Part 7/13:
In 1920, tensions peaked in the small town of Matewan. The town’s police chief, Sid Hatfield, was viewed as a hero by miners for fighting against the company and private detectives. When Baldwin-Felts agents attempted to evict unionized miners, Hatfield and the town leadership resisted. A firefight ensued—known as the Matewan Massacre—during which two Baldwin-Felts agents and five others were killed.
This incident galvanized the labor movement, boosting union support and emboldening miners to strike in 1921. As strikes spread, miners established tent colonies—makeshift communities providing basic shelter and aid amid dangerous conditions. These colonies stood as symbols of resilience but also of suffering; many families endured freezing cold, disease, and even death.