Comments on: McNabb Mines

By: Sherrie McNabb

Sherrie McNabb — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:59:33 +0000

I am a descendant of the owners of the McNabb Coke and Coal mines and I have explored some of the ruins, but most of them are just partial structures. I was very happy to see these ruins placed on the National Historic Register. I have driven by them many times and explored some, and I could see these places were not well protected and I worried they would be vandalized or destroyed before too long. Hopefully, they will have a little protection now. The community that grew up around this area was called the Shakerag community. This was because the coal mine workers would go down to the river and use rags to flag down the barges that were to take the coke back up the river. My paternal grandfather actually went to school in the school/church building, but only through the 2nd grade. People didn’t get much in the way of schooling back in the 1800’s. There are many McNabbs still living in this area who could tell you a lot more of the history of the Coke and Coal mines, plus some other interesting stories. Up the road from the ruins is the Pot House. This used to be a weigh station for boats that could not make it any further up the river due to turbulence in the river at that point. The inn/store that used to be there was run by my paternal greatgrandmother’s people, the Browns. There’s also one of the McNabb family cemetaries on that same road (River Canyon Road if you are coming from the Hamilton Co. side or Mullins Cove Road if you are coming from the Marion Co. side.

By: Johnnie

Johnnie — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:59:45 +0000

The coke ovens at Tracy City are beautiful remnants of the past set against the hills surrounding the Grundy Lake and forest. One could spend a day hiking the trails, picnicing at the number of small parks around the lake. There are wild ferns and flowers just beginning to put on their Spring growth. The park is part of the South Cumberland State Park located between Monteagle and Tracy City. A stop there holds some great exhibits about the coal industry, coke ovens and other points of interest around Tracy City. We in Grundy County and Tracy are lucky to have the park service here. There is a lot of history connected to the ovens. I want to visit the McNabb mines. Great photos. Great site. I found you while researching the Kilgores, Samples, Laynes and Boyds from Grundy County.

By: Casey

Casey — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:23:25 +0000

Yeah I’ve heard of the coke ovens at Grundy Lakes, but I’ve not been. Yet. Also the coke ovens in Dunlap. There’s a bunch of old pictures and history about the Dunlap coke ovens here: http://www.cokeovens.com/

By: Larry M.

Larry M. — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:01:26 +0000

Cousins and GPS are Cool, what a fun afternoon.
Are you familiar with abandon coke ovens in or around Tracy City, TN?
When I was a kid visiting cousins in Daus, TN I remember seeing what I was told was an incline
near their house, I have often thought about that incline and its history.