Martin Himler in a miner’s cap explaining the $1,000 insurance policies being distributed among the workmen. Eugene Lang, the secretary, may be seen in this photo behind and on the left hand of Mr. Himler, policies in hand. Nearly every other man is a coal-miner stockholder.

Saving the Himler House

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Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Please welcome guest author Cathy Cassady Corbin. Corbin is the editor and agent for Martin Himler’s autobiography which will be published in 2015. Corbin also is a member of the Martin County, KY Historical and Genealogical Society and of the Society’s Himler Project Committee.

Martin Himler is known internationally for his 1919 founding of the Himler Coal Company, a coal company owned by Hungarian miners and structured on a unique co-operative business model that allowed the miners to be stockholders of the company and own their homes in the town of Himlerville (now Beauty), KY. The Hungarian immigrant coal mining entrepreneur arrived in America via the SS Carpathia on May 7, 1907, with 9¢ in his pocket and two goals in his mind. Mr. Himler was only eighteen years old when he stepped onto American soil, but he already knew that he wanted to fulfill his goals of making a living in America’s free enterprise system and serving America to the best of his capabilities.

Martin Himler in a miner’s cap explaining the $1,000 insurance policies being distributed among the workmen. Eugene Lang, the secretary, may be seen in this photo behind and on the left hand of Mr. Himler, policies in hand. Nearly every other man is a coal-miner stockholder.
Martin Himler in a miner’s cap explaining the $1,000 insurance policies being distributed among the workmen. Eugene Lang, the secretary, may be seen in this photo behind and on the left hand of Mr. Himler, policies in hand. Nearly every other man is a coal-miner stockholder.

Mr. Himler’s first job in America was working as a coal miner in Thacker Mines, Thacker, WV. He also worked in the Iselin, PA coal mines. Mr. Himler later worked as a peddler to coal mining towns, and his entrepreneurial spirit further led him to begin his journalism career with the publication of Magyar Banyaszlap, Hungarian Miners’ Journal, a weekly newspaper published, as Mr. Himler said, “for miners by miners”.

Many Hungarian immigrants worked in American coal mines, and Mr. Himler saw a need for these miners to receive news from both America and Hungary, along with information about job openings and American citizenship. Mr. Himler penned the first issue of Magyar Banyaszlap while he was waiting for his peddling customers at a Holden,WV mine. Magyar Banyaszlap was self-supporting within five months and soon had a following of 60,000 miners. Some of the issues of Magyar Banyaszlap were published in both Hungarian and English, and the success of Magyar Banyaszlap inspired Mr. Himler’s life-long career in journalism.

The residents of Himlerville were primarily Hungarian immigrants who came to America to live and work. By 1922, there were 100 miners’ homes in Himlerville, and 1,000 Himlerville residents. Mr. Himler’s home and the home of Eugene Lang, Treasurer and Secretary of Himler Coal Company, were located in the town of Himlerville, and the town also is reported to have contained a company store, a theatre/opera house, a school, the Himler State Bank, St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, an ice cream parlor, a bakery, a powerhouse, a round house for locomotive maintenance, a building for community gatherings, the Himler Coal Company and Magyar Banyaszlap Office, and a community park in the middle of town. The Himlerville community had its own culture, its own way of life and prosperity, and according to the July 28, 1976, edition of The Martin Countian , “… the people who were a part of Himlerville surely have a lot to be proud of. Himlerville will go down in Martin County history as a strong force in helping shape the county’s future.”

Rear view of Martin Himler house as it appears today.
Rear view of Martin Himler house as it appears today.

Perhaps the most striking feature of Himlerville was the beautiful home of Martin Himler, which sat atop a hill overlooking the town. With its imposing columns and homely veranda, the two-story building was magnificent in every way. Similar in construction to a barn, the unique style of the house comes from two forms of architecture: Dutch Colonial and Craftsman. The roof has a gambrel roof, but no flaring eaves (another Dutch Colonial distinction). Instead, the eaves resemble a Bungalow or Craftsman style of architecture. This type of architecture can be categorized by overhanging eaves, double-hung windows, and a front porch beneath the extension of the main roof. Located on Mansion Hill, Himler’s estate captured attentions and commanded a strong presence over the town and its inhabitants. 2

The beautiful and welcoming home of Martin Himler was a center of social activity in Himlerville. Miners gathered at the home in the evenings, guests from throughout America were hosted at the home, and community dinners and activities often were centered in Mr. Himler’s home. One of the Himlerville residents, a young Hungarian woman named Mary Domosley Koblass, shared her memories of Mr. Himler’s home in the July 28, 1976, edition of The Martin Countian.

Mary began her description of a banquet held at the Himler home to honor a Martin County physician, Dr. Stepp, by saying that guests arriving at Mr. Himler’s home had to climb over one hundred concrete steps to reach the home. Mary explained that the steps had a double purpose of both stimulating guests’ appetites AND loosening the accumulated mud on guests’ shoes. The dinner guests arriving to honor Dr. Stepp were greeted on the front porch by Mr. Himler and his nephew, Mr. Andrew Fisher.

The guests included coal buyers and journalists; even the famous New York Hungarian journalist and screen writer Illona Fulop was a guest. Guests cleaned their shoes, then were led to either the large combination sun parlor and library where a fireplace was heaped with Himlerville coal on cool evenings, or to the more luxurious parlor known as the Blue Room. Mary said that the conversation at the dinner table was focused on only pleasant and humorous topics; shop talk was purposely avoided.

This is a picture of the first wedding in Himlerville; the wedding took place in 1925. Mary Koblass said,
This is a picture of the first wedding in Himlerville; the wedding took place in 1925. Mary Koblass said, “The affair was more formal than any that had been witnessed in Martin Co. up to that time.” Mr. Himler is standing on the right. This is the only Himlerville wedding ceremony in which Mr. Himler is pictured.

When the delicious feast in honor of Dr. Stepp had ended, Dr. Stepp was driven to his home at Kermit, WV, via a Model T Ford. Mary further explained that the overnight guests were shown to their upstairs bedrooms, each room with a private lavatory, and Mr. Fisher bid everyone a pleasant good night and God’s blessing. Mary’s words to summarize her memories of life at Mr. Himler’s home are: “Such was the social life in the Himler residence. I am sure that any guest that was fortunate enough to be invited there treasured the occasion for a lifetime!”

Many Martin Countians remember the story which says that Mr. Himler took the money from Himlerville and escaped with the money into the darkness of a June, 1928, night, never to be seen or heard from again. However, the story is only a story. The Martin County, Kentucky Historical and Genealogical Society wishes to dispel this myth. Facts are that Himlerville went into receivership with a Cincinnati Bank in 1925 as a result of three factors: the unexpected expense of the Himler Coal Company Railroad Bridge, the one- inch seam of slate that was found in the Himlerville coal and that soon became a nine- foot seam of slate, and the decreased demand for coal following World War I. Himlerville Coal Company filed for bankruptcy because the company could not produce and sell enough coal to keep the company financially stable. All of the Himlerville Coal Company stockholders lost money, but Mr. Himler lost the most because he owned more shares of the company than other stockholders.

The Hungarians had hopes of opening another mine at Himlerville, but Nature intervened. Himlerville almost was washed away by the raging waters of Buck Creek on June 28,1928, and Mr. Himler said that he considered the flood to be a sign from God that the prosperous Himler Coal Company days were finished. The flood’s devastation sent most of the Hungarians to work in mines in WV.

Martin Himler shown wearing his US military uniform, with front of the house.
Martin Himler shown wearing his US military uniform, with front of the house.

The judge at the Himlerville bankruptcy hearing declared that the bankruptcy was the “cleanest” bankruptcy that he had seen, and the $1, 250,000.00 of Himler Coal Company assets were sold for $50,000.00. When Mr. Himler left Himlerville, he went to the Mayo Clinic to seek treatment for a lesion in his mouth that was thought to be malignant. Mr. Himler had $4.00 when he arrived at Mayo Clinic from Himlerville, and he had to contact friends and relatives to ask for financial support.

Martin Himler’s work in America was far from finished when the prosperous and happy Himlerville community came to an end. Mr. Himler continued his journalism career, and he fulfilled his goal to serve America when he became Colonel Martin Himler, Office of Strategic Services (now CIA), United States of America. Mr. Himler served America and the world when he became the interrogator of Nazi war criminals in Europe and decided the fate of the criminals whom Mr. Himler referred to as “the cringing beasts before me”.

The Martin County, Kentucky Historical and Genealogical Society initiated the Himler Project in June, 2014, with the mission of restoring and preserving an Appalachian historic site important not only to Appalachian history, but to American and world history as well. The Society needs the creative ideas, the volunteer help, and the financial help of Appalachian History readers to ensure the success of the Himler Project!

The Martin County, Kentucky Historical and Genealogical Society believes that a restoration of Mr. Himler’s home is imperative to preserve the Hungarian immigrant culture of Himlerville and Appalachia, and the Society’s vision for the restored home is to maintain the home as a center for Hungarian immigrant culture and coal mining history. The restoration of Mr. Himler’s home and the preservation of the remaining Himlerville structures and the Himlerville Cemetery may lead to the designation of Mr. Himler’s home as a national landmark. The Society doesn’t want to miss the historic and economic opportunity to have a national landmark in eastern Kentucky.

The Society is grateful to Dave Tabler for sharing information about the Himler Project with all of you, and more Himler Project information will be coming when a restoration contractor has been selected and a restoration fundraising goal has been set. If you have ideas for the Himler Project or would like to volunteer to help with the Project, please contact Tom and Cathy Corbin at tomcorbin@hotmail.com.

The Himler Project needs the support of all of us living in Appalachia and of everyone who loves Appalachian history. Please visit the Save The Himler House Facebook Page and the @himlerhouse Twitter Page.. The Himler Project is looking forward to hearing from Appalachian History readers!

Martin County, Kentucky Historical and Genealogical Society members displaying posters that were made by middle school students in Martin County. L - R: Dwayne Sweeney, Evelynn Cassady, President of the Martin County, Kentucky Historical and Genealogical Society, and Dena James.
Martin County, Kentucky Historical and Genealogical Society members displaying posters that were made by middle school students in Martin County. L – R: Dwayne Sweeney, Evelynn Cassady, President of the Martin County, Kentucky Historical and Genealogical Society, and Dena James.

1 Hungarians Successfully Conduct Co-operative Mine in Kentucky, by J.R. Haworth, Coal Age, Vol. 20, No. 11, September 15, 1921, p. 413.

2 Martin County Historical and Genealogical Society. A Pictorial History of Martin County, Kentucky. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company, 2001.

More articles on Martin Himler:

Himler, Himlerville, and a Historian’s Quest(Opens in a new browser tab)

17 comments

  1. I would just like to say how wonderful I think what you guys are doing is. I no longer live in martin county but I was born and raised there. I never knew the Himler house story.As a child I was always told the false story and that the old house was haunted by workers who lost all their money.So I am grateful for not only the truth but the knowledge of a proud time in martin county which will be kept alive because of you. Thank you for doing this.

  2. Shannon, Thank you for your encouraging message! The Himler history is so important to Martin County and to America, and the Martin County Historical and Genealogical Society is trying to keep the Himler history ALIVE!

  3. My Father, Victor Bill Bodo, a full Hungarian was sure that I knew of Mr. Himler and Beauty / Himlerville, KY before he died May of 2014. My Grandfather, John Bodo was a coal miner in the Holden 22 mine in West Virginia. Patricia Bodo Sazy is my Aunt and contributes ideas to the Himler House Project. What a wonderful way to capture a very special, but long gone moment in time. It most certainly is important to America and all with a Hungarian heritage.

  4. Hi, Lisa, Your Aunt Pat has not only given the Himler Project some terrific ideas, but she also has shared important Hungarian heritage information with us. Thank you, Lisa!

  5. My grandfather, former State Senator Wendell Van Hoose, told me the story regarding Mr. Himler many years ago. It’s indeed, gratifying to learn that this important part of eastern Ky. history will not be forgotten.

    Jerry Lee Van Hoose
    Zurich, Switzerland/Kissimmee, FL.

  6. My Great Grandfather Fritz Roka worked for Mr. Himler and was a Hungarian immigrant who came to America in Dec 1913. He was a carpenter and built the rows of houses for the miners. It is my understanding that the houses are still standing although I haven’t found any pictures yet on the internet. When my Grandmother Rosalie Rankin, Fritz’s daughter, was a young girl she told us stories of walking by the Himler House and being in total awe. Thank you for this website with all this wonderful information. Best wishes with the restoration project.

    Laura Boothby
    Boulder, CO

  7. All the best wishes on this project! I would love to come for a visit and take a tour one day.

  8. Hello, Maureen,

    Thank you so much for reading the article about Martin Himler and Himlerville and for commenting on the article. The Martin County Historical and Genealogical Society would love to have you visit Himlerville! Are you a member of Martin Himler’s family?

    Cathy Corbin

  9. You guys have any old pictures of the inside i’m really fascinated with the home have been since i was a kid i visited the home about a month ago it’s in really bad shape but the layout of the home is amazing it really should be saved

  10. Aurora Remodeling, Neat, and Dallas,

    I apologize for not responding to you more promptly. I just saw your posts today, 8/5/17. Aurora, thank you for the info about the DUNS no. I’ll bring this to the attention of the Himler House restoration contractor. Neat, the Himler house is still standing – barely. The Himler Project has raised almost enough funds to complete the first phase of the restoration. Himler House isn’t for sale. Dallas, Himler Project doesn’t have any pictures of the inside of the house during the time that Martin Himler lived there. The only inside pics that we have show the house as it has been for the past few years. Himler House is indeed in really bad shape, but the Himler Project,a part of the Martin Co. Historical and Genealogical Society, is determined to save Himler House! Thank you for visiting the Himler House site.

  11. Hello. I work at Brevillier Village nursing home in Erie PA and am re-visiting this website with a 97 year old woman who lived in Himlerville. She was born in 1920 and moved to Himlerville when she was nine months old. She moved away when she was 18. She loves to reminisce about her life there. She recognizes many of the names posted on various websites and can name some of the people in the picture. The flood is vivid memory for her. Thanks for posting all of this great information for her to view!

  12. How can can the author, Ms. Cassady/Corbin objectively write about as well as promote the history of Martin Co. and Inez when previously, she was embarrassed by her fathers roots and connection to this area? I personally knew this author very well in the past and unfortunately know this to be factual and true. Could it strictly be for personal recognition or gain in order to further her career or status in this community?

  13. What happened? My dad lived there as a kid. What happened to the restoration and the money that was donated, because this house has completely fallen in – seems like nothing at all was done.

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