The Miner’s Life

Miners lives were often difficult, dirty, and dangerous. The mines in Fairview were underground, and that meant miners were exposed to rock falls and cave-ins.

The silica dust in the rock they mined would float in the air and cause the lung disease silicosis, which killed many miners. Miners also got hurt in accidents.

In Fairview, miners worked long hours in dust and mud. Since mines were dark places, miners in Fairview used carbide lamps attached to their helmets to see in the dark.

Outside of work, many miners lived in large bunkhouses built by the mining companies. Other miners stayed in nearby hotels. For this reason, one Fairview hotel was named “The Miner’s Rest.” Miners could look forward to dances, drinking, gambling, hunting, and horse races in Fairview when they had a day off.