| Author: | Danny K. Blevins | ISBN: | 9781439635346 |
| Publisher: | Arcadia Publishing Inc. | Publication: | February 20, 2008 |
| Imprint: | Arcadia Publishing | Language: | English |
| Author: | Danny K. Blevins |
| ISBN: | 9781439635346 |
| Publisher: | Arcadia Publishing Inc. |
| Publication: | February 20, 2008 |
| Imprint: | Arcadia Publishing |
| Language: | English |
Van Lear was a sparsely populated farm community at the dawn of the 20th century. Known originally as Miller�s Creek, its pastoral nature was soon lost as it transformed into a thriving municipality. John C. C. Mayo, a young schoolmaster, was the force behind this development. With his geologic knowledge and his forward-looking business savvy, he foresaw the economic power of the veins of bituminous coal that lay undisturbed in much of Eastern Kentucky. Mayo and a small nucleus of businessmen acquired vast tracts of land and mineral rights. In the case of Miller�s Creek, these holdings were sold to a corporate behemoth, the Consolidation Coal Company (Consol). Mayo became one of Kentucky�s wealthiest citizens, and Miller�s Creek became Van Lear.
Van Lear was a sparsely populated farm community at the dawn of the 20th century. Known originally as Miller�s Creek, its pastoral nature was soon lost as it transformed into a thriving municipality. John C. C. Mayo, a young schoolmaster, was the force behind this development. With his geologic knowledge and his forward-looking business savvy, he foresaw the economic power of the veins of bituminous coal that lay undisturbed in much of Eastern Kentucky. Mayo and a small nucleus of businessmen acquired vast tracts of land and mineral rights. In the case of Miller�s Creek, these holdings were sold to a corporate behemoth, the Consolidation Coal Company (Consol). Mayo became one of Kentucky�s wealthiest citizens, and Miller�s Creek became Van Lear.
