Discuss: Reclaiming a Toxic Legacy Through Art and Science

The sentiments of the townspeople are communicated in song by John Gorka and John Sonntag.

In “Out of the Valley” the title track of one of Gorka’s albums, he talks about leaving Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to pursue life, freedom, opportunity, or as the founders put it, “Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Gorka hints of the cynicism, anger, and frustration of the people of the valley.

They talk of gettin’ out of the valley
Out of the valley here below.
Maybe ride the river and run off
Cause there’s no place left to go

They talk of takin’ the sunshine,
Takin’ their bright eyes away,
Maybe make a move for big time,
watch it get harder every day.

They’re told by the same empty faces
Tough life dreams don’t get you far
Maybe make it over the mountains
you’ll never make it in that car.”

But then redemption -

“Until long after it matters
You don’t know if you’re good enough
You can bet your dreams will be battered
So just go after what you love.”

It’s a dark redemption - you have to be tough and strong.

Sonntag’s “My Daddy Turned Grey” talks about the toll on the people who stay. His “New Paradise,” is a bright song of a couple who leaves. Both are on his first album, “One More Midnight.”

“Daddy Turned Grey,” focuses on the sadness, anger, and despair of these left in these shuttered, rusted, and locked industrial towns.
“I witnessed my old man decieved.
Daddy turned grey when they locked up the gates,
my town turned grey overnight.”

“New Paradise” starts sad
“Time to wave goodbye.
You and me we had it all here but the well has run dry.
these empty rooms hold a piece of us but you gotta get up off the floor,
throw those keys out the window, it ain’t our home anymore.”

Then the optimism takes over.

“I will drive the first thousand, you can drive when you like,
I know we’re gonna make it, moving to new paradise.”

These are great. 

In the interests of disclosure, Sonntag appears on and is producing my collection, to be titled “It’s Raining Outside the Cave.”

Gorka also said:

“I’m from Ohio.  It’s like New Jersey...only more so.”

I am a native of Vintondale, PA.  I grew up there and remained until I went off to college in 1947. My mother,Palmina Pioli, and my brother.Alfred Pioli and his wife and family also lived in Vintondale.  I remember the days in the early 30’s and 40’s when the mine was operating.  As a child I remember watching the miners come home from work,all dirty and grimy, walking right past my home. In the winter time, they went to work in the morning darkness and came home from the mines in the winter darkness I remember also the many mine tragedies that occurred.

I was overwhelmed when I first heard of this project, and unfortunately have never had an opportunity to visit it since I now reside in Florida.  Congratulations to the Comp’s vision and his unbelieveable charisma and persuasiveness to win over the hearts and minds of the Vintondalians. What a testimony to the magical mixture of science, history and art. As the former Director of Aesthetic Education for the Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools for 17 years,this project is a testimonial to my belief that aesthetics must become a more vital part of American education and Life, despite the obstacles.  (Yes, believe it or not, a Vintondale resident achieved the distinction of being an advocate for aesthetics, probably because of the lack of it in Vintondale.) I must get back to Vintondale to see this for myself! And I hope to see many, many Appalachian programs modeling the Vintondale experience.

I grew up in the 60’s in Western PA in a house next to a stream that fed into Black Lick Creek.  The water was yellow (my Mom said it was caused by sulfur) and had the smell of rotten eggs.  Even though I knew about the coal mining in the hills above our house many years before, I didn’t realize then that coal mining was the cause of the water being yellow and having a smell).  It’s hard to believe, but it wasn’t until I was talking with my niece (some 40 years later) who was involved with an organization called Mountain Justice that I made the connection.  I’m so very thankful for organizations like Mountain Justice and young people like my niece, and I’m also very appreciative of the work of Allan Comp and all those who participated in the Vintondale project.  The transformation sounds amazing, and I hope I’ll have the opportunity to visit there some day.  Please keep it going!  We’re in dire need of individuals with this same vision and desire to “save us from ourselves” in both the private and political arenas.