This project was built upon a partnership developed between the Radford
University Applied Anthropology class and a number of partners in the
community and region. We want to thank our partners on this project for
the opportunity to work with them and their great assistance: the Montgomery
County Office of Planning, the Coal Mining Heritage Association of Montgomery
County, and the state archaeologist from the Roanoke Regional Preservation
Office.
A number of people deserve special mention for the long hours of
assistance and inspiration they gave us: Joe Powers, Meghan Dorsett, Bobby
Parker, and Michael Sutherland from Montgomery County; Robert Freis, Fred
Lawson, Alex Linkous, Lee Linkous, Sam Huff, Stacie Haynes, Hazel Hodge,
Esther Jones, and all the other members of the Coal Mining Heritage Association
who gave their support and advice; Tom Klatka, archaeologist with the
Roanoke Regional Preservation Office; and Rev. Jerry Sloss from the Merrimac
Pentecostal Holiness Church.
A number of people served as valuable resource people during our study
and we gratefully acknowledge their assistance: Tom Bain and Steve Phillips
from Montgomery County, Rich Loveland from Explore Park, Lori Shepherd,
Dolly Cottrill, Bill Ellenbogen, Dinah Linkous Akers, Cliff Boyd, Kathy
Dickenson; and all the members of the community who attended the community
meetings and filled out the surveys. We also want to thank Jeffrey Wallentiny
for drawing some of the figures for this report.
The project was made possible with funding and support from a number
of organizations and people who we wish to thank: the Radford University
Foundation, Radford University Department of Sociology and Anthropology,
the Montgomery County Office of Planning, the Coal Mining Heritage Association
of Montgomery County, Tom Klatka, Fred Lawson, the Radford University
Center for Experiential Education, and the Radford University Public Relations
Office.
Mary B.
La Lone, Ed.
