Sutton miners honored at ball

At last weekend's Coal Miners' Ball, Paul Huppert, Bob Jensen, Perry Melton, Bill Smith and Bill Ward were inducted into the Coal Miners' Hall of Fame.

The men worked in the coal mines in Sutton. Their photos will be on display, along with the 103 previous inductees, at the Alpine Historical Park in Sutton.

The Coal Miners' Ball began with a potluck dinner at 5 p.m. at the Alpine Inn. At 6 p.m., the Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place. Stories were told and introductions were made as part of the induction ceremony. Fellow miners gave funny stories about the inductees.

Entertainment at the event included Burt's Band, the Borealis Dancers and local youth, who helped honor the "old-timers" from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Arctic Thunder Band concluded the evening.

The town of Sutton was established around 1918 along the railroad for the coal mining industry. There were mines at Jonesville, Eska and other locations in the Alpine-Sutton area, which was settled by workers from

the coal mines and their families. The annual Coal Miners' Ball celebrates the history of the Sutton and the men and families who built the community.