Matewan in Mingo County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Matewan Massacre

Photographed By Mike McKeown

1. Matewan Massacre Marker

Inscription.
In 1920 area miners went on strike to gain recognition of UMWA. On May 19 of the same year, twelve Baldwin-Felts Agency guards came from Bluefield to evict the miners from company houses. As guards left town, they argued with town police chief Sid Hatfield and Mayor Testerman. Shooting of undetermined origins resulted in the deaths of two coal miners, seven agents, and the mayor. None of the 19 men indicted were convicted.

Erected by West Virginia Department of Culture and History. (Marker Number MG 2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Labor Unions • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 19, 1920.

Location. 37° 37.37′ N, 82° 9.93′ W. Marker is in Matewan, West Virginia, in Mingo County. Marker is at the intersection of Mate Street (listed as Main Street on many maps) and Ferrell Street, (Hatfield Street on many maps) (West Virginia Route 1056), on the left when traveling east on Mate Street (listed as Main Street on many maps). It is at the post office. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 181 Mate St, Matewan WV 25678, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cecil E. Roberts Building (a few steps from this marker);

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The Battle of Matewan (within shouting distance of this marker); Working Together for One Another (within shouting distance of this marker); Hatfield-McCoy Feud (within shouting distance of this marker); Divided Loyalties (within shouting distance of this marker); M.E. South Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mingo County / State of Kentucky (about 800 feet away); Sid Hatfield (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Matewan.

More about this marker. This is a tin copy of the historical marker up on Highway 49 about 1000 feet away across the railroad tracks.

Regarding Matewan Massacre. The town’s name is pronounced Mate-wan.

Also see . . . The Coal Mining Massacre America Forgot. Smithsonian Magazine website entry (Submitted on January 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 23, 2021

2. Matewan Massacre Marker

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 23, 2021

3. Matewan Massacre Marker

The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 23, 2021

4. The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum

The museum, in the former Matewan National Bank building, now the Cecil E. Roberts Building, is across the street from the marker.

Police Chief Sid Hatfield, Circa 1920 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

5. Police Chief Sid Hatfield, Circa 1920

Credits. This page was last revised on January 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2020, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 453 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on March 29, 2021, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on September 14, 2020, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 31, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.