Coal Miner's Dinner Bucket

How many of your grandfathers had one of these? Lunch buckets like these were purchased by men employed in mining coal. These roomy buckets held water and a substantial amount of food for a days work. Looking at the different sections going clockwise from the lid there is the pie tray used to hold bread and dessert, the middle section holding the main part of the meal, while the bottom section held water. The water in the bottom kept the food cold and was sipped by the miner while eating. The miners would have their lunch packed at home, or in a boarding house if they were single, and carried it to the job site where a dedicated "room" was located in the mine for eating. If an accident happened, the food was pooled together and rationed by the foreman on duty.

Information taken from the Encyclopedia of Appalachia

Lunch buckets like these were used by men employed by the coal companies of Appalachia.

The sections of the bucket are displayed here. Clockwise from the lid includes a shallow pie tray for breads and desserts, a middle section to hold the main course, and the bottom section held water that refrigerated the food and was sipped by the miner while eating.