Volunteers Clear, Research The 'lost Cemetery Of Mullens'

By By Mary Catherine Brooks The Register-Herald MULLENS, W.Va. (AP) - Several University of Kentucky students spent a weekend cleaning up and identifying grave sites in the "Lost Cemetery of Mullens," along with local volunteers and staff from the Mullens Opportunity Center."Perched on a hillside across Slab Fork Creek from the former coal camp of Nuriva, the cemetery is now a part of the city of Mullens," explained Dewey Houck, Rural Appalachian Improvement League (RAIL) director.The RAIL Culture and Heritage Team is currently researching graves in the cemetery, Houck said.During a recent visit, team members discovered the graves of three African American veterans from World War II."In addition, several unmarked graves were uncovered, buried under fallen leaves, branches and other debris."Some believe the Chinese workers, who died from the Caloric tunnel collapse while the Virginian Railway was being constructed, are also buried in the cemetery," Houck said.The Mullens Opportunity Center and RAIL have hosted several spring break teams and other volunteers during the past year, Houck emphasized.