The Battle of Matewan: 100 Years Later (Episode 1)

แชร์
ฝัง
  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2020
  • In the season and series premiere of Record West Virginia we travel to Mingo County to take a look at the Battle of Matewan. A deadly clash between disgruntled coal miners and the infamous Baldwin Felts Detective agency that turned the town's police chief, Sid Hatfield into a folk hero known as Smilin' Sid.
    Follow Record West Virginia on Facebook:
    / recordwestvirginia
  • ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน

ความคิดเห็น • 82

  • @AppalachianOddity
    @AppalachianOddity 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    Very well done! The WV Mine Wars are a very important part of history for Appalachia, coal mining and union organization. I grew up in an old coal camp which still had old company houses. Great to see these kinds of stories be told and for that way of life to be spotlighted for those unaware of how people lived in these regions back then. Great job! Looking forward to the next episode!

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Thank you for watching. Absolutely agree with the importance of the Mine Wars. Appalachian history in general is so under represented. We are just trying to do a small part to spark interest in it.

  • @calwolfe3094
    @calwolfe3094 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I heard these stories from my Dad during the 1950's. As a kid, I never really understood the true significance of this struggle. My Dad was a UMWA guy but seemed to understand both sides of the conflict. Any way you look at the struggle, it was a dark time for America.

  • @druanndalton1387
    @druanndalton1387 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    My great great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Maggard, served a the jury foreman that acquitted Sid Hatfield. I always love hearing stories about the whole ordeal.

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That is super cool! And yes, I could listen to those stories for hours.

  • @inmyopinion651
    @inmyopinion651 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Great work. I ll be 60 in a few months and still remember my grandfather come in from work after a shift covered in coal dust. Black lung certainly played into his early death. I had heard all about the company store and the scrit. It was work for the mines, shop at the company store, and live in the company house for many WV mining families. Seems like ancient history and this is stuff that happened in a couple generations.

    • @Justin-vj7hg
      @Justin-vj7hg 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      If there was ever story that showed the dark side of capitalism in America it's the story of the WV Mine Wars.

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks so much for watching!

  • @CodyCheyenneNapier
    @CodyCheyenneNapier 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Thanks so much for having me be apart of this project. It turned out great.

  • @nicolenapier8952
    @nicolenapier8952 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This was great! I can't believe I'm a coal miner's daughter and didn't know the whole story behind the coal miner's war in Matewan, WV. Can't wait for the next episode!!!

  • @brittanytoler3139
    @brittanytoler3139 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Please keep up the good work! Wonderful! My grandfather was once a president of the UMWA. So proud of his legacy.

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I come from Union stock as well.. Thank your grandfather for all he did for working people.

  • @tradeswomanPat
    @tradeswomanPat 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    EXCELLENT! Lot of additional info I wasn't aware of on the subject. Perfect in length - enought to keep interested. ALL union people, no matter what union, should see this to understand what people go thru to get and then keep worker rights.

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for watching and I 100% agree. It's super important we realize the fights that had to happen for us to enjoy some of the rights we have today.

  • @smacl6301
    @smacl6301 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Very informative thanks. I came here having watched and really enjoyed John Sayle's movie 'Matewan' a few years back and it was great to get some additional historical insight.

  • @AmberPrince
    @AmberPrince 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    It turned out great. I love seeing videos that tell the history of the place where I grew up.

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks, Amber! So glad that you liked it!

    • @AmberPrince
      @AmberPrince 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      You’re welcome

    • @YouSUBSCRIBE739
      @YouSUBSCRIBE739 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @amber
      I agree...me too.
      I luv this type of stories.

  • @immersionsoundscapes
    @immersionsoundscapes 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Really enjoyed this! Learned a lot about this event (admittedly wasn't even aware of it until watching). It kept me very interested throughout, and Bill Richardson is someone I could literally listen to all day with his enthusiasm when talking about all of this! Looking forward to the next one

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks for watching! We hope that each episode will be as informative and entertaining! Keep watching and let us know!

    • @AmberPrince
      @AmberPrince 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes, he was great.

  • @AlexDKennedy
    @AlexDKennedy 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Wonderful video, thank you so much for making this!!

  • @tammysultimateimage4842
    @tammysultimateimage4842 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Loved it, very interesting and informative, I had never heard of this story... you all done great in your presentation , looking forward to the next episode!

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks so much, Tammy! We're really glad you enjoyed it!

  • @mradams3566
    @mradams3566 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Awesome video! I am related to some Napiers. My name is Zach Adams, my grandfather Charles mined in Harlan.

  • @nathanreuschlein4840
    @nathanreuschlein4840 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Well done, artfully made and skillfully presented.

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. New Episodes coming next month!

  • @mikek4443
    @mikek4443 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Sid Hatfield is a hero to all of Labor.

  • @labyrinth75
    @labyrinth75 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I was born in West Virginia. My dad's side all grew up there. In 1980, my dad took us away from there. I grew up in Arkansas but spent summers with my grandparents in their little town in West Virginia. I have fond memories of riding around that town on our bikes with my cousins. The last time I was in West Virginia it was for a funeral. Most of the family I have there is gone. West Virginia is literally a dying state for me.

  • @annohalloran6020
    @annohalloran6020 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Solidarity forever!!!

  • @510Redneck
    @510Redneck 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Man I just thought Sid had really bad teeth, I never knew it was fixed in gold because of the black and white photo's. I thought I knew this history pretty darn well but apparently I'm still learning so thanks for that bit of information.

  • @damnablethief
    @damnablethief 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I am from Matewan...my Great grandmother lived through this stuff...lived in a tent during the mine wars. What is sad is that the mone companies are STILL predatory af.

  • @YouSUBSCRIBE739
    @YouSUBSCRIBE739 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    New sub...luv this kinda history!

  • @blakegregory969
    @blakegregory969 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    A very Excellent documentary on the history of the Matewan Massacre. Sid Hatfield fought for the common man who was used and beaten down by the coal companies.

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks so much for watching and for the compliment. Sid Hatfield was a true hero of the working man. Hard to imagine what the coal fields would look like today if men like Sid didn't take the fight to the coal companies.

  • @AnthonyELewis
    @AnthonyELewis 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you.

  • @ronaldmccoy8994
    @ronaldmccoy8994 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Really enjoyed this

  • @rhess10
    @rhess10 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Bullets still embedded in the walls of that corner building.
    Crazy.

  • @billk2742
    @billk2742 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    100th anniversary of the march on Blair is upon us. I was overjoyed to see my great grandfather Fred Mooney in this video. 8:41 that picture of two men standing in front of the U.M.W. of A sign. Fred is on the left with Keeney on the right. PEOPLE STOOD UP! They might of got there ass handed to them at Blair but a message was sent. May god bless my people!

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That's really awesome! That's a pretty famous picture

  • @jman6109
    @jman6109 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow! That was so insightful and inspiring. Paula Jean and "The People's Party" informed me about the Labor uprising in West Virginia. Thankfully Politics has gotten less violent.

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      For now. It does feel as though sometimes we are teetering on the edge of another violent episode in the name of human rights.

  • @brookes.4545
    @brookes.4545 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    There was a movie we had to watch in school (public school in WV in the 90s) I think it was just entitled "Matawan". Wish I could find it again!! I'd want my children to see it- we are from a mining family. And everybody knows WV kids know their State history the best in the Union!!

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      GREAT movie! You can actually watch the full thing on TH-cam here - th-cam.com/video/PvLwOfLZAbY/w-d-xo.html

    • @brookes.4545
      @brookes.4545 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@RecordWestVirginia THANK YOU!!!!

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@brookes.4545 You're very welcome. I think it may also be on Amazon Prime as well.

    • @brookes.4545
      @brookes.4545 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @RecordWestVirginia literally watching it right now with my daughter!!

  • @SaadonAksah
    @SaadonAksah 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    awesome!

  • @toniblakeprojects
    @toniblakeprojects 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good job & congratulations 🎉🎈🎊🍾

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for watching!

    • @Rubiomon
      @Rubiomon 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      On the 100th anniversary of Sid and Ed’s assassination, I thank you for this great history piece. Solidarity.

  • @grimmgirlsgolf
    @grimmgirlsgolf 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    They are still struggling.

  • @joeyj6808
    @joeyj6808 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This was the time when unions were by and for the working rank & file. And that is why we had progress, and why we won. We need to get back to those days, throw the fat bastards who run all the unions out into the cold. And once again we need to have regular working folks run these unions.
    Also, Rest in Power Sid Hatfield, the last good cop.

  • @johnchambers2996
    @johnchambers2996 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This action along with the Blair Mountain, where the U.S. Army was used to crush a union strike, are the salient reasons for the incorporation of the 2nd Amendment in our Bill of Rights contract. That self-defense is the main reason why certain politicos are working to "infringe" upon that right. Also, coal miners were the main reason for draconian British gun controls; the state likes unarmed people until it has need for them to be armed .... to defend the state in two of its world wars.

  • @jlangdon1420
    @jlangdon1420 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Is there a record of the names of the miners that were killed or arrested?

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm not sure. But, I will search and see if I can't find one for you.

    • @jlangdon1420
      @jlangdon1420 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@RecordWestVirginia thanks

  • @BluntWeiser
    @BluntWeiser 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Sounds like endintured servatude, or something quite close to it. Corporations taking advantage of employees.

    • @RecordWestVirginia
      @RecordWestVirginia  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It was worse than indentured servitude, at least at some point you would be released from it. These miners were trapped totally in these jobs as they weren't making real money that could be saved or spent in any other part of the country. They were stuck. Luckily brave men, stood up and stood against these injustices, and helped not only bring better wages and conditions eventually to the coal miners, but to all working people in America. Thanks for watching!

  • @saltnutzzzz
    @saltnutzzzz 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Michael Parenti brought me here.

  • @billyb4790
    @billyb4790 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Don’t mess with a man with the last name Hatfield

  • @jaytowne8016
    @jaytowne8016 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Jinky tin... another name for script.

  • @scheistundzebreath
    @scheistundzebreath 2 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    "Two Gun" Sid Hatfield a hero.

  • @msavina9129
    @msavina9129 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I watched another TH-cam doc on Matewan n couldnt follow it. 🥱😴 This had my full attention.