Dedicated to coal power

Brothers build exhibit in memory of man who died at Gano Coal Mine in 1940

BAZETTA -- Since April, two brothers have constructed a coal mine exhibit at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds to be showcased at the county fair July 11 to 16.

Jeff Ford of Vienna and Scott Ford of Austintown are dedicating the exhibit to Albert Bajorek, who died in Vienna at the Gano Coal Mine in November 1940 at the age of 49.

Jeff said he has been in contact with two of Bajorek's grandsons, Jim and John Kraizel, about what they have done, and they plan to be at the fair in July. Jeff said one of Bajorek's daughters is alive and in her 90s. Bajorek had eight children.

Called "Coal Mine No. 8," the exhibit is located near the saloon and jail constructed in previous years at the fairgrounds.

"We did the saloon and blacksmith shops last year and wanted to do a new building this year. We weren't sure what we should do and did some research and realized there are lot of coal mines in the county," Jeff said.

"I read about Albert Bajorek, who was a miner who got killed in 1940 in Vienna. That perked our interest on what we could build."

He said Bajorek was one of the last coal miners killed in the county. The miner was putting in a water pump 114 feet down when a lift cage came down and crushed him.

Jeff said he used online searches and social media to locate Bajorek's relatives. "I talked to the one grandson for an hour about what we are planning. They were moved by the project we are doing for their grandfather. They plan to be here and will bring the one surviving daughter who is 93. They are all from the Cleveland area. They told me some other relatives from Colorado may also try to get here." he said.

MINING EXPERIENCE

"This will present to the public a coal mine experience. People can come through and see what it was actually like," Jeff said.

Scott built the coal car at the front of the exhibit.

Jeff said people will enter the exhibit and be given miner helmets with lights, because the exhibit will be dark inside. The "mine" will have walls made of expanding foam that is painted different shades for what a coal mine looks like.

He said this "mine" will have air conditioning.

"This will be a tunnel people will walk through to get to a room in the center, which will have items displayed. There will be items from the coal mining era such as drills, hats and lamps inside," Jeff said.

Originally the historical village at the fair had a gas station, a jail and the church.

"We could not find any historic buildings in the county so we wanted to start duplicating things from the past. The saloon, which this year has a new piano, and a blacksmith shop were added last year and this year is the coal mine," Jeff said.

The brothers named the exhibit Coal Mine No. 8 to honor their children. Jeff has two children and Scott has three and he and his wife lost three through miscarriages.

The two plan to speak to the county fair board about possibly making the exhibit available to local students who can learn more about local history.

Scott and Jeff, who both work full-time jobs, came to the fairgounds when they were able to work on landscaping the area.

Scott said making the coal cart took time but was fun -- and getting real coal added to the uniqueness.

"There will be coal in the tunnels. We have a recording we will play of people using pickaxes. We want to transport people back in time of what these guys had to do for a living," Jeff said.

LOCAL HISTORY

Jeff said there is a tunnel in Brookfield called the "Brass and Wire" mine tunnel, which was on Collar Price Road, of which he obtained a photo from 1914. They spoke to a man in Brookfield who showed them where the entrance to that mine was.

Jeff said mining in Trumbull County was in Vienna, Weathersfield, Brookfield, Liberty and Hubbard. Posters on each township's mining connection will be displayed.

Added to the exhibit will be gem mine bags of different stones as well as a panning area where water comes out of a barrel and people can pan for minerals.

Bob Smith, formerly of Warren and now of Boardman, is a coal mine and railroad historian. He will be at the exhibit during the fair to answer questions and help guide people.

FAMILY APPRECIATIVE

The living relatives of Bajorek said they are very touched by what the Ford brothers have done.

John Kraizel of Solon said he and his brother, Jim Kraizel of Euclid, and their families as well as their aunt, Mary Jane of Willoughby (Bajorek's only surviving daughter), and cousins are planning to make a visit to the fairgrounds to see the exhibit.

"This is a really great tribute to our grandfather who died 20 years before I was born. I never knew him but I always heard stories from my mom and aunts of what a great person he was and what he was like. He died so young. We appreciate what Jeff and Scott have done to have my grandfather remembered in such a way with the nice tribute," John said.

He said his cousins, Karen and Susan, who were daughters of his mother's aunt, Sophie, have heard about the exhibit and plan to attend.

"They all want to try and be there at the fair to see this," John said.

Jim Kraizel said he spoke to Jeff about what the Ford brothers were doing for his grandfather.

"We all feel this is an amazing tribute to Albert and thank Jeff and his brother for their hard work and dedication to his memory. It's a bit surreal to be thinking about Albert after all these years, but this is incredibly special, and we are all very grateful and touched," Jim said.

Jim said his grandfather has only one surviving child out of eight -- his aunt Mary Jane.

He said the family is trying to get to the fair on July 11.

"One of my cousins is coming in from Colorado. We are not sure if my aunt will be able to attend, but her children are working on it," Jim said.