New Hazard memorial honors miners, acknowledges local losses
A new memorial in downtown Hazard's Triangle Park lists the names of miners who died while working in coal operations, creating a permanent local recognition of lives lost on the job. The monument is intended to help families and the wider community remember those miners, and it highlights the continuing economic and cultural ties between Perry County and coal.
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A memorial honoring coal miners who died in the line of work was unveiled in downtown Hazard this week, placing the names of those who lost their lives in mining and strip mining operations at the heart of town. The monument stands in Triangle Park between the Farmer's Market and the Hazard City Police Department, and was created through a collaborative effort by city, county and tourism officials who researched and collected names for inclusion.
“What this memorial depicts is all the individuals that were killed during the line of duty for coal mine deaths,” said Hazard City Manager Tony Eversole. “Mining, strip mining, just any kind of injury that unfortunately caused death.” City officials said the project was intended to help residents remember and honor those lost and to thank miners and their families for their service to the region.
The new installation is both a commemorative site and a public reminder of the human costs that accompanied coal driven economic life in Perry County. The placement next to the Farmer's Market and the police department situates the memorial in a frequently visited part of downtown, a choice that officials expect will keep the names and stories visible to both residents and visitors. Tourism officials were part of the planning, reflecting an interest in connecting local heritage and downtown foot traffic.
For a community long linked to underground and surface mining, the monument has immediate cultural and emotional significance. It offers families a focal point for mourning and remembrance, and it prompts broader community reflection on occupational safety, economic transitions and the fiscal realities facing coal dependent counties. Local leaders framed the memorial as acknowledgement of service to the region while also signaling a moment to consider future economic pathways for Perry County.
Economically, the memorial underscores how coal shaped local identity even as energy markets and employment patterns have shifted regionally over recent decades. Declining employment in coal and rising competition from other energy sources have left communities across Appalachia grappling with revenue changes and workforce transitions. By involving tourism partners, city leaders also signaled an interest in leveraging cultural assets to support downtown businesses and to sustain pedestrian activity in a central communal space.
The memorial does not resolve those broader economic questions, but it creates a public space for remembrance and civic conversation. As Perry County continues to navigate the long term implications of a changing energy economy, the monument stands as a concrete recognition of the miners whose labor and sacrifice helped shape the region.
