Harrison Mayes was a simple coal miner in the rural town of Middlesboro, KY. Harrison would end up getting trapped in a coal mine. While trapped in the mine he made a promise to God that if he let him live that he would dedicate his life to him. Well, God let him live and Harrison more then kept his end of the deal.

Harrison begin creating religious monuments in the shape of crosses and hearts. He would get the supplies materials from fellow coal miners who would set excess materials aside to use in the creation of his "sacred signs".