OVEC volunteer organizer Chuck Nelson walks among a knot of filmmakers in deserted, boarded-up Lindytown in November, 2009, after all but a handful of residents had abandoned the once-thriving community.

Boone County
Lindytown Twilight-ed into Darkness

Lindytown is the latest Boone County town lost to mountaintop removal mining.

In November, the Coal Valley News ran an article, "85-year-old Holdout at Lindytown," profiling World War II vet Lawrence Richmond and his wife Quinnie, who along with their two sons and grandchildren, are the last family remaining in what was, just months ago, the community of Lindytown.

Below are excerpts from the article. Read the entire article at: tinyurl.com/yfscbzs.

When all their neighbors packed up their belongings and moved out of town to make way for Massey Energys surface mining operation, the Richmonds chose to stay.

"Ill tell ya, as far as Im concerned, Id as well stay here and endure whatever it is that it might be, you know? Im 85 and I could see no benefit in moving into a strange place with strange neighbors, and what have you, you know?" Richmond explains.

With active mountain top removal mining taking place within sight of their kitchen window, the Richmonds say theyre not overly concerned about their decision to stay. Rather, the couple says theyre aware of the dangers and have decided to endure what troubles may arise.

"One of the options, if we wanted to stay, was that they would give us $25,000 and I told them it was nothing but hush money to keep your mouth shut from griping about dust and stuff."

According to Richmond, his family was offered a large amount of money from the coal company to move out of holler that he and his family have called home for more than 63 years.

"They offered me a good price for this place; they offered me $175,000 and free rent on a nice home further up the holler. But theyre interested in getting the people out of here in case something serious happens."

"What we signed, a waiver for the dust and the noise, is entirely different than what the damages would be. They cant force me to move. I own this property; they dont own it. They cant force us to move," Richmond says, and pauses before saying, "Now, they may kill us" and lets the thought trail off.

"But, anyhow, that is what weve decided to do. Weve decided to endure the noise and dust and stuff," he says.

According to Richmond, upon being given a written letter that outlined five options for area residents from Massey Coal Corp., a family meeting was called to discuss what decision the Richmond family would take.