I most certainly enjoy researching history and writing about it, despite it not always being a pleasurable topic. The Buffalo Creek disaster is one good example.
I was at Marshall University that fateful February morning in 1972 when my dear mother telephoned to tell me what had just happened. Of course, at the time, there were no cell phones and in fact, there were no landline phones in the dormitory rooms.
Each dormitory floor was, however, equipped with a pay phone, and if someone needed to get in touch with a student there, anyone hearing the payphone ringing would answer and retrieve the person who was wanted on the phone. Such was the case when Mom called.
I realize many people were not even born when the dam broke and unleashed coal slurry water that overwhelmed the residents of 16 coal camp communities along Buffalo Creek near the town of Man. Out of a population of 5,000 people, 125 were killed and 1,121 injured, according to an òòò½ÊÓƵsociated Press report that also noted that over 4,000 people were left homeless.
One interesting aspect of the result of the horrendous flooding was the promise to construct a community center for the Buffalo Creek community. Despite even financial contributions by the attorneys who helped settle a lawsuit filed by Buffalo Creek residents, no such center has ever been built, although it was a promise by former Governor Arch Moore in 1972.
The following information is a rare listing of the people by family, their ages, and where they lived when 132 million gallons of wastewater 30 feet high rumbled down Buffalo Creek taking these peopleòòò½ÊÓƵ™s lives. Exceptions are to folks who were not served by a local post office, such as Saunders and Pardee, where residents received their mail at the Lorado post office.
KNOWN DEAD AT LORADO: David Brooks Adkins, 27; David Brooks Adkins II, 4; Steve Albright, 17; Sylvia Albright, 39; Janice Juanita Bailey, 32; Jason Bailey Jr., 11; Kimberly Kay Bailey, 6; Karla Bailey, 1; Rhoda Renee, 8; Edith Blankenship, 61; Thelma Dillon, 36; James Dillon, 32; Howard Dillon, 8; Curtis Ray Dillon, 10; Sharon Dillon, 11; Darla Kay Dillon, 5; Alata Dempsey, 38; Willie Dempsey, 43.
Andrew C. Johnson, 73; Grace Kennedy, 71; Norman Lester, 27; Sharon Ann Lester, 24; Denetia Lester, 5; Denese Lester, 3; Opal Lester, 44; Rita Jean Lester, 17; Barry Keith Lester, 14; Augusta Miller, 69; Jessie Messer (male-unknown age); Martha M. Peters, 68; Callis Perry, 81; Macie Queen, 54; Florencio Sosa, 65; Magdlena Sosa, 46; Goldie Marie Sipple, 37; Johnny Trent, 32; James Henry Trent, 49; Gene Trent, 25; Dellie Trent, 68; Wanda Trent, 38; Betty Francis Vernatter, 4; Frank Lee Workman, 69.
KNOWN DEAD AT LUNDALE: Mary Jane Adkins, 5; Lonnie Lee Adkins, 7 months; Brookie May Adkins, 31; Leonard E. Butcher, 66; Dessie Butcher, 56; Milton Baker, 71; Effie Baker, 68; Joyce Bartram, 40; John H. Bailey, 58; Eleanor Rose Bailey, 44; Rebecca Lynn Broady, 16; Betty Black, 51; Donna Sue Browning, 21; Norman Bruce Browning, 2; Janice Louisa Carter, 28; Ballard Carter, 37; Lillian Carter, 3; Matthew Bevins, 6; Berman Jo Dickerson, 20; Stephen Todd Dickerson, 1; Ruth Ann Elkins, 29; Stephen Hatfield, 15; Latton Oscar Hatfield, 50; Ruth Broudy Hatfield; Lottie May Jarrell, 48; William Lee Jarrell, 48; Margaret Jarrell, 42; Karen Sue Jarrell, 16; Patrick S. Jarrell, 24; Gary Michael King, 24; Robert A. Murray; Wendell Dallas Osborne, 36; Jennetta Osborne, 35; Carolyn Osborne, age unknown; Wendell Leo Osborne, 15; Geneva Osborne, 16; Regenna Osborne, 11; Henrietta Owens, 22; Thomas W. Owens, 3; Mattie Virginia Ramey, 45; Otis Ramey, 49; Virgie Ramey, 76; Gladis Staten, 25, Kevin Staten, 1; Anith Smith, 17; Grady Michael Waugh, 18; Larry Waugh, 5; Donna Lynn Waugh, 18; James Lewis Waugh, 10; Roby Waugh, 45; April Ellen White.
KNOWN DEAD AT LATROBE: Herbert Peters, 68; Ethel Vernatter, 59; Richard Wiley, 78; Dora Wiley, 60; Mary B. Marcum, 44.
KNOWN DEAD AT AMHERSTDALE: James Lee Bailey, 16; Diana Lynn McCoy, Kimberly McCoy, 2; Margie Marie Prince, 42.
KNOWN DEAD AT STOWE: Mary Jane Davis, 8; Margaret L. Davis, 35.
KNOWN DEAD AT CRITES: Marvelle Scarberry, 73; Angie Jean Hopsin, 2.
KNOWN DEAD AT KISTLER: James Brunty, 82.
KNOWN DEAD AT ROBINETTE: Martha Gunnells, 21; David Gunnells, 4; Jessie Gunnells, 1.
KNOWN DEAD AT ACCOVILLE: Judy Ferguson, 27; Connie Sue Ferguson, 18 months; Etta Pearl Hatfield, 60.
LOGAN RESIDENT VISITING LORADO: Albert O. Hedinger, 34.
UNIDENTIFIED: Male boy, unknown age; Male boy, unknown age; Female girl, unknown age.
VICTIMS MISSING AND AGE: Dorea Adkins, 3 months; Samuel Carter, 20; James Nevada Davis, 2; Nancy Hopsin, 1; Donald McCoy Jr., 1; Rosco Clay, 74; Kathy Waugh, 8 months.
Over the years I have seen various reports concerning the Buffalo Creek flood. Nonetheless, the above information was supplied to me by Kenneth Singleton, whose father, Jim, was in 1972 the emergency services director for Logan County. It was he who produced the statistics, which identified 115 victims, three who were unidentified, and seven that were missing. Mr. Singleton was one of the first people on the scene. All names are spelled as they appeared on his typewritten list.
May we never forget the Buffalo Creek disaster.
