| Summary: | In this interview, Clayton explains that his family came by wagon from Mississippi to Alabama for work. Clayton's father was a miner in Muscoda, Alabama. Clayton was born in 1941 and grew up in the company camp. He describes life in the company camp, mining, his interest in history and recounts several illustrative stories he heard about life during The Depression. About life in the camp, Clayton explains that the company provided churches of various denominations in the camp. He also recalls the competition between mining communities and states that it was close to impossible to date someone from a different camp. He explains that the mining camps were eventually called "villages," because the term "camp" had a certain stigma attached to it. Families who lived in the mining camps or villages were called "camp folk." Clayton explains that the camps provided everything for employees and he believes this created a dependency on the company and a lack of ambition in some workers. He also reports that some men had two wives in the camps; he adds that this was not openly discussed. Clayton also discusses mining throughout the interview. He details risks in mining, including lack of ventilation and silicosis. Clayton also recalls that there were whiskey stills in the mine; he explains that there was a crew of men who was only responsible for making whiskey. He also recounts the closing of the mines, beginning in 1950. He calls it a sad occasion and explains that workers had to retire, take severance pay or were sent to U.S. Steel. Clayton, however, never worked in a mine himself. He was shown a picture of men trapped in a mine and he said this put a fear in him that he still carries with him.The digitization of this collection was funded by a gift from EBSCO Industries.
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