My parents had been saving money to build a house. They were renting until they could start this project. They finally felt they had enough to get started and purchased an acre of land on the outskirts of Evansville, Indiana. They didn’t have enough to have a house designed, so they went to a builder who had cookie cutter designs. They picked one out and agreed to have him build it. Construction was to start on December 8, 1941. We all know what happened on December 7, 1941.
My grandfather Roby Mitchell decided to buy a house if we would move in with him. This worked out well as we got a place to live, and grandpa got a cook and housekeeper. My grandfather hauled coal to make a living. He had a 11/2-ton truck that he would drive to the coal mine and fill with coal and then deliver it to his customers.
My brother and I were fascinated with what he did. We were always asking him about his operation. Although we were of little use to him, he on occasion would take one of us along with him. This was a very interesting trip to us. He would drive down to the mine and then would sit and tell us about the mine. Although he never said, I believe that when he lived in Kentucky he actually worked in the mine. He just knew too much about the operation. He explained about the tipple, and the elevator, and what actually went on underground. I can tell you that neither one of us had any desire to work in a mine.
Then he would drive under this chute, and they would fill the bed of his truck with coal. Then we would drive back to Evansville, and he would shovel the coal down people’s coal chutes into their basement.
Sadly, this was the only experience we kids had with our grandfather. He never shared any other part of his life. I have made sure that this did not happen with me and my grandkids.
