On Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, the first Oral History Storytelling Session will be held at the Gap Antique Parlor, a new business located in the Minor Building of Big Stone Gap, formerly headquarters for Westmorland Coal Company. The new owners of the building have located a large collection of photos and slides left by Westmorland, and the owners and the grant committee hope to have the community help identify persons and places so that they can be documented.
For this first Session, the committee is seeking former coal miners, UMWA members, Westmorland retirees and former employees, and anyone else who may have coal related history to share to join us. Participants are also welcome to bring personal photos for the committee to scan and archive, show and tell items that show history to be discussed or documented, or any pieces of history that can be loaned or donated to the committee and organizations to create future exhibits.
Questions about this project and future events can be directed to admin@appalachiaculturalarts.org . The community can also request to be added to the email distribution list for future Appalachia Cultural Arts events by email, or visit the website at AppalachiaCulturalArts.org and send an online message.
