Alice Lloyd College junior Micah Turner is bringing the rich history of Harlan County, Kentucky’s coal and railroad industries to readers through a new weekly column in the Harlan Enterprise titled “The Coalfield Chronicles”.
The column will explore the people, places, and stories that shaped Harlan County through its coal mining and railroad heritage. Drawing from historical research, personal storytelling, and local memory, Turner aims to preserve and share the region’s past for future generations.
Turner, himself a native of Harlan County, is a local author, photographer, and videographer whose work centers on documenting Appalachian history and culture. He shares much of his historical and visual storytelling through his Facebook and media outlet, Micah Turner Photography, as well as his YouTube channel, RailfanMicahTurner, which focuses on rail history and railfanning across the region.
His passion for history began at an early age. As a sophomore in high school, Turner published his first book, Down The Mine, a historical fiction work following the events of the Scotia Mine Disaster. The book was written to bring awareness to one of the most tragic mining events in Kentucky history. He later published his second book during his senior year, Over The Gravels We Travel, a collection of Appalachian folk stories passed down from his grandfather, Coburn Turner.
As a student at ALC, Turner is pursuing degrees in history and communications. He says his academic work complements his lifelong interest in preserving Appalachian heritage and provides new knowledge of tools and techniques to research, write, and share meaningful stories from the region.
Turner credits his faith as the foundation of his work, noting that his belief in God guides his purpose and passion. He sees storytelling as a way to honor the past while serving his community and future generations.
“The Coalfield Chronicles” will appear weekly in the Harlan Enterprise, offering readers a deeper look into the coal camps, rail lines, and lived experiences that helped define Harlan County.