In January 1920, the United Mine Workers tried to organize coal miners in southern West Virginia. About 3,000 miners joined, but many were fired and kicked out of company-owned homes. On May 19, 1920, 13 Baldwin-Felts detectives came to Matewan to evict striking miners.

Matewan’s police chief, Sid Hatfield, a union supporter, tried to stop them. As tensions rose near the train station, gunfire broke out. In the end, 10 people died, including both Felts brothers and the town’s mayor. Hatfield and others were put on trial for murder but were found not guilty.

This and other events from the Mine Wars are remembered today at the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum in Matewan.