by Mark Crabtree

Red rode with us for a trip down to War. We asked about Sonny's sled ride to War. He couldn't vouch for that, but did tell stories about pulling as many as eight sleds chained to the back of his garbage truck. Often when we asked Red about incidents or people in the book, he would reply with, "That Sonny's a good writer".

We stopped to take a few pictures at the Olga Coal Company #2 portal, now shut down.
	Red never worked underground, but before going into business as a garbage collector, he worked 17 years on the tipple at the #1 portal. He enjoyed the work there. One of his duties was to keep a hopper loaded with these thin coins that were dispensed into the railroad cars of coal to identify the supplier.

Next stop was Big Creek High School in War. They're still playing football on the same field as during Sonny's time there, and just as serious about it.

On our way back to Coalwood, we stopped at a beer joint called the Rock View, so Red could talk bee keeping with his friend Cecil, the owner. Cecil is famous for his colored icicles on the rocks across the road from the bar, made with the help of a lot of food coloring.

Since it wasn't icicle weather, Jay and I were more interested in Cecil's pet rooster Jake. Cecil and Jake did a little sparring. I suspect Jake was holding back.

After we dropped Red off, we went just up the road to the site of the Olga #1 portal where most of Coalwoods miners had worked. The mine shaft has been capped with a concrete pad and is surrounded by chain link fence. The small machine shop where the first rocket was built is gone, too.

On our way out of town we stopped to talk to some folks who had torn down a house and were burning the debris. The owner had bought the house for $6000 to get the lot and the two car garage next door to his home. When he bought his home in the early 80's, things were still booming and he was lucky to find a house for sale. Now he would be lucky to find a buyer.

Epilogue

I want to thank everyone who made our visit such a pleasure, and especially Red Carroll who continues to help via email.

A group of Coalwood residents has formed The Cape Coalwood Restoration Association Ltd. Contact Don Robbins; rob151@citlink.net; Phone 1-304-297-3640; H.C 31 Box 91 Welch,W.V. 24801

• I've added a page for reader comments about Coalwood Today.

• A reader sent a nice tribute page to Freida Riley (Sonny's teacher played by Laura Dern in October Sky) from the 1970 Big Creek High School yearbook.

• I'm starting a page of Rocket Boys links. Let me know if you've found something interesting.