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
Category: The Coalfields
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
Ollan CassellOllan Cassell
Many world renowned athletes have come from Appalachia, from NFL players Thomas and Julius Jones to gymnast Mary Lou Retton, just to name a few. Today we tell the story
Cinder BottomCinder Bottom
Today we take another trip to Keystone, West Virginia. Last time we were here, we told of a bank failure so huge it was a forerunner of the financial crash
Mother Jones, Part TwoMother Jones, Part Two
Today we continue the story of labor activist Mother Jones, beloved by generations of Appalachian coal miners. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RadioPublic, TuneIn,
Mother Jones, Part OneMother Jones, Part One
A woman born in Ireland who immigrated to, first, Canada, then the United States, became a schoolteacher and dressmaker. The tragic loss of her husband and children led eventually to
An Insurance Scheme in Pike County, KentuckyAn Insurance Scheme in Pike County, Kentucky
What do you get when you mix a coal mine, explosives, and greed? Why, you get today’s bit of Appalachian history, of course! Today we tell the tale of an