McCorkle, John 1967-08-10
John McCorkle, former resident of Thurber, Texas, describes the coal mining community and individual citizens. He particularly recalls labor problems and social affairs.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: John McCorkle
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: August 10, 1967
Location: Strawn, Texas
Interviewer: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Spoede
Length: 1 hour 15 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Early recollections of Thurber, Texas,
Thurber hotel and Chinese citizens remembered,
Labor union activity discussed,
Origin, description of Thurber mines,
Col. Hunter’s bulldog mentioned,
Recalls playing with a band in West Texas towns,
Reason for band’s move to Thurber,
Attitude toward labor leaders discussed,
Miners’ strike and management attempts to break it described,
Difficulties of working the Thurber mine,
Miners’ wages cited,
Management-labor negotiations examined,
Coal prices, statistics given,
Hunting, fishing clubs recalled.
Tape 1, Side 2: Hunting, fishing clubs (continued),
Opera house,
Lawrence Welk remembered,
Company medical policy examined,
Story of pit bosses killed in mines,
Italian weddings, band described,
Johnson family recalled,
Company-owned stores, utilities cited,
Texas Ranger intervention in Thurber,
Labor problems mentioned,
Thurber Lake discussed,
World War I anecdotes,
"Big Fire" recalled,
W. T. Gordon characterized,
Gordon’s drilling activities mentioned.
Tape 2, Side 1: Life in the coal-mining town of Thurber discussed,
Col. Hunter’s housekeeper recalled,
Other Thurber citizens mentioned,
Attitude toward labor unions expressed,
Company saloons remembered,
Labor union activities discussed.
Tape 2, Side 2: Blank
Range Dates: 1917-1930s
Bulk Dates: 1917-1930s
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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