1957

MONTH?-Sowers School closed. Eva White was the last teacher.

APRIL-7th- The nearest movie place and bowling alley is 10 miles away, according to a report. The Town works to have fun by creating a Marianna Youth Center for recreation.
JUNE-Severe Drought.
MONTH?-1957 miner photo (see below).
SEPTEMBER-23rd-Mine blast kills 5, 6 rescued in explosion at mine pit, 1 of the 6 died at the hospital 5 days later. USBM Final Investigation Report.Penn State University Library-Correspondence-Marianna #58 Mine explosion-U.S. Dept of interior, Bureau of miners-Final report of disaster. At the time of the explosion Thomas Jones is the mine superintendent and Albert Salvador the assistant superintendent.

SEPTEMBER-23th- Joe Smith, age 58, fatal mine accident, Pumper, blast ignite gas by jeep & trolley wire. Austrian citizen. Married. On the same day, miner Stanley Collins,56, died in coal mine explosion. Collins was married to Hannah A. Collins (Anderson). His father was Evan William Collins and mother Mary Collins (Jukes)of Scenery Hill. Collins is interred at Horne's Lutheran Cemetery. Other disaster victims are: George Demko, 56, George A Harmuch, 44, Phillip R. Kornet, 43, James Wright, 57.

OCTOBER-Mine correspondence HERE. Photographic records HERE.

NOTES-Georgia State University Library Digital Images of mine blast. A list of operating officials of the Bethlehem Mine Corporation on September 23, 1957 can be found HERE.Franklin school closes. Last teacher was Helen Yoders. The school was converted into a home that later burned. Miner Joe Malinsky, nicknamed "Superman" in the mine, stands by his family Buick on their family farm for a photo. In the background, are pine trees at Horn Cemetery and Paul White's farm in the distance. West Zollarsville students take school photos.

Photo courtesy of Gloria Klemencic

(Gloria was 7 when this photo was taken)

"This was my dad.. standing by our Buick on our family farm. In the background, you can see the pine trees at Horn Cemetery and Paul White's farm in the distance. The town of Marianna, is over that hill. Taken on the Malinsky Farm... 1957." -Gloria Klemencic

"Joe Malinksy worked at Marianna Mine. His nickname was Superman in the mine. He stood 6 feet tall, was built like a mountain, and was strong enough to lift a coal car back on the tracks. Joe and his wife Angela (Nellie) had 6 children. The moved to the farmhouse, that sat in the middle of 87 acres, in 1950. Joe retired from the mine in 1978. The farm is over 100 years old."