By Adam Tychonski

September 23, 2018 - The Puskarich Public Library in Harrison County, Ohio held its Coal Miner Reunion on Saturday, allowing coal miners past and present to tour the History of Coal Museum located inside the library.

The event was held by the library to honor the men and women who work or who have worked in the coal industry. The museum, located in the lower level of the library, holds many displays featuring coal equipment and other coal-related pieces from throughout time. The free event wasn’t just open to miners, but to the public as well.

Retired coal miner Jim Thompson, speaks with a man about one of the displays at the Coal Museum in the lower level of the Puskarich Public Library in Cadiz during the Coal Miner Reunion on Saturday.

By Adam Tychonski

The reunion event gave miners and local residents the chance to reflect on the rich history of the coal mining industry in the Ohio Valley. Guests enjoyed live music by the bluegrass band Awesome Possum and many stories of local coal work. The stories included the history of mining shovels, Duncanwood Mine in Harrison County and information about the first local woman coal miner, Ida Mae Stull from Scio.

Members for the Harrison Coal & Reclamation Historical Park were in attendance for a presentation and to promote their Age of Steam Roundhouse Tours, which will be held Oct. 27 in Sugarcreek, Ohio. The Age of Steam Roundhouse is not open to the public, so the tour gives people the opportunity to view the roundhouse, vintage steam and diesel locomotives and more.

Also in attendance was Betty Sedgmer who, along with her friend Becky Cumberworth, made jewelry out of coal for more than 10 years. Sedgmer said that unlike most coal jewelry, including the jewelry on display at the reunion, she and Cumberworth cut every piece by hand before fitting it into items such as rings, necklaces and even bolo ties. Sedgmer explained that most coal jewelry is made from crushed coal that has acid poured over it. She continued by explaining that wasn’t an option while making the pieces in her basement with children running around. She noted that some days she and Cumberworth would be covered in coal dust after spending hours cutting the coal.

Betty Sedgmer, shows library assistant Pam Singhaus pieces of jewelry she made out of coal years ago. Sedgmer was one of two ladies who, back in the 1980s and ‘90s, made hundreds of pieces of coal jewelry for festivals and other coal-related events.

By Adam Tychonski

Sedgmer and Cumberworth made hundreds upon hundreds of jewelry pieces to sell at different festivals and events, even selling to people in about 23 different countries.

“We loved doing it, but Becky wanted to stop back in the late ’90s and I tried to continue on my own,” Sedgmer said. “It wasn’t as fun without my friend doing it with me, so I hung it up, too.”

Library Director Sandi Thompson said she hoped the reunion event would be a good time for miners young and old and allow residents to see the history of coal preserved at the library.