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Jack Hearne

Images and notes from Ron Hearne, Jack's Son with contributions from Bill Becker 

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Frank Hearne at end of shift as night watchman at the #2 mine. (Date Unknown) (Jack Hearne Family Collection)

Life Story

1896: Frank Hearne was born in Chorley, England. 
1898: May was born in England.
1940: Frank Hearne, age 44, born in England, a Unit Foreman in the coal mine and his wife May, age 42, born in England along with his son Jack Hearne, age 18, born in Wyoming and son Donald Hearne, age 15, born in Wyoming were living in Hanna, Wyoming. 
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Jack Hearne in his backyard in Hanna 1951 (Jack Hearne Family Collection)
Jack Hearne worked in the Power Plant for the #2 Mine in Hanna. He got paid twice a month. From March 1-15, 1942, he worked for 10 days at $5.78 per day making him $57.80 for his family. Out of this $57.80 he paid $1.68 in union dues; $4.10 for health care; $0.58 for Social Security. This left him $51.44 for his family to live on for 2 weeks. This would work out to a yearly wage of $1387.20 before taxes.

For underground miners there would also be a charge for explosives, using the bath house (if they chose), renting their carbide lamps, rent (for a company house), coal to heat that house and other utilities for the month. Items purchased at the company store would also be deducted from a man's 
paycheck.

​In 1942 the average wage across the US was $0.635 per hour or $1270 per year. (Statistical Abstract of the United States - January 1, 1944)
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Union Pacific Coal Company Pay Stub 1942 (Jack Hearne Family Collection)
Union Pacific Coal Company Pins Worn Proudly by Jack Hearne (Jack Hearne Family Collection)
Old Timers Association pin worn by Jack Hearne
The front of the Union Pacific Coal Company pin worn by Jack Hearne.
The back of the Union Pacific Coal Company pin worn by Jack Hearne.
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Pat Kelley, Mrs. Walsh, Don Hearne (Jack's brother) in Hanna at Mr. Kelley's house in 1938. (Jack Hearne Family Collection)
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This document plus a birth certificate were needed to prove that the person was at least 12 years of age, to be able to work in the coal mines. (Jack Hearne Family Collection)
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Frank Hearne Birth Certificate (Jack Hearne Family Collection)
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Labor certificate (Jack Hearne Family Collection)
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Certificate of Naturalization (Jack Hearne Family Collection)

1929

Frank Hearne: Enlisted in the British Navy during World War I.
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Mr. Frank Hearne. Hanna. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1929)

Hanna Basin Museum Website – A Connection to the Past