[2011]
Lyrics & Music by Joe Vickers
Album: Valley Home

In the days of open flame lamps, visibility was poor as miners could only see a couple feet from their faces. Despite the lack of proper lighting, many workers commented on the liveliness of mining shafts underground.

They said the mine sounded like a living entity unto itself - the timber supports creaked and whispered as the tunnel roofs moaned and resettled while the hammering of pickaxes and explosives echoed in the distance.

The first entry was a frightening experience for a new miner, but with time a familiarity with the profession developed and comfort grew with a miner's heightened sense of sound and awareness.

Tens of thousands of men entered into the various collieries throughout the valley, some of whom never left.

[2011]
Lyrics & Music by Joe Vickers
Album: Valley Home

Hell's Hole was the nickname given to the Drumheller Valley during the early 20th century due to the region's poor working and living conditions. As industrial exploitation and low wages ignited the movement towards workers' rights, the process of unionization took hold in the valley. While the era's prototypical battle between workers and owners did exist, the internal strain amongst union associations played an additional role that lead to great turmoil. Nevertheless, politically active efforts were taken to address the undesirable aspects of the coal mining profession as the once existing rules and regulations were challenged to eventually improve their labour and life.

"Thirteen mining companies, including the Drumheller, Newcastle, Western Gem, Manitoba, Atlas, ABC, North American Colliers, Scranton, Stirling and Midland,... (continuer)