Nelsonville in Athens County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Hocking Valley Coal Strike

1884-1885

Photographed By Jamie Abel, October 17, 2010

1. The Hocking Valley Coal Strike Marker

Inscription. Side A:

Following a wage reduction from 70 to 60 cents per ton after many Hocking Valley coal mines consolidated in 1883, the Ohio Miners' Amalgamated Association struck on June 23, 1884. The operators responded by offering an even smaller tonnage rate and a requirement for returning miners to sign no-strike contracts. The strike idled three thousand miners in 46 mines at Nelsonville, Murray City, New Straitsville, Carbon Hill, Buchtel, Longstreth, and Shawnee. (Continued on other side)

Side B:

(Continued from other side) Syndicate mines precipitated violence by importing hundreds of immigrant strikebreakers and employing dozens of Pinkerton detectives as mine guards. A mine fire set at Syndicate #5 in New Straitsville still burned more than one hundred years later. Although the strike ended in March 1885 with no victory for the miners, the Ohio legislature ended the operators' practice of requiring miners to trade exclusively in company stores. Strike leader Chris Evans later became secretary of the American Federation of Labor and was a founder of the United Mine Workers of America.

Erected 2003 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council, Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 6-5.)

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Labor Unions. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1885.

Location. 39° 27.638′ N, 82° 13.925′ W. Marker is in Nelsonville, Ohio, in Athens County. Marker is on Fort Street, 0 miles south of East Washington Street, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 Public Square, Nelsonville OH 45764, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. E. M. Poston (within shouting distance of this marker); Daniel Nelson (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans' Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Unknown Soldier Monument (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Street Cemetery (about 800 feet away); Hocking Valley Railway (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nelsonville (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hocking Canal Site (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nelsonville.

Photographed By Jamie Abel, October 17, 2010

2. The Hocking Valley Coal Strike Marker

Photographed By Jamie Abel, October 17, 2010

3. The Hocking Valley Coal Strike Marker

The marker stands in the middle of Nelsonville's Public Square, right in front of the historic Stuart Opera House.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2010, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,641 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 18, 2010, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.