John Henry

John Henry, the legendary “steel drivin’ man,” became an American folk hero during construction of the Columbus & Western Railroad between Goodwater and Birmingham. A strong ex-slave, he drilled holes for explosives used to blast tunnels. According to legend, he raced against a steam-powered drill whose manufacturer claimed it could do the job faster than a man, and witnesses said that after the all-day contest he and his heavy hammer had cleared substantially more feet than the steam drill. Versions of the blues song “John Henry” tell how he won the contest but died from exhaustion, his “hammah” in his hand, and he supposedly was buried nearby. Although other states also claim him, Georgia folklore researcher John Garst found evidence that the event occurred near Dunnavant on September 20, 1887, at either the Big Oak Tunnel or Coosa Tunnel, two miles apart.

Leeds, Alabama · United States