- Wilma Steele, retired Mingo County public school teacher and founding museum board member
Did you see the latest announcement from our Executive Director? Kenzie formally announced the news that we now own one of the largest pieces of real estate in downtown Matewan, the Cecil E. Roberts Building (formerly known as the Matewan BB&T and Matewan National Bank).
In early December museum staff and a dedicated crew of volunteers undertook the monumental task of organizing an extensive collection of papers, books, and objects generously donated to the museum by Sandra S. Barkey.
Here at the Museum, we understand, honor, and value the fact that the Mine Wars were a multi-racial fight for fair labor in the mountains of West Virginia. While its important to uplift these voices, people, and stories year round, here are some that we wanted to share with you this month.
For decades, the West Virginia Mine Wars, a critical chapter in the struggle for workers' rights, has remained shrouded in silence, deliberately omitted from public discourse and classroom curricula. But now, a new generation can finally uncover the profound impact this history holds.
In anticipation of a major announcement regarding our Teaching Trunks, we have some additional education resources we’ve been working on with Dr. Rebecca Bailey, author of "Matewan Before the Massacre," and her students at Northern Kentucky University to share today.
Sid Hatfield, Chief of Police in Matewan, West Virginia, stood trial along with 22 others for the murder of Baldwin Felts agent Albert Felts. The backdrop? The United Mine Workers' efforts to organize coal miners. Hatfield, a supporter of miners' rights, confronted Baldwin-Felts agents who were evicting union miners. A phony arrest warrant escalated into a gun battle, known as the Battle of Matewan, leaving 7 detectives, 2 miners, and the Mayor of Matewan dead.