History
The Coke Oven
Proposed Restaurant Locations
Proposed Locations: Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, OH
Food prepared as Coal Coke was produced by My Grandfather, Lewis Irvin Diggs, who lived with His Wife, and My Grandmother, Martha Battles Coles Diggs. Without support from his Big Brother, Dan Diggs, it would have been hard to build such a West Virginia-Southern Ohio Empire of the day, especially as Black Men less than 50 years after slavery. "Mama Gay and Poppa Gay Diggs," as they were known, became America's First Black Millionaires during World War I. Before World War I, they owned a Small Restaurant in Washington, Pennsylvania. Grandpa Diggs was known as the "Beehive Oven King" by Steel Industrialist Andrew Carnegie, whom Grandfather had met. His Beehive Ovens produced the Best Coke by ingeniously using heat to manipulate the Molecular Structure of coal, producing coke. It is estimated that our Coal Coke products produced about 1% of All Steel made in America during World War I until World War II, when Poppa Diggs retired to his nearly Square-Mile Estate in Jackson County, Ohio. The estate is now called "Diggs Farm" and located on Diggs Road, where I spent the First Years of My Life.
Papa Diggs owned One Coal Mine, One Sawmill, and four Coal Coke Processing Plants, where he gave Full-Time Jobs to over a Thousand Men from 1909-1940.
In 1923, Papa Diggs met with Henry Ford, who purchased the Nuttallburg Coal Mine in Fayette County, West Virginia. The Nuttallburg (Fordson) Mine was located in the middle of the four Diggs' Coke Oven Plants. The Nuttallburg Mine is a Famous Tourist Attraction on the Banks of the New River Gorge, the White Water Rafting Resort. Henry Ford had the Longest Conveyor Belt in the world, taking the coal down to the New River Bank where the Riverside Railroad Tracks used for hauling Coal/Coke still are. Papa Diggs cooked Henry Ford's Coal into Coke.
Food prepared as Coal Coke was produced by My Grandfather, Lewis Irvin Diggs, who lived with His Wife, and My Grandmother, Martha Battles Coles Diggs. Without support from his Big Brother, Dan Diggs, it would have been hard to build such a West Virginia-Southern Ohio Empire of the day, especially as Black Men less than 50 years after slavery. "Mama Gay and Poppa Gay Diggs," as they were known, became America's First Black Millionaires during World War I. Before World War I, they owned a Small Restaurant in Washington, Pennsylvania. Grandpa Diggs was known as the "Beehive Oven King" by Steel Industrialist Andrew Carnegie, whom Grandfather had met. His Beehive Ovens produced the Best Coke by ingeniously using heat to manipulate the Molecular Structure of coal, producing coke. It is estimated that our Coal Coke products produced about 1% of All Steel made in America during World War I until World War II, when Poppa Diggs retired to his nearly Square-Mile Estate in Jackson County, Ohio. The estate is now called "Diggs Farm" and located on Diggs Road, where I spent the First Years of My Life.
Papa Diggs owned One Coal Mine, One Sawmill, and four Coal Coke Processing Plants, where he gave Full-Time Jobs to over a Thousand Men from 1909-1940.
In 1923, Papa Diggs met with Henry Ford, who purchased the Nuttallburg Coal Mine in Fayette County, West Virginia. The Nuttallburg (Fordson) Mine was located in the middle of the four Diggs' Coke Oven Plants. The Nuttallburg Mine is a Famous Tourist Attraction on the Banks of the New River Gorge, the White Water Rafting Resort. Henry Ford had the Longest Conveyor Belt in the world, taking the coal down to the New River Bank where the Riverside Railroad Tracks used for hauling Coal/Coke still are. Papa Diggs cooked Henry Ford's Coal into Coke.
Method: Using the Beehive Shaped Ovens we produce the Best Flavor with tenderness. Cooking with Coke, tempers steel, but tenders meat. Instead of Coal Coke we can produce the Best Cooked Meat and vegetables with the Best Taste, the Best Atmosphere with a theme appealing to the Working Man, families, perfectionists, and the Wealthy Connoisseur.
.jpg "Martha Diggs, Decorating Her Husband's Grave in Jackson, Ohio")
Digg's Hall of Fame after 110 Years!
More Photos Below
Dr. Delores Ann DiggsWas Featured on the Frontpage of Jet Magazine 1960- First African American Peace Corp Regional Director-Ethiopia - She left $1.3 Million to Diggs Family Members. She was favored by Emporer Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.
Grandaughter of Martha and Lewis Diggs, BA, MA, PhD
Diggs Family Reunion Ohio 2023
Phillip Michael Thomas (Tubbs/Miami Vice), Arthur T Hodge (Aviation Inspector/ Businessman, Son of the Coke Oven workers Dr. O.W. Hodge), Lewis Diggs IV (Retired CA, Social Worker)
Imaj Thomas, Daughter ofPhillip Michael Thomas. She isAmerica's New Rising Star in Country Western Music
Dr. O.W. Hodge was a captain in WW1. Graduate of Howard and Meharry Colleges and the doctor for 600 coke oven workers.
Vivian Hodge was a Music professor at the New England Conservatory of music she was a pianoforte. She is the only daughter of Dr. O.W. Hodge. She passed away in 1986.
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The late Daria L. Hodge BA. , M.A., J.D. former Dir. of Minority Affairs Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Exec., Dir. S.A.F.E. (Safe Atlanta for Everyone). She was friends and Colleagues with Coretta Scott King for many years.
Daria L. Hodge was also friends and colleagues with Ambassador Andrew Young, his Brother Walter Young as well as President Jimmy Carter. Granddaughter of Martha and Lewis I. Diggs the 1st and Sister of Rev. Anthony T. Hodge founder/CEO of THECOKEOVEN.COM
Anthony Ervin, BA. MA.
U.S Olympic team gold medal winner, (Swimming 2000/2016), athlete, singer, and musician. Anthony is the first Olympic athlete skipping three Olympics, returning to win a Second Gold Medal. He is the Oldest Athlete to win a Second Gold Medal. He is named after his cousin Dr. Anthony Hodge
Great-grandson of Willie and Dan Diggs
Dr. Catherine Diggs Thew
Smith and Vassar Grad., (Mother of 3), Philanthropist, Multi-Millionaire with a 9 Bedroom Mansion on Delaware Bay.
Col. Arthur O. Diggs M.D.
OSU Medical School Graduate, Operated 2 Medical Clinics,3rd Army Medic under General Patton during World War II, and General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines.
Son of Martha and Lewis Diggs the I
Lewelyn (Jack) Coles
The Chief of Staff, To the late Ohio Governor (four terms) James A. Rhodes, Jack was appointed Acting Gov. of Ohio for one week, Jack was the first Black Governor since the Civil War. He also published a newspaper.
Martha Diggs Nephew
Jack Cole's Great Grandfather was Governor Edward Coles, 2nd Governor of Illinois
Attorney Bruce B JacksonBruce B Jackson (Right of Image), Dr. Anthony T Hodge (Left of Image)Law Professor, First African American Attorney to settle a Billion Dollar Estate(the late W. Clement Stone).
Dr. Anthony T. Hodge, Grandson of Martha and Lewis Diggs, Founding Father of Earth Temple Corp. and owner of The Coke Oven
Dr. Anthony T. Hodge, AA, BS, J.D. first African American Private Investigator/Criminologist to advertise Nationwide, Author of 5 Books, Peace Corp- Vista Alumni, and Founder of Earth Temple Organization. Dr. Tony Hodge has helped people in need for over 30 yrs, 30,000 families served, continuing the humanitarian work of his grandparents Lewis and Martha Diggs. Feeding the homeless and those hoping the trains (Hobos). Dr. Hodge's Paternal Grandparents, Dr. O.W. Hodge and wife Marie C. Hodge RN provided free medical services to those in need. (West. VA, Memphis, and Chicago)
Dr. William (Billy) Banks, Otolaryngologist, and Philadelphia Family Man.
Dr. James H. Banks, Esq.Attorney, Theologian
Reverend Jamie and Jamilla Banks, Pastors, and Theologians.
Grandson of Aunt Willie and Dan Diggs
Judge Gabriel Banks Esq.(Former State / Federal Prosecutor), Georgia's Finest Lawyer
Adam Banks Esq.
Attorney and Businessman, Ohio's Finest Lawyer
Carey Banks B.A., M.S. OSU Graduate, Educator, OSU Women's Track Coach
Great Grandchildren of Aunt Willie and Dan Diggs