Hell Up Coal Holler Painting

Hell Up Coal Holler is part of Paula McHugh’s series of paintings inspired by the titles of American and Celtic fiddle tunes and folk songs. This painting depicts three coal miners, one a young boy with lunch bucket in hand, standing in front of the Whipple Company Store in Scarbro, West Virginia as Felts-Baldwin Detectives look on suspiciously. The Whipple Company Store was designed by the coal baron, Justus Collins. The Whipple store is one of four built and today the only one left standing. Tennessee Ernie Ford sang about the coal miner’s experiences working for the coal barons: You load sixteen tons, and what do ya’ get? Another day older and deeper in debt. Saint Peter don’t you call me, Cause I can’t go.... I owe my soul to the company store.