JOHN HENRY--STEEL-DRIVING MAN

This past Saturday my husband and I went to the
town of Leeds, Alabama to see the play "Listen to
That Cold Steel Ring" written by Leeds native Marie
Cromer. It was all about John Henry from boyhood
to a grown man who worked on the railroad. Although
he was born a slave his owner took him under his wing
and when he was old enough took him to work on the
railroad. The story (whether it be legend or truth) is
that John Henry was in a contest against the steam drill.
He won but died from exhaustion. The photo above is
of my husband, myself and the man who played John
Henry as a grown up. All the players were hometown
people and all did a fabulous job. We thoroughly enjoyed
the play, it had some comedy and of course at the end
tragedy.


Plaque about John Henry. If you click on picture
you will be able to read most of it.

Some of the singers. They did a great job of

singing old time gospel songs.

The lady who played the mom of John Henry

on the right and the other lady was a midwife

who told her that John Henry would die with a

hammer in his hand.

John Henry as a young boy with his dad and mom.

John Henry as a teenager with his mom and dad.

John Henry as a grown man with with partner

that held the rods that went into the rails.

This scene brought tears to my eyes. John

Henry after he beat the steam drill with his

wife, the owner of the plantation and his partner.

The end of the play. Dead being covered up

by his partner. They say he is buried next to

railroad.

The plaque about the depot there in Leeds, which

now is a museum about the railroads.

Photo of the Depot.

This used to be a hotel across from the depot

now is a home.

The livery another building across from the

depot. It also has railroad information and

other things one can buy books about railroads

etc.