Today is the 98 year anniversary of the Matewan Massacre, one of the deadliest events in the West Virginia Mine Wars. #MatewanMassacre #HistoryDocumentary
My grandfather was shot in the knee during this conflict, he was one of the 19 indicted for murder in 1920 at Matewan. My family and I are just getting details on his role of defending the coal miners.
The coal companies, esp in WV, actively fight to keep “labor history” out and then give free books and “educational materials” to school to promote their own agenda. You’d be shocked how hard they’ve fought to keep real economic and labor history out of schools.
A lot of people look down on Unions today but men like these coal miners have helped workers all over the country I have been a member of a railroad labor Union for the past 43 years
It wasn’t until the union leaders became self-serving, and started using their money and power against the best interest of their members and the rest of the country that people started feeling that way. Look at the absolute disgusting teacher, unions and public employee unions. They exist to do nothing but enrich themselves in the Democratic Party.
My 2nd great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Booher was one of the detectives killed at Matewan. My (still alive) grandfather and his two sisters often tell stories that they heard from their mother (Andrew’s surviving daughter)
If you read about the Wujek Coal mine massacre in Poland back in 1981, the parallels were striking. Only difference was that the ZOMO (An elite police unit that performed both the roles of a SWAT team and riot suppression unit) was the one who played the role of the Felts mercs. 20 years later, a bunch of former ZOMO officers who were assigned to that "pacification operation" were given sentences of 2-3 years in the slammer, and their commander was given 11 years.
My great grand fathers on both sides of my family were involved w/all that mess. My one great grandfather was the main overseer of one of the coal mines in the Cabin Creek area of West Virginia & his son which was my grand father worked in that same coal mine w/his brother-in-law immediately following World War II.
That building on the right was my tool house i was a signal maintainer for n&w.when they put the new road in i think they moved it i left red jacket 27 years ago
@@SprayNpreyT *_full disclosure, I'm reformed / repentant democrat_* ... have zero party allegiance to *_any_* party going on 5 years now - *_Sláinte!!!_* 💪☘️🔥🍻
Good job, Jake - kind of an abrupt ending, but overall good rendering of this black mark on American / West Virginia history - any thoughts about the 1987 John Sayles film *_"MATEWAN"_*
As an Englishman, I was introduced to this by the excellent Sayles film. I'm not sure on its veracity, though he's well known for his eye on authenticity. There are so many variations on the fued between the Hatfield McCoys it's hard to know what to believe. Are there any good books about this?
Ed Chambers is my relative.. my whole family is from Louisa, KY.. we worked and come from the mines for real.. my Great grandparents were deeply involved with Hatfield McCoy fighting on my Families land..
Great video. I just started a web series called Record West Virginia, all about the history and folklore of the state. Our first episode, is on Sid Hatfield and the Battle of Matewan. Check it out if you're interested. Would love some feedback.
Thanks for watching the video, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I actually saw that episode when it came out because I know some of the people featured in it. I was really impressed with the production quality, and it was really entertaining and informative.
OUTSTANDING.THANK YOU
My grandfather was shot in the knee during this conflict, he was one of the 19 indicted for murder in 1920 at Matewan. My family and I are just getting details on his role of defending the coal miners.
i wish we would teach this in schools
Teach real history. No way.
The coal companies, esp in WV, actively fight to keep “labor history” out and then give free books and “educational materials” to school to promote their own agenda. You’d be shocked how hard they’ve fought to keep real economic and labor history out of schools.
A lot of people look down on Unions today but men like these coal miners have helped workers all over the country I have been a member of a railroad labor Union for the past 43 years
*_AMEN!!!_*
It wasn’t until the union leaders became self-serving, and started using their money and power against the best interest of their members and the rest of the country that people started feeling that way.
Look at the absolute disgusting teacher, unions and public employee unions. They exist to do nothing but enrich themselves in the Democratic Party.
My 2nd great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Booher was one of the detectives killed at Matewan. My (still alive) grandfather and his two sisters often tell stories that they heard from their mother (Andrew’s surviving daughter)
Being a coal miner at this time was basically legalized slavery.
I would say it was more along the lines of sharecropping than slavery, since they were played, albeit with scrips.
@John Bruce Thanks John Those who are curious to dig history don’t get trapped when history repeats
Nice quick doc. I like the choice of images.
Thanks, glad you liked it.
If you read about the Wujek Coal mine massacre in Poland back in 1981, the parallels were striking. Only difference was that the ZOMO (An elite police unit that performed both the roles of a SWAT team and riot suppression unit) was the one who played the role of the Felts mercs.
20 years later, a bunch of former ZOMO officers who were assigned to that "pacification operation" were given sentences of 2-3 years in the slammer, and their commander was given 11 years.
My great grand fathers on both sides of my family were involved w/all that mess. My one great grandfather was the main overseer of one of the coal mines in the Cabin Creek area of West Virginia & his son which was my grand father worked in that same coal mine w/his brother-in-law immediately following World War II.
That is really interesting! Thank you for watching the video, and thanks for the comment.
The BFA were minor criminals. Sid was a hero. Matewan was a resistance against scabs. Everyone lost. Up the UMWA!
That building on the right was my tool house i was a signal maintainer for n&w.when they put the new road in i think they moved it i left red jacket 27 years ago
I put in a plastic outbuilding in red jacket yrs ago…I’m from Prestonsburg
That mob company still exists today with a new name
*_the dnc?_* ... *_u.s. congress / senate??_*
@@SprayNpreyT *_full disclosure, I'm reformed / repentant democrat_* ... have zero party allegiance to *_any_* party going on 5 years now - *_Sláinte!!!_* 💪☘️🔥🍻
Good job, Jake - kind of an abrupt ending, but overall good rendering of this black mark on American / West Virginia history - any thoughts about the 1987 John Sayles film *_"MATEWAN"_*
As an Englishman, I was introduced to this by the excellent Sayles film. I'm not sure on its veracity, though he's well known for his eye on authenticity. There are so many variations on the fued between the Hatfield McCoys it's hard to know what to believe. Are there any good books about this?
@@thenaughtystep There are quite a few books on Matewan, but probably not where they need to be: in schools everywhere
What was the Warrants for Baldwin-Felts Men for?
Supposedly they were for wearing guns in town. It was against the law in the area to bring guns into Matewan.
Ed Chambers is my relative.. my whole family is from Louisa, KY.. we worked and come from the mines for real.. my
Great grandparents were deeply involved with Hatfield McCoy fighting on my
Families land..
Thank you for watching the video, and for your comment!
ua-cam.com/video/pbu-AAlqDJg/v-deo.html
Please record the audio.
Great video. I just started a web series called Record West Virginia, all about the history and folklore of the state. Our first episode, is on Sid Hatfield and the Battle of Matewan. Check it out if you're interested. Would love some feedback.
Thanks for watching the video, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I actually saw that episode when it came out because I know some of the people featured in it. I was really impressed with the production quality, and it was really entertaining and informative.
"Hand-pressed"? Is that " hard-pressed"?
104 and a half.
Nice
glad you like it
Great doc. But the voice is piercing
You poor dear
You’d bitch if there was a cold breeze on a hot day I’ll wager
Why are Americans so terrified of unions
i been to mother jones grave every union menber should go their
Please provide these documentaries in hindi language too. Sometimes it make difficult to understand in English language.