Jackhorn in Letcher County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Worst Mine Disaster

Letcher County

Photographed by Jim Leffler, March 2025

1. Worst Mine Disaster Marker

Inscription.
Two gas and coal dust explosions, the first March 9, 1976, and the second on March 11, 1976, occurred in the Scotia Mine, Scotia Coal Company, Ovenfork, Letcher County, Kentucky. 15 men working in the 2 Southeast Main area at the time of the first explosion died as a result of the explosion. Ninety-one men escaped. At the time of the second explosion, 13 men were underground near the entrance of 2 Southeast Main. 11 died as the result of the explosion and 2 escaped.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1976.

Location. 37° 12.652′ N, 82° 42.388′ W. Marker is in Jackhorn, Kentucky, in Letcher County. It is on Kentucky Route 317, on the right when traveling north. Located at Hemphill Community Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2514 KY-317, Jackhorn KY 41825, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kentucky and in the Cumberland Plateau.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically

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in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jenkins - Dunham - Burdine World War II Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.8 miles away); Lt. Darwin K. Kyle (approx. 4.8 miles away); Dunham High School (approx. 4.8 miles away); a different marker also named Dunham High School (approx. 4.8 miles away); Jenkins (approx. 4.9 miles away); Welcome to Jenkins (approx. 5.3 miles away); Pound Gap (approx. 5.3 miles away); The Teardrop Monument (approx. 5½ miles away).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - Scotia Mine Disaster historical marker near Ovenfork.

Also see . . . Hemphill History. (Submitted on April 11, 2026.)

Photographed by Jim Leffler, March 2025

2. Worst Mine Disaster Marker

Worst Mine Disaster Marker - at far right image. Click for full size.

3. Worst Mine Disaster Marker - at far right

“Mine Office” Replica image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jim Leffler, March 2025

4. “Mine Office” Replica

A tribute to the hit song “Big Bad John”

Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2026. This page has been viewed 36 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 11, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.