but I could be wrong...
(Edit) I was wrong about open flames in use. That appears to be a metal sheathed wick jutting at an angle from a can that would hold fuel oil, for light to work by.
(Edit) I was wrong about open flames in use. That appears to be a metal sheathed wick jutting at an angle from a can that would hold fuel oil, for light to work by.
via Facebook
I bet he was proud of the work he did and wouldn't want to be pitied. Now we have generations of people that demand we feed, clothe and house them and their brats. It was a hard life, but they were builders and craftsmen. They could take care of themselves and their families. This bunch now can't do anything for themselves. My Grandfather worked in the mines at that boys age.
via Facebook
They had pride, respect, honor , self worth, and a sense of family back then. No brat kids no sense of entitlement and a very low obesity rate due to people getting off there a** and not blaming everyone else for the state they're in. It must have been hard but very satisfying.
via Facebook
I hate congress too. Get half yr off paid vacation and are have medical coverage and awesome pensions! Just feel bad the poor have to take the blame.
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Astrid Sicola Life is more than about parties. At some point one has to grow up.
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I bet he was proud and I know what your saying Viki.
But I can't help but wonder about his limited outlook on life. I think exposing kids ( even back then) to music , art, and a good education might have elevated the community .
But I can't help but wonder about his limited outlook on life. I think exposing kids ( even back then) to music , art, and a good education might have elevated the community .
via Facebook
Lee Ann, I don't think they were limited on dreams. They built this country and made it possible for their children to get a formal education. What they knew as everyday education, was the abilty to think and survive on what was there. I don't think most could do that now.
via Facebook
I be live a good work ethic is what built this country that was once was great and now you can't even get your or anyone's child to even pick up after there self that what's wrong with this once great nation just my opinion
via Facebook
I just showed this picture to my 9 year old son. I said this boy didn't get attend school most likely and probably didn't have a childhood like you or me. My son looked solemn and nodded. He is beginning to realize he is pretty lucky.
via Facebook
My compliments to you for sharing that picture with your son. There's so many people and children who have no idea just how good we have it in modern times.
via Facebook
Thank you Lona Honiahaka! I have been teaching and talking to my son about young children back in the turn of the century and showing them what their life was like and that we should NEVER complain about going to school and their life. I think these photographs on this site should be made bigger, like posters and hung in all schools across America with their story.
via Facebook
This makes my heart sad , but my grandad went to work like this at 11 on a construction site in another state 5 days a week came home on weekends only . Although i don't think children should be treated this way i can't help but think my grand fathers generation were such a resilient hardworking responsible generation who with little to no formal education started their own businesses and were quite intelligent and made honest livings taking great care of their families . So maybe a little hard work for our young is not so terrible cause we've gone to the other extreme . We got people in their 20s who can't make change . Just saying
via Facebook
Child Labor was ok nobody cared,I know all to well ,when I was 11 years old I had to climb under rail card to get coal,to make a fire in the stove.when the unloaded the cell down under.sad childhood.i had,still think about it.
via Facebook
You know Liane better than anyone on this thread!
I'm sorry .
I'm sorry .
via Facebook
Wow, when was that? You look very young to be in that age group.
via Facebook
I was born in Europe ,that's how people lived after the War,I am 71 ,terrible suffering,my parents were Alkoholics I was they're Caregiver.thank you for your comments,,I am in a group Healing from complex PTSD,deals with that.thank God for them.
via Facebook
My dad started working at 15 years of age because his mother died. They needed money because there were 6 children in the family. He only had an eighth grade education. He didn't work in the mines at that time he was a mechanic on a steam shovel. He worked hand shoveling coal into coal cars during the 30s depression. He and my mom had just married. Most of his life he operated a shovel around the mines not actually inside until we moved to San Diego in 1958.
via Facebook
Thanks Beth. Miss them. But the life they lived being kind, generous, hard working people that they were is always with me. Reminded of them everyday and it's wonderfully comforting.
Loved your parents also. What happened to those days?
Loved your parents also. What happened to those days?
Ree Young
1 follower 234 favorites
10/26/2016
Anyone who talks about how good the old days were or how bad things are now needs to take a look at these pictures!
Janet Madison
via Facebook
My pap started when he was 8 years old. He wore his dads boots working on a different shift. He got a hole in one of them and his dad beat him for it....sad
via Facebook
I wanted to take him fishing when I got my drivers lisc but he passed when I was 15. Black Lung
via Facebook
Who made all the money while men worked the mines. Coal made men rich and coal mining men weak and sick the rest of their lives. There has to be a better product that KY, WV, PA, ETC. can make. These states need help to find a product. The thing is, at least in MY, no one cares once they are elected...remember McConnell. What's he done for Kentucky. Honestly what has he done.
via Facebook
You can see on his face that he was a very proud young coalminer! Determined to become a man early in life...maybe following his father's lead...or stepping in to help his family earn money after losing his father (?). Sadly...many children had to grow up very fast to help their families. This is a very proud young man.
via Facebook
He's proud and I agree but he didn't know life held endless possibilities .
Sherry Dedla
23 favorites
10/26/2016
progress...built by BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS and CHILDREN!!!! Sickening!
via Facebook
My dad during the Great Depression stood on the corner selling newspapers. Didn't matter how hot it was or how freezing cold it was he was out there helping to support his family. I remember his stories of my grandma and grandpa and my dad and his sister having nothing to eat but beans or potatoes every single day for heaven knows how long. Such a terribly hard life it's almost inconceivable for the majority of us today
via Facebook
My father ( born in 1900) in Hawley PA could have worked in mines. I still have his betty lamp ( see the tiny thing hanging on his hat?) His grandfather came over from Ireland during the potato famine and worked the mines to pay off his ticket.
Filipe Medeiros
3 followers 212 favorites
10/27/2016
This is a wonderful photo!
Dorothea Mike
1 follower 2 favorites
01/20/2018
My Dad was a miner and took my 2 brothers to work with him to load cars. They got no education and worked at the age of 7or 8 yrs.old.this was in WV..Elmer Mike son of Henry and Haddie Michael changed to Mike.
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My father's side is full blood Sicilian and my mother's side is a combination of Welsh, Scottish, German and a few other European cultures. One of my more colorful (ahem black sheep) family members came over on the Mayflower. He was among the first to be hanged in the New World for a criminal offense he made while onboard the ship.
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