UMW District 17 Formed – April 21, 1890UMW District 17 Formed – April 21, 1890
On January 25th, 1890, the United Mine Workers union was formed at a convention in Columbus, Ohio. The new union was formed by the merger of two older unions, the
Category: The Coalfields
Mine Explosion At Barrackville Mine No. 41 – March 17, 1925Mine Explosion At Barrackville Mine No. 41 – March 17, 1925
On this day in 1925 an explosion ripped through Bethlehem Mines’ Barrackville mine number 41 near Fairmont, West Virginia. 34 men were trapped in the mine by the blast. There
The Fraterville Mine DisasterThe Fraterville Mine Disaster
In May of 1902 one of the best-run mine companies in the Coal Creek, Tennessee, area suffered a disaster when an explosion trapped and killed 216 miners, all but 3
Stone, KentuckyStone, Kentucky
Stone was a small unincorporated community in Pike County, Kentucky. It was named not for any rocks or boulders found there; instead, it’s named after the Chairman of the Pond
The Thealka ExplosionThe Thealka Explosion
On June 17, 1922, a tremendous explosion happened at the Thealka mine near Paintsville, Kentucky, killing two miners starting up mine equipment. This blast was no accident. Join us today
Blair MountainBlair Mountain
One hundred years ago this month the largest labor uprising in American history occurred in southern West Virginia when striking coal miners gathered with weapons and headed toward the Appalachian
Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers Killed – August 1, 1921Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers Killed – August 1, 1921
On Monday, August 1, 1921, Sid Hatfield and his former deputy, Ed Chambers, along with their wives, arrived at the McDowell County courthouse in Welch, West Virginia, to face trial
April 11, 1908: Samuel Dixon Indicted For Peonage And ConspiracyApril 11, 1908: Samuel Dixon Indicted For Peonage And Conspiracy
Samuel Dixon was born on November 14, 1856, in Skelton, Yorkshire, in England, the son of an ironstone miner. At the age of 21 Dixon left Yorkshire and immigrated to
One Hundred Years Ago Today…One Hundred Years Ago Today…
In the spring of 1920 miners in Mingo County went out on strike in order to secure the right to join the United Mine Workers. The response of the coal
Jock YablonskiJock Yablonski
For years the UMWA was under the tight control of John L. Lewis. After he retired in 1960, he engineered the election of his hand-picked successor, Tony Boyle, as vice-president