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'''Labuco''' is a former coal mining community located south of [[Quinton]] and east of [[Praco]], along the [[Locust Fork River]] in western [[Jefferson County]]. Its slope mine worked a 48-inch thick head of the [[New Castle seam]] and shipped its coal on the [[Mary Lee Railroad]], later acquired by the [[Southern Railroad]].
'''Labuco''' (formerly called '''Lacey-Buek''') is a former coal mining community located south of [[Quinton]] and east of [[Praco]], along the [[Locust Fork River]] in western [[Jefferson County]]. Its slope mine worked a 48-inch thick head of the [[New Castle seam]] and shipped its coal on the [[Mary Lee Railroad]], later acquired by the [[Southern Railway]].


Labuco was founded by the Tennessee-based [[Lacey-Buek Iron Company]], from which its name was derived. Mining operations began there in [[1905]]. By [[1908]] the idle mine works were owned by the [[Southern Steel Company]]. Demand for iron in [[World War I]] led to a resurgence in activities and a [[Labuco Post Office]] was established in [[1918]]. Two miners, [[Bert Tucker|Bert]] and [[Jean Tucker]], died in a rock fall on [[July 15]] of that year.
A small school operated in the area between [[1882]] and [[1893]], when it was replaced by the [[Flat Creek School]].  


In [[1921]] the Labuco mine was the property of the [[Birmingham-Trussville Iron Co.]], while four mines in "North Labuco", called the [[Flat Creek Mines]], were operated by the [[Flat Creek Mining Co.]]
The Tennessee-based [[Lacey-Buek Iron Company]] gave the community its name once it took over operation of what was known as the Williams Coal Property in [[1905]]. It merged into the [[Southern Steel Company]] in [[1906]], but closed when the company was bankrupted in [[1907]].


In [[1938]] the mines around Labuco were operated by the [[Hammond Iron Co.]] and the [[Alabama By-Products Corporation]] (ABC). That company was hit with a series of [[1944 coal miner striks|wildcat strikes]] at several mines, including Labuco, in [[1944]]. In [[1952]] the [[Tucker Coal Co.]] was operating one of the mines. By [[1958]] all of the mining was being performed by ABC. The Labuco mine was closed on [[August 31]], [[1963]].
The [[Walker Coal Company]] of nearby [[Quinton]] took over the mines in [[1911]] and sent [[W. H. Staton]] to Labuco as superintendent over 40 men working three slopes. Many of the miners boarded at [[Maw Meeks]]' house. Mining operations came to a close in [[1915]].
 
Demand for iron in [[World War I]] led to a resurgence in mining. The newly-organized [[Birmingham-Trussville Iron Company]] purchased Labuco and prepared to reopen the mines. [[Labuco Baptist Church]] was organized in [[1917]], and a [[Labuco Post Office]] was established on [[May 3]], [[1918]]. Two miners, [[Bert Tucker|Bert]] and [[Jean Tucker]], died in a rock fall on [[July 15]] of that year.
 
During its early heyday, Labuco was divided into three camps along ethnic lines (white, Black and Italian). [[George Brasfield]] and a Mrs Clements operated boarding houses. [[Monroe McGraw]] operated a hot dog stand that sold soft drinks. [[Pappy Short]] kept a small store and [[James Olvey]] ran a barber shop. Additional mines, sometimes called "North Labuco", were operated by [[Isaac Skelton]] and [[Skelton Hollow]] and by the [[Flat Creek Mining Co.]] at [[Flat Creek Mines]]. [[Logan Snead]] opened a sawmill at Labuco in the 1930s.
 
In the 1930s the mines around Labuco were operated by the [[Hammond Iron Co.]], which sold the operation to the [[Alabama By-Products Corporation]] (ABC) in August [[1939]], but the mine didn't reopen until [[1941]]. The company was hit with a series of [[1944 coal miner strikes|wildcat strikes]] at several mines, including Labuco, in [[1944]].
 
In September [[1949]] [[Brownie Lollar]] opened a small truck mine within the Black miners' camp and kept it going through [[1959]]. In [[1952]] the [[Tucker Coal Co.]] was operating one of the mines. By [[1958]] all of the mining was being performed by ABC. The Labuco mines were closed on [[August 31]], [[1963]].


The [[Labuco Baptist Church]] is the community's only surviving landmark. One of several [[August 1985 tornado outbreak|tornadoes]] spawned by [[Hurricane Danny]] seriously damaged a home in Labuco on [[August 16]], [[1985]].
The [[Labuco Baptist Church]] is the community's only surviving landmark. One of several [[August 1985 tornado outbreak|tornadoes]] spawned by [[Hurricane Danny]] seriously damaged a home in Labuco on [[August 16]], [[1985]].
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==References==
==References==
* Flynn, Ed (1908) "[http://library.samford.edu/digitallibrary/pamphlets/cod-001200.pdf Report of Inspector of Alabama Coal Mines]" Birmingham: Thornton Bros. Engineers - via Samford University Library Special Collections
* Flynn, Ed (1908) "[http://library.samford.edu/digitallibrary/pamphlets/cod-001200.pdf Report of Inspector of Alabama Coal Mines]" Birmingham: Thornton Bros. Engineers - via Samford University Library Special Collections
* McCleney, Barry (n.d.) "Journey Into The Past", cited in {{HJC}}, p. 50
* {{White-1981}}
* {{White-1981}}
* Whitson, Charles E. (2013) ''[http://www.labor.alabama.gov/Inspections/Mining/Directory_of_Mine_Maps_2013.pdf Alabama Mine Map Repository: Directory Of Underground Mine Maps]''. Birmingham: Alabama Department of Labor
* Whitson, Charles E. (2013) ''[http://www.labor.alabama.gov/Inspections/Mining/Directory_of_Mine_Maps_2013.pdf Alabama Mine Map Repository: Directory Of Underground Mine Maps]''. Birmingham: Alabama Department of Labor

Latest revision as of 20:55, 14 January 2021

Labuco (formerly called Lacey-Buek) is a former coal mining community located south of Quinton and east of Praco, along the Locust Fork River in western Jefferson County. Its slope mine worked a 48-inch thick head of the New Castle seam and shipped its coal on the Mary Lee Railroad, later acquired by the Southern Railway.

A small school operated in the area between 1882 and 1893, when it was replaced by the Flat Creek School.

The Tennessee-based Lacey-Buek Iron Company gave the community its name once it took over operation of what was known as the Williams Coal Property in 1905. It merged into the Southern Steel Company in 1906, but closed when the company was bankrupted in 1907.

The Walker Coal Company of nearby Quinton took over the mines in 1911 and sent W. H. Staton to Labuco as superintendent over 40 men working three slopes. Many of the miners boarded at Maw Meeks' house. Mining operations came to a close in 1915.

Demand for iron in World War I led to a resurgence in mining. The newly-organized Birmingham-Trussville Iron Company purchased Labuco and prepared to reopen the mines. Labuco Baptist Church was organized in 1917, and a Labuco Post Office was established on May 3, 1918. Two miners, Bert and Jean Tucker, died in a rock fall on July 15 of that year.

During its early heyday, Labuco was divided into three camps along ethnic lines (white, Black and Italian). George Brasfield and a Mrs Clements operated boarding houses. Monroe McGraw operated a hot dog stand that sold soft drinks. Pappy Short kept a small store and James Olvey ran a barber shop. Additional mines, sometimes called "North Labuco", were operated by Isaac Skelton and Skelton Hollow and by the Flat Creek Mining Co. at Flat Creek Mines. Logan Snead opened a sawmill at Labuco in the 1930s.

In the 1930s the mines around Labuco were operated by the Hammond Iron Co., which sold the operation to the Alabama By-Products Corporation (ABC) in August 1939, but the mine didn't reopen until 1941. The company was hit with a series of wildcat strikes at several mines, including Labuco, in 1944.

In September 1949 Brownie Lollar opened a small truck mine within the Black miners' camp and kept it going through 1959. In 1952 the Tucker Coal Co. was operating one of the mines. By 1958 all of the mining was being performed by ABC. The Labuco mines were closed on August 31, 1963.

The Labuco Baptist Church is the community's only surviving landmark. One of several tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Danny seriously damaged a home in Labuco on August 16, 1985.

References

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