Foremen Housing

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Located in what is locally called, “Bigshot Bottom” and “Foremen’s Bottom” these homes were traditionally reserved for the mine foremen and town doctor. Unlike the typical miner homes in Helen, these dwellings were two stories and located much closer to the coal company store and office building. Likely constructed in the early 1920s, these homes remain well preserved and appear now much like they did in the past.

Images

View of the foremen housing likely from the 1940s. The home pictured on the left was traditionally reserved for the town's doctor.

This photo, taken in the Fall of 2017, demonstrates how unchanged these homes are.

Another view of the foremen housing from the mid-1940s.

View of the foremen housing likely from the 1940s. The home pictured on the left was traditionally reserved for the town's doctor.

This photo, taken in the Fall of 2017, demonstrates how unchanged these homes are.

Another view of the foremen housing from the mid-1940s.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Donald Moore, resident of Helen for more than 40 years, recalls moving from living in the traditional miner's home to a house in Bigshot Bottom,

"We lived down the lower end, of course. I never thought we would live up here, but times have changed."

While no longer reserved for the town's formen and doctor, these structures appear now much like they did when constructed in the early 1920s. Apart from the addition of new roofs and siding, all of these structures bear striking resemblance to their historic selves.

They can be described as, two story rectangular structures with front gable roofs now made of metal panels. The structures are two bays wide and two rooms deep typically with a small shed roof addition on the rear side. Most are now sheathed in composite siding and situated on a foundation of concrete blocks.