Ream, Gary's No.6 Community By: Buddy French
When construction began on the Gary No.6 community in 1902, it was officially known as Ream, but it soon became better known simply as Gary No.6 by its residents. The majority of the housing was built westward up the hollow along Mont Murphy Branch Creek. U. S. Coal & Company's Gary No.6 mining complex was located at the center of the community. Ream was an unincorporated coal camp community without a post office because to its north, it bordered No.3 Gary and to its south it bordered No.7 Elbert, of which both had post offices. The community's population soon became dominated with eastern Europeans immigrants who came here in search of their American dream. By 1930, the population had grown to 1,151 residents. In 1940 the population was 1,058 but by 1960 the population had fallen to 800. Today, only a fraction of the houses remain in that Gary No.6 community and the population has fallen below 100 residents. But many of those who lived and grew up in Gary No.6 remember it as a place they proudly called home. A community they remember being dominated by family values and traditions during a time of tranquility.
Many thanks to Alex Schust and his book "Gary Hollow" where this and much more historical information pertaining to Gary No.6 and its history can be found.
