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Warfield Today
By the People, for the People
Warfield Backs Caboose Project Tied to Himlerville Legacy
Martin County plans to install interpretive signage at the site as part of its 'Himler Heritage Caboose' project.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:21am
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The Warfield City Council has approved an interlocal agreement allowing Martin County Fiscal Court to install signage at a historic red caboose in Warfield. The project is part of the county's 'Himler Heritage Caboose' initiative, which aims to preserve the legacy of Martin Himler and the immigrant coal town he founded more than a century ago in what is now Beauty, Kentucky.
Why it matters
The Himler Heritage Caboose project shines a light on the culturally layered history of Martin County and the region, highlighting the story of Himlerville - a once-thriving Jewish-led coal town that was one of the most significant experiments in communal life ever attempted in Appalachia.
The details
The county will fund the effort with a portion of its $20,000 America250KY Sub-Grant Award. Warfield Mayor Michael Hinkle said the county approached him about potentially turning the caboose into a concession stand, and he agreed. Hinkle also hopes to expand the site by pursuing funding for a stage. The caboose and the railroad bridge that once carried coal from Himlerville to West Virginia are among the few remaining physical reminders of Himler's ambitious vision.
- The Warfield City Council approved the interlocal agreement on Monday.
- The county first announced the 'Himler Heritage Caboose' project in November 2025.
The players
Michael Hinkle
The mayor of Warfield, Kentucky.
Carolea Mills
The Martin County Deputy Judge/Executive.
Martin Himler
A Hungarian immigrant who founded the cooperative mining town of Himlerville in 1918, creating one of the most unusual settlements ever established in the region.
What they’re saying
“They asked me if I wanted to make a concession stand out of it, and I told them that would be fine.”
— Michael Hinkle, Mayor of Warfield
“Then we might be able to use [the caboose]. I haven't talked to her. I haven't been able to catch her in, but I'm going to talk to her about it.”
— Michael Hinkle, Mayor of Warfield
What’s next
Warfield Mayor Michael Hinkle plans to speak with Martin County Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills about the possibility of securing a grant to add a stage to the Himler Heritage Caboose site.
The takeaway
The Himler Heritage Caboose project sheds light on the rich cultural history of Martin County, challenging stereotypes about Appalachia and highlighting the region's diverse past. By preserving this piece of history, the community is honoring the legacy of a pioneering Jewish-led coal town and the immigrant experience that shaped the area.
