Recon Survey Phase 1

8/6/2019 Recon Survey Phase 1

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Institu te for the Historv,

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of Technolozy_ . . .and Industrial Archaeology

"F~bruary 22, 1991Charles DaughertyWestcVirginia Humanities CouncilSuite:SOO, Th~ Union Building723 Kanawha Blvd, E. 'Char~eston, WV,25301...:..),

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'. J?lea~e: find attached the final draft of the report" "CulturalReconaissnace Survey. of Blair Mountain, "commissioned by thecouncI L. on Feb. 1,- 1991.' Copies of this final draft will also begi veri: t.o. Mike Burdiss, Speaker of the House Robert Chambers,William Drennen, and GarYWhite. Weadvise that the preliminary.'~.draft;:presented on.Feb.; 15 be. returned to us or destroyed, with the"'exception ...of: th'e' t.wo'_rnaps which, should be retained.. : . < : ' > " " , - ~ .~ " : - . - , - ' _ .-. :> ~tf t::::h~s 'been a. great, pleasure working with you and the other,,: p~r~i~-s';'invol ved in this' project ~ Feel free to contact us on anyfurther'work in ~his, or any othe, topic.Sincerely,

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. (3{}4) ~3-25lJ Bicentennial House ,1535 Mileground Morgantown, West Virgini:l 26505 FAX (~) 29


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PREFACE

The Institute for the History of Technology and IndustrialArchaeology is an institute,of academic and professional excellenceestablished to support public and private programs and ~rojectsconcerned with the history of technology, industrial archeology,and the preservation of engineering works. For the past twodecades Institute Director Emory L. Kemp has been extensively'involved in teaching and research in the history of science andtechnology and in the new field of iridustrialarcheology, utilizinga multi-disciplinary approach to the historiC;:preservation andinterpretation of industrial and transport~tio'nsites. In addition'to Kemp, who is a' structural engineer, there are historians,landscape architects, and other preservation oriented professionalsworking with the Institute who have experience in the field of siterec,or~ing using advanced techniques of photogrammetry and,cartography. The Institute also enjoys" a close professionalaffiliation with a leading firm of preservation architects, whohave participated in a number of relevant projects

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. . . . :" Numerous students in the flourishing public history program atWest Virginia University have'elected work at the Institute as aspecial 'area of concentration in their graduate program. As a~.re~ult;"a;whole range of new c6urseshave been developed in public:;h.1.st'6iy~~with'pecial emphasis on historic preservation and' the"In,dustrialRevolution, 'while at the,same time a strong relationship'has,resulted from establishment of a jOint program for teaching'and":res~arch with the Smithsonian Institution.West 'Virginia University is indeed fortunate to have the WestVirginia and Regional History Collection, a major archive in thehistory of coal mining with a strong emphasis in Appalachian,industrial and labor history. In addition, Ronald L. Lewis, laborhistorian and chair of the WVU Department of History, and BarbaraJ. Howe, coordinator of the Public History option, both serve asadjunc~_fa


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe Blair Mountain survey team wishes to thank all persons andgroups who helped in the w6rk assoc~~ted with this report. Special.thanks go~s to the West Vii~inia Co~l Association, the United MineWorkers of America, West Virginia Humanities Council and the

DIvision of Culture and History, for offering us the opportunity toundertake "this project. Dingess-Rum Coal Company offeredinvaluable assistance in supplying maps and offering logistical.support in the field, as did the UMWA. Howard Green, BernardAllen, Jim Woody, Greg Wooten, Gary White, Michael Burdiss and allthe folks who helped the effort in any way deserve special mention'~,we could not have accomplished our goals in such a short timewithout theirsupport~ As .always , we appreciate the support of the.Institute_staff, especially computer ace Stacie Webb, without whom....his'report would ever remain in draft form., . ; _ : . , . . ..:,',

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INTRODUCTION

..,The, following report, "Blair, Mountain Reconnaissance Surveyand Recommendations," was undertaken by Lee Maddex, Michael Workmanand' ~illy Joe Peyton of th~ Institute. The study addresses thecu l turallegacy relative to a se r Les of events commonly referred toas "The Battle of Blair Mountain," which occurred in August andSepteinber of 1921 in Logan' and Boone counties, West Virginia.Field investigations were completed between February 5 and February11, the re'port written between February 12 and 14, and submitted asa draft: to project sponsors on February IS, 1991. Due to theexceedingly short completion date of two weeks, this effort mustnot, be construed as a definitive study of the incidents of Augustand September, 1921, but rather as a preliminary resource survey., . Althoug'h the ch~inofsignificant ~vents leading up to' th~armed'~(;mflict began on Paint and Cabin creeks in Kanawha County in19l2arid 1913, ~ontiriued on, the Tug Fork in Mingo County in 1920,

andi;n ,Welch, McDowell County in 1921, this study addresses onlythose, events, which occur.red in Logan and Boone' ccunt.Les .betweenAugust' 12 and September 5, 1921. It represents a preliminary studyof. resources and locations based ,'upon a combination of field'investiga~ions, archival research at West Virginia University, the... ', "w.e~t:f;'Vir9,inia; State ..Archi v,~s" and ,the Eastern Regional Coal" "Arch~ves,' contemporary, newspaper' accounts, local sources, oral,intervie~s, and other scho LazLy and popular works.00 ' , . '. .' ..

The r~port is divided l.rl ' to fi v~ general s~gments, the first ofwhich'is the'Background' section. In this part, the parameters ofthe project are elucidated under the sub-headings of: TaskDirective, Methodol~gy, Study Area and Physical Description.Next is the Narrative section, which treats the battle interms of events and locations. Included is a 1926 topographicalmap (identified as MAP i) marked with sites, structures and othercultural resources identified by their level of historic. . , " . . . . , < . . .AJ.gn.i~an~-e.;.;,;1~1'41'4 Y;~9I1t._..M


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.' hypothetical Blair Mountain Historical Park are offered in thissection, ~with Design Considerations, Sug~ested _Themes forInterpretation and Suggested Alternatives for Preservationspecifically discussed. - Also _under this heading is a segmenidentified --as Criteria and Standards, which -offers_ suggestionsregarding criteria and standards of the National Park- Service'sNational Register of Historic Places and LandmarkHistoric Landmarprograms.

-The report concludes with an Appendix, with Recommendationfor Further Research, Recommendations for a Blair Mountain OralHistory Project, Evaluations of Shell Casings Found at CrookedCreek Gapj and 1990 House of Delegates Resolution-designating theroute of the March for Justice Road.

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5. USGS topographic maps illustrating locations of cultural-::';.~~.;..!o;_""!',,:-4~~Jl:CAci;~::1e:P. !~t~~,,.;D'..ovements~ fQt.~.~.t.s: _' ....a:cm~rt,6p~~etft.'ft'~t:"~~~~~~fl.through field investigations and research. .

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BACKGROUND

Task Directive, The goals and objectives of this survey are to identify keycultural resources and sites relevant to events that occurredwithin the:identified'study area~of Logan and Boone counties inAugust and:Septe,inber1921, commonly referred to as the "Battle of'.B1airMountain." Within this,framework the survey team, composedof . Institute staff, .will undertake to. determine areas ofsignificant activity. and movements of attackers, defenders andFederal army troops. The final product shall be in the form of a, . > report, with the following components:

1 . , ; : : < Brief overview detailing t.he,attle of Blair.Mountain.and 'its'significance withi.na historical context, based.upon archival research, contemporary newspaper accountsand scholarly works .2.Na~r~tive'description o i extant cultural resources~rid theii.respectiveroles in the context of the battle,. based upon:a combina~ion' of field investigations, < :_ undertaken, ori Boone and Logan.counties ,..archival research,"l0fa.1:souxces and newspaper accounts. " - .

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.'" 3. Identification'of zeLevant.v Locat.Lons and movements of, .at'tackers,'defenders and army troops deployed duringactions in and around the battle areas.4. 35mm black & white photographic inventory of culturalresources located as a result of field investigations" andprimary and secondary research.

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Before taking to the field, the team spent time involved inbackground researchat three major state archives with holdingsrelated to the battle: the West Virginia and Regional HistoryCollection at West Virginia University, the State Archives at theCultural Center in Charleston and the Eastern Regiorial Coa~Archives at Craft Library in Bluefield. Additional informatiori was... _...:.,._~ol+e.c~ed~dur.in.atwp -&en~ra~e_.info,qnation_exchange sessions_:wl"H~reb'--~a"':l!':;"';;-"''''''''''~~~.~ ~ ~~"""''!''''~"'-' ... _, ..... - ..... ~~~ ....~ .. ~': : . .~ y~ . . . .~n.:.~~..J;~~~~~(e-~l.+~;. ~..~~.~~~~~ __knowledge with 'the .team.- 'The first such session' was -at'theSouthern West Virginia Community College in Logan, and the secondwas'at Cabin Creek Medical Clinic in Dawes, Kanawha County. Thefruits of these efforts include historic photographs, interviewswith veterans who came forward-to-offer their account of events andpOint out specific sites of significance. All collectedinformation is either included in this report or will be madeavailable as a supplement to this effort.

As. previously mentioned, this study should not be construed asthe final word on the conflict or on the locations of significantresourc:es pert.aining to it.. On the contrary I due in 'part."to t~me ".constraints: imposed on the project, this document should be viewed

Methodology

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,This cultural resource survey was accomplished by a.combination of efforts by the Institute team responsible for thework. .Several days of preliminary research was conducted before.the team took to the field on February 5, 1991. A windshieldsurvey was undertaken on the same roads used by the combatants,starting at Jeffrey in Boone County and passing through Clothier,Sharples ,Blair , Hetzel, Ethel and, Stollings, before terminating atLogan. Photographic documentation of cultural resources was madein and around Jeffrey, Clothier, Sharples, Blair, Hetzel, Ethel andLogan.' From a vantage point atop the Blair Mountain Fire Tower theteam ~iewed and photographed the surrounding landscape, and thenpenetrated key watersheds and photographed areas of Beech, Crooked. and Mill~Cieeks as far as time and terrain would allow. A more in-~depth exploration and photogr~phic documentation was undertaken up.Hewi tt-:reek' to' its head on Craddock's Fork at Woodyville. .From:/there,:-a;;pedestrian survey was undertaken. on two separate occasions..':,/.o the.top'of. Crooked Creek Gap, where material- remains in the form:~ of rifle shells and ~tone fortifications were located .

. c : A~.am~tter of course, the survey team traveled over many keyareas either contested or occupied during the battle. Several. ' . . ridges,':c::>ftJ1,eI~ir Mountain chain were driven or traversed on footan_d_,:h_~t:ographed, including Ethel, Big Dark and Little:. Dark~. :':._,:h()llp~!{,_'sy:amore Branch of Hewitt Creek, and an area ref_~ried to. '.- .as~:lI~ ...Sm~th Hollow. One area not travelled but w~ th .som~'association to' the battle was George's Creek,' which empties into~ .:"Din~es~:Ru~at Hetzel. . . '. .

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as a preliminary study outlining general sites and resources ofimportance, with general recommendations for further study andsuggested alternatives for potential preservation. It was thesincere intention of the survey team as professional historians tomaintain an objective position relative to this study, and likewiseto .offer a fair and objective assessment of events as theytranspired in 1921. As such, the authors enthusiasticallyencourage further scholarship on this fascinating chapter ot ourstate's history

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Physical DescriptionThe region included in the study area is a 'wild and ruggedland of steep hillsides with 70,- 95 per cent slopes, covered with~econdand third growth hardwoodS, thick underbrush and briers ..Wildfires have swept the area on ,~numerous occasions, the most.recent in 'the fall of 1988. .Settlement for' the most part isconfined to long, narrow hollows that follow major creeks down totheir mouths. The view from the ridgetops appears unspoiled andscenic (except in mined sections)., but evidence 6f man's presenceis everywhere along the roads and creek beds. Certain areas havebeen' extensively mfned , and Beech Creek is the scene of anextensive mountaintop removal. Gob piles and remnants of contour'mining dot the' hillsides. . As a result' of the, coal economy,railroads criss-cross the study area along the major watersheds.,,",'Alth6ugh .the events of 1921'are commonlY-referred to as the.,Battle of~Blair Mountain, the area of involvement cover~dalarge" area'.of, central, Logan County and a small" segment of .scuchexn Boone,.,;.,.~.County-:',:eginning at the north, on State Route 17 in Boone Count.y,

'" :,~s the town of Jeffrey. South of Jeffrey on the Boone-Logan county".c line~is Clothier." The next; town of size isShai:ples,.then Blair-which~ lies at 1,000 feet elevation at the foot of Blair Mountain."'~.From,'Blair it,'is a steady' one-and-a-half mile climb with several

" s~i tchbacks to.the crest of Blair Mountain.,~. , ; "


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NARRATIVE

Chronology of Events(events in study area highlighted)

;..-August,.919 - First Armed March to Logan and Mingo Countieaborted.':"-Ja~uary30, 1920 - UMWA launches campaign to organize southerWest Virginia.--May 19, 1920 ;..atewan Massacre-:-~July.,' 1920' UMWA' strike shuts down mines in Mingo CountyBattle of Mingo begins.,,-:-August30 I 1920 - Federal troops under command of Col. SamueBurkhardt arrive in Mingo~county to guard coal mines.

.- .:...;'-:-N6v~'" 4',' 1920,,- Federal troops leave Mingo Co. after aidinope~a~6rsc in reopening,mines with strikebreake~s."';-Nov.27, 1920Mingo Co. - Governor Cornwell recalls Federal troops t

--February 16, 1921 - Federal troops leave Mingo Co.

--May 19 - Governor Morgan places Mingo County under martial laand organizes the Mingo Militia.

--June 13 - Mingo Militia raid UMWA tent colony at Lick Creek.-,-July 14 - Senate Committee on Education and Labor begins ainve~tigation of the violence,in,the coal fields of West Virginia.: .

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--Sept. 4 (Sunday) - Federal troops march up Hewitt:Creek to disarm~;t9~mes en ~sse,.Na-"'''--~''PT:- :~;~+~~fia; \TO i-ttn~e~~~~~:~=-"~~oa .. ~~A':'~~~~wsp .-';, ......e...!:''''uv.en~ - s aat Crooked Creek pass. -

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Captain Brockus establishes state police headquarters at Ethel.--Aug. 29 (Monday) - .Governor Morgan sends telegraph to PresidentHarding asking for Federal troops again, hastily establishes thNational Guard.

--Aug. 30 (Tuesday) - Miners move up White Trace Branch and TraceBranch at Blair and begin assault on Blair Mountain. Chafin turnsover command to Col. William Eubank of the National Guard.President Harding orders Federal troops to prepare to move intoWest Virginia, gives miners 48 hours to disperse.--Aug. 31 (Wednesday) - Heavy fighting begins on the battle line onSpruce Fork Ridge from the head of Mill Creek to Blair Mountain;Three deputies killed on Blair Mountain. 600 men from McDowellcounty':reinforce defensive line.

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'';;''-Sept.(Thursday) - Battle rages on all fronts; miners commanded.by Ed Reynolds battle de.fenders at Crooked Creek pass, make a.breakthrough of one and one-half mile, then are thrown back....."ubank organizes a second line of defense; bombs dropped byEubank's' forces at Jeffrey and Hewitt Creek.' .. :.; .~,.

. ' .... : t; .: .- .~ ::~."7Sept~i2 (Friday) - Heaving fighting .continues on all fronts;.bombs "dropped at Blair. Federal troops arrive in St. Albans and.begin t.rip.up Coal River.--Sept. 3 (Saturday) - Fighting continues along all fronts. Federaltroops arrive at Jeffrey, Sharples, Blair and Logan; 600 minersformally surrender.'

--Sept. 5 (Monday) - No fighting reported

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Narrative of Events in study Area" Although many of the events leading up the Battle of BlairMountain took place outside the study area, they are not treatedin this 'narrative. This omission does not, however, imply thatthe. sites associated with these events--such as the ballfield at

Madison where the miners assembled to hear Frank Keeney's speechonAugust 26--are insignificant. An excellent account of battle, from thi~ comprehensive perspective can be found in Thunder inthe Mountains by Lon Savage. Further research and field workwould be necessary to document and evaluate the sites in thiswider area.

.Developmerit.'of the Coal Industry

:.The ' d e've lopm ent ',of, th e Log an- Boon e C ount y' coal fie ld bega nin 190,4,'_'whenthe first cornrtiercialshipment took place on theChesapeake and 'Ohio Railroad., By 1921, there were 31 mines. operating in 'the approximately 81-square mile study area (See Map.1) '.The: major land companies were the Dingess Rum Coal Companyand, the':Boone' County" Coal Corporation. The mines were servedsolely by theC & a, which had two feeder lines running into the~rea. The~Guyan Valley Branch originated in Barboursville and-:~an':up.the" Guyandotte River. to Logan. .There, a spur extendedeastward .p:'Dirige'ssRuri, where it branched at Stollings ,one line"proceedirig;.:up,ingess Run to Ethel Hollow and the other up Rum,Creek>. The. ,CoaT River Branch originated in St. Albans,' ran.through':Be-one County 'to'Spruce Fork, with a spur extending upBeechCreek,and,terminated at Laurel Creek, just south ofSovereign.

There were a total of 913 miners employed in the 31 mines.Sixteen of the mines, located east of Spruce Fork Ridge 'andserved by the Coal River Branch of the C & 0, were organized bythe United Mine Workers of America. These mines employed 471me~. The remaining 15 mines, served by the Guyan River Branch of;._..2.:F~,~,~-p:~~~~-~.~~~~~~~~X:.~_I}9...~a


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2nonun~on.Mifflin Incident

, After a:year and one-half of stiuggle between union andn6nunion forces in Mingo County and 11 days after the murder ofSid Hatfield and Ed Chambers at Welch, the first clash occurredbetween union miners and 'state police at Mifflin, near Clothier.The miners had become agitated after the Welch shootings. Theyarmed themselves with rifles, pat'rolled the road along Spruce'Fork and screamed for,revenge. Lon Savage, in the accurate andhfghly readable work on the Battle for Blair Mountain, Thunder inthe Mountains,' describes the event:

On August 12, at Chafin's urging, five state troopers,in campaign hats and carrying guns, rode horseback into the,',area; and they pranced and ran their horses' alorig a dirt"'st.reetin the little town of Clothier as miners looked, on"'sullenly. "'A, trooper::galloped his horse full' speed into aparked carj~the horse reared and fell, throwing the trooper.,The troopers pulled a hapless mirier from ,the car, arrested'him, abus'ed him;' and sent him running for his mining cabin.The word spread: it was another 'example of the same WestVirginia, justice that had, caused Sid Hatfield's death.

=: , ',A/~ob of, armed,'miners for~ed to',retaliate. , They' mistook,\an:innocent. railroad man' [So P. Embry, Yardmaster at ,'; Clothier] for a poiiceman, and they' opened'fire aS,he drove, byi.the motorist barreled through the shooting ~ob and latercounted six bullet'holes in his car and,two in his strawhat. As evening fell, the mob stopped another'car, filledthis time with real state troopers who were hurrying toinvestigate th~ previous shooting, pulled the officers -fromtheir vehicle, disarmed them, cursed them and sent themfleeing back to safety in Logan Town.3

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~nited States Senate, Committee on Education and Labor,Conditions in the West Virginia Coal Fields. "Testimony of RobertBland, Judge of the Court of Logan," Vol. 1, p. S08i "Testimony ofWilliamM. Wiley," p. 511. Wiley was Vice President and GeneralanB:ger of ~oone County Coal Corporation . -, .'. . ,_..,~.", . J . . .:~." :~; :~


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about 25 miles.' Rather than being positioned continuouslyalong. this line, troops were scattered. They were concentratedat the major gaps along the ridge, Blair Mountain Gap and Crooked.Creek Gap .. They were repositioned when' necessary. It isapparent.that as the battle got underway and as'the positions oftheatta2kingforces b~came clear, the line was contracted. Col.W. E. Eubank~ assuming command on Aug. 30, testified that thedefense was positioned along "a line about 15 or 20 miles long.We held Blair Mountain, Crooked Creek, Mill Creek and PeachCreek."s However, the outposts on the right flank weremaintained until the arrival of the Federal troops on September3. According to a September 2 report sent by Carl Dodge toCommander Lilly of the Logan County forces, there were posts at"Mill Creek, Crooked Creek, Peach Creek, Ethel (Dingess Run),.Diriges~Run, Blair Mountain and Yolyn [on Rum Creek). ,,9at Blair; George's Creek Raid

. . . u i i 6 r i he~ring about Keeney"s'-speech at Madison urg1ng'the";,miners to .go home, Chafin disbanded his forces at 3 p, m. onFriaay,' August 26. The miners along Spruce Fork, however, werenot ready .to lay.downtheir arms:

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Alt~bugh ~ord of Keeney'~ballpark meeting spread across..!te.natioriFriday af te.rnoon,"it was slow in traveling the"doi,en.mires' along'.the marchers' planned route ,to the. little.town of Blair ~ There~..along' Spruce Fork and the base of.BlaitMountain-~beneath,the br~astworks and guris of Chafin's'.army'::"'":"armed~ebellious' miners' had no intention of ..alling off their: mazch . Telephone and telegraph wires layuseless along the roads, and armed patrols of miners blockedthe path of unfriendly visitors. It was an iron curtainthrough which truth had trouble passing, and miners behindit went on as before, continuing to prepare for their ~arch.

On Thursday night, nearly five hundred armed minersgathered at the union hall in Blair~ USing passwords, "i,~~,~...;.~,.,:~,:',:_,;~;;.t;~m.:.~~,';:~.~}~g:~'Ul.9.'!"Mj9-~O.'~._,~_~eymazched alonq ':th~...~ag~Q,~;~.I~...;,----r,--,:,-,~~-oc;;."St-Gppet!~iSS~r~ ...t)rdered --residents't-o~eorttrlbU:tl!~!:-=!';l.~money for ammunition needed in the march. .----.-

'Miners' Treason Trials, "Testimony of Don Chafin," Roll lA.8Miners' Treason Trials, "Testimony of Col. W. E. Eubank,"Roll 2A.9'"R~port of G. H. Gwinn, Carl Dodge, et aI," September 2, 4,1921~ Fil~;of.the Logan C6unt~Coal Operators' ASSOCiation" WestVirginia State Archives. --,_.. ,

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Late that night, they ran through the mining camps of thearea, rousing families from their beds, calling men out tofight, announcing the mines would be closed on Friday. Whenmorning came, the mines, indeed had to'close for lack ofthem. .'All government,. law and industry in the area now rested inthe hands of armed miners. 10. .

. Also on August 26 a group of militants from Spruce Forkunder the leadership of "Bad Lewis" White commandeered aChesapeake and Ohio Railroad train at Clothier. They headed itnorth to Danville and Madison and picked-up a force of 300 men.They'~rrived-in Blair in th~ early morning hours of August 27,.ready to .march on to'Mingo.11 .. .:In the evening hours of August 26, the Spruce Fork minerstook.~h~ offensive and launched th~ir first assault. A force of500;ma~ched" up Spruce Fork to a point near Sovereign, and then upthe ~o~htain'(probably up Adkins Fork) to the head of George's

Creek. -It is likely that they hoped to surprise the force ofdeputi~~ ~tati6ned at Ethel ~n Dingess Run. They then proceededdown George's Creek where they were met by a force of Chafin'sdeputies. The miners were.forced to retire. There were noreports.of "casualities.12-,.in ~~sp~rise to this assault and upon recelv1ng a phone callfrom'.stateax.Commissioner Walter Hallanan informing him thatthe mf ners" were commandeering trains, Sheriff Chafin re-deployed"- ..". 13his def~n~ive forces on August 27 at 12:05 a.m.

State Police and Logan Deputies Raid Beech CreekOn that same day, the State Police detachment at Williamson,commanded by Captain J. R. Brockus, was ordered by GovernorMorgan to proceed to Logan County to reinforce Chafin. Beforeleaving Williamson, Brockus talked by telephone with Chafin arid.made .pLans -.;t.o ..goon to Sharples and Clothier and.arrest .the30.or'~~:;':14:-lrlnei;S"~~.:ilad~ptured-::i!mdhamiel-fa ted ~the -~5tat:e:~;ll:R!:~'~=:-'"" " : ~ : . < ~ " "10 ..Savage, Thunder in the Mountains, pp. 86-87.11Ibid., pp. 88-89.l~untington Advertiser, August 27; Charleston Gazette, August27. No mention of this incident is found in Thunder in theMountains, ,the Treason Trials or the Committee _on Labor and~duc~~ion hearings.. ..:_~.lsavag~:~hund~r irithe Mountains, p. 90.

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Mifflin on August 12. Proceeding with some 70 troopers on therailroad from Logan Town, Brockus stopped at Ethel and augmentedhis force with 175 Logan County deputies. According to Savage,from Ethel,They followed a creek upward toward Blair Mouritain andwalked north along the ridgetop. In darkness, they followed

a rough horse trail called the "county road," descending,gradually into the Spruce Fork valley, union territory. Theroad led them to the head 6f Beech Creek, and they followedit down toward Sharples. 14 - ,Acco.rdLnq to the, testimony of Captain Brockus at the TreasonTrials,the force "left Ethel and went up Dingess Run tQ thel~eadof the creek and crossed the mountain and down Beech Creek." ',rulton,Mitchell, a Logan countY,deputy sheriff who accompanied

: . . ' , : ' : ~ . Broc~us;; testifi:d at the same proceedings that the force w r 6 nt'" ' "over the mountiaLn from Ethel to Left Fork and down Beech."i , . . , . ' , , Marching' down Beech, Creek, .capturing miners, as they, went and" '" 'positioning the captives in front of the column,' 'the force met a

" dozen' armed ri!inersat Boone' County Coal Corporation.No. 2 camp at" Montclo, 'a'town of 142 houses. Shots,'were fired~ , Two minerswer~ killed an~ oneseriou~ly wounded; ,The troopers ~nd deputies~etreated back up Beech Creek, taking with them five '' , ' , prisoners .,1~:'As,reports of the Beech Creek battle spread to" _::'"Sprrice~, Fork',';to'-Madisonand to' the Kanawha Valley, the miners who~",,", had W ~ : h : : : : t r : : o ~ : : : : : p : : : : e w : : e ~ : s : a : : : : r w a y . u ring t h e

.~. retreat up~Beech,Creek found themselves at Hewitt Creek. They,"entered Nelson's Boarding House and received a meal; but werecaptured by the union forces. They were later taken to MannRi7e'sfa f e F at Missquri Fork of Hewitt Creek where they were heldpr~soner.

15Miners' Treason Trials, Reel 2A.16Miners' Treason Trials, Reel 2A.17Savage, Thunder in the Mountains, pp. 95-96.u ' 'George T. Swain, Facts about the Two Armed Marches on Logan,(Charleston, WV: A ce E nterp rises ), 1962, pp. 22-24. Also see,"",' Miners ' Treason, Trials I "Testimony of Elbert 'Gore;" Roll 2Ai and~. '~Testimony of Fulton Mitchell, II R,oll 2A. '.

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Both Sides Prepare for BattleThe Beech Creek battle touched off a spark, and now minerswere more determined than ever to cross over to Logan Town. Theydecided, however, to wait for the main body of miners before theymounted an offensive. Until that time, they placed defensivepositions ne~~ the heads of Hewitt Creek and Beech Creek and onthe,easterri slope of Blair Mountain to intercept any new

invasion. They established armed patrols and continued tocommandeer trains to transport supplies, ammunition and men fromthe, north. They established a he~dquarters at the BlairSchoolhouse. It was here that Bill Blizzard, allegedly theGeneral of the miners' forces, was seen by Harold M. Richards,Vice President and General Manager of Opperman,Coal Company,making a speech.19 They set-up commissaries, supply and first-aid stations at two'points on Hewitt Creek: at Jeffrey Bottom,2/5 of a mile from the mouth of Hewitt creek,20 and at SandersSchoolhouse, near the mouth of Sycamore Branch of Hewitt21, . ,Creek." ~ , ,'"

I ,~:. - . . . . . .No fighting was reported on August 28 or 29 as both sidesreadied themselves for battle. Governor Morgan telegraphedPresident Harding asking for Federal troops and hastily assembleda National Guard. Units w~re organized in Huntington,Charleston, Welch, Logan ~nd Bluefield~ Volunteers also came,from'Mingo County. In Bluefield" the American Legion organized aspecial 'company of two hundred men. Chafinmoved'hisheadquarters from the courthouse to the Aracoma Hotel, where',la:dies,'establishe:da commissary, serving' 500 men in the lobby. 22,"On August 30' Colonel William Eubank of Welch, designated ascommander of the National Guard by Governor Morgan, arrived atLogan. Chafin turned over his command to Eubank, and theyplanned their defense. Their forces--now about 2,800 men--wouldHMiners' Treason Trials, Roll 3.20IlInterview by Michael Workman and Lee Maddex of~Henry Whi~e,".,--. Feb.'7-'- =-199 1~- :,-: Mr.White told:us of the location'Of:thecommi'ssaryat Jeffrey Bottom and pointed-out where a bomb had been droppednea;:by.2~iners' Treason Trials, "Testimony of Ed Reynolds," Reel 1A.This location is corroborated in "Interview by Michael Workman andHoward Green of Joe Ball," Feb. 8, 1991. Ball was raised on Ball

Branch near the Sanders School. He told us that SandersSchoolhouse was used as a "mess hall,lI and that he had watched themovement of miners up Hewitt Creek while hid away in a cane patch.22savage, Thunder in the Mountains, pp. 101-02. ,

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hold the Spruce Fork ridgeline and concentrate their defenses atBlair Mountain, Crooked Creek, Mill Creek and the ridgeoverlooking the head of Beech Creek. They placed machine guns,breast-works,and rock fortifications at these key points andstrung telephone wire from them to their headquarters .. ,". . . .Meanwh1le, the miners were being strengthened by the arrival

of fresh troops and supplies from the north. A. B. Browning, amerchant at Blair, testified at the Treason Trials that there wasa 'force' of about 2,000 armed men around Blair on August 30.24Assault on Blair Mountain

In the evening hours the miners began an assault on theBlair Mountain, stronghold. According to Browning's testimony, aswell':as that of Ira Wilson of Blair, the attack was two-pronged., A'co~~any 6~,from 25 to SO:men, led by Reverend John E. Wilburn,.:':advanced uP a narrow hollow behind the Blair Schoolhouse then','known a's Ge


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Later that day, as the miners recognized the impregnabi~ityof Blair Gap, fighting shifted to the Crooked Creek/Hewitt Creek._. ..;.:~....sectar"*_~:wJlel:~~t:I-emaineq.until the end of ..he ..battie. :"-~Hewitt ..,.._."~;:~:.;;-~'~~f;:4;;=t-.2l.= .,-':?~~= : - c l _ ~g;;r. i 1Re- '~.:;~:.-~-.:".~~-.i~i:;:'::!;iri':-;Milt:r;si~~:>

......l~.;..;_''''''.c:.~'~ :..~ .J, ' ;L b _~ ...._~-.. _ " ,.; ,~ ~ .. ~ _ . .. ~ ""~ .. ~ ~"L'_"". ,. , ._ ,' . .,~L.~'_R"_..~_.. ..

a reaching for guns ... and then everything exploded ingunfire.All three of the Logan men fell, mowed down by thefusillade from Wilburn's men. Gore managed to get a shototf before he fell, and the other two may also have shot.Eli Kemp, a black in Wilburn's column, turned to run when abullet struck him in the small of the back and ripped. 26through his chest.

All three of the Logan men were killed. Kemp was taken toDr. Milliken's office in Blair where he later died. According to.J. C.Hardesty from Logan Town, who found the bodies of the Logandeputies, the shootings too)< place "at the left hand side ofBlair Gap, the gap through which the public road goes, about 10027yards or. more from the road.".. On August 31, after the killings at Blair Gap, fightingerupte.c:;iall along the line. Savage estimates the number' oft r6o ps~i rivb lved as 2,800 defenders and about 7,200 ~iners:

10,000 rnen.28

In the morning the. fighting was concentrated atBlair: Gap:'At the Blair Mountain breastworks, a machine gunchattered, and several hundred deputies and volunteersmaintained a steady 'rifle fire. The fighting becameincreasingly heavY .. Eubank sent a'state police captainwith. si~teenpicked veterans to help, and for two. hours theyexchanged shots with miners. A veteran of France and the'.Roumanian outbreaks, the. captain returned reporting, "Inever:expe~ienced anything like that battle .. ~ bullets were.hiSSing back and forth all around our heads. 29

. .:.\~:. .~ '~ ,: . >, ' > .

Fighting-Shifts -to Crooked Creek Gap .~:., i. " . .:. . c.~:"'"."-.'.._.~....._~

26Savage, Thunder 'in the Mountains, pp. 110-11.27Miners' Treason Trials, Roll lA.28Savage, Thunder in the Mountains, p. 107.

, . . . ' . . ._ . . . . . '" % 'i b " i d ~ u ; - 7 P ~ - ~ l i ~ :_ :._ . . . . ';''';. :

2100198. .

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' . " : 0 . - - : . . : ~ .~ : : . r : 0 -: . o~; :. ' . . : .

.3~iners' Treason'Trials, "Testimony of C. G. Willi~ms;" Reel2B. Also see Meador, Goldenseal, "The Seige of Crooked Creek ..ap, It.p. 53 in which Early Ball estimates the number of armed miners on. . , .> : _._the c~J:t -f.~rk ..of ~iiewitt:..t.o:hal.r.e....been 5,000 . ... .,..;,;;_ .. ;.~;:_;....::.;.s.. r - ;:_ ,. . . .. ,~ .~.T .; ~-::-=~:.~7~;;==7~....,~.'..~~~~~~77;;~:..'.",:~~.'.,::-~~:f:::};~~~7~~~~!._F~:; !7Reported iri"Savage,--Thunderin the Mountains, pp. '111':"12~"...

3~iners' Treason Trials, Roll lA.33Charleston Gazette, September 5.3~iners' Treason Trials, "Testimony of Col. W. E. Eubank,"Roll 2B. Also "Interview by Michael Workman and Lee Maddex ofHenry White," February 7, 1991. Mr. White pointed-out where thebomb:'-atJeffrey' l-anded~~lso "Interview by Michael Workman and.HowardGr~en~f :Joe..alll February 8, 1991. Ball said that~hea w ..one"of-'Cha!ln~s'ptlots '~drop:a bomb ~. Healso knewwhere-:-one'i1f~the~~~

22

O d )0 At hCreek swarmed with 1,500 to 2,00 arme m~ners. t eCrooked Creek gap, miners were pinned-down by machine guns. AnAssociated Press correspondent reported that the miners movedforward "time and again, but at each attempt machine guns andrifle fire drove them back."llOn September 1, the miners, led by a company commanded by EdReynolds, attempted to outflank the machine gun position and push

through to Logan Town. According to Reynold's testimony at theTreason Trials, he had between 300 and 500 men. They wereequipped with a Ill-shot Gatlin gun obtained from a coal companystore~ The company succeeded in breaking-through the line in abattle in which three miners were shot. They spent the nightcamped on the mountain. Taking lithenotion that they were goingto Logan the next day, they went down the right hand side of thehill for about one and one-half mile" before they were thrown-back.32 In response, Col. Eubank shifted a contingent ofMcDowell'volunteers from Mill Creek to meet the assault. Eubankalso~~rganized a second line of defense around Logan Town, with, " ' .. -' .' 33 .the force~ concentrated at Peach Creek. . .Logan Air Force Strikes Back; Heav-j'fighting continued at the Crooked Creek/Hewitt Creek. sectoi:~from September I to September 3. In response to the.. ~At~a~kil~,this sector, Eubank ordered his air force, which had. , , : " ! < ', ' . . . ' beeI1,~,'flYi.ngeconrieLssence missions ~ to drop homemade bombs onthe.mineis,'.Eubank testified that gas bombs and "5, 6or'?regular bombs" were dropped on September I and 2. The "regularbombs'~wer~~"six:"'inc~pipe, nipples with union joints, filledwith black powder and nuts and bolts." One was dropped at Blair34 .and others on the road going up toward Crooked Creek.

: : " { ' : ' . ; , ',:a "

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According to an unsigned document, a pilot's log, found in thefiles of the Logan County Coal Operators' Association files,Hanes - Plane that dropped bomb.Went to Blair and circled around. Before we got to Blairone-halt mile two cars and twenty five men in the middle ofthe zoe'd, Dropped one bottle [gas bomb], struck .100 feetfrom crowd. Went on to Balri [sic] and dropped bomb, do notknow whether bomb went off or not. Circled again anddropped bottle, struck just across road from barracks.Went on to Bald Knob, struck road east of Bald Knob, turnedwest and followed railroad to Bald Knob. Saw no men out3Sthere at all. Dropped three bottles at Bald Knob.Federal Troops Arrive., _~.,On' September 2 heavy fi'ghting continued on all fronts. Five.miners: were' reported killed Thursday and Friday.36 Chafin's._deput.les: brought in 18 prisoners of war from the miners' army..Friday: afternoon. 37 But, by Friday, Federal troops had. arrivedin\St.'Albansand had beguri their trip up Coal River to the;' battlezo_ne.

_" ," ', ... ' .: :,"On Fridaymorning at 2 a.m. General Bandholi of the U.S.'.. Army, summoned .Governor Morgan to his hotel room in Charleston.":':;)ie;~:.tol.d;he(Governor that after> hearing reports of the situation,, . , ; " h e Y ' had:'declded' that there 'was no" alternative other than to call-'.\~~,(n~:"Fede'raLroop's'.-Morgan r - leaving the hotel, told reporters: ".I.',." , . ",,'. ...' . -. 38 ':~have .noth~ng to say. . I am: through ~It Federal' forces at Camp'ni'x',::'New'Jersey,Camp shezman , ohro , and Camp Knox, Kentucky werec~lled-6uton Friday morning and sent off to West Virginia. .Meanwhile, on Friday Bandholz ordered an air reconnaissance bythe 88th Air Squadron commanded by Billy Mitchell. The aircraftof the. 88th made a half dozen or so such flights for ,General. '....:

\

bombs had landed, near Sander's Schoolhouse. The location of the..Sand~;- 'osS~E~~,I~ouse bomb landing is corroborated by Ear~y .B~li, in. .. .. 'r""~~-r ...u >~ :;""-~ ~"'''''' ... ~ ~ --.~.::II"'~~=-- f 'r"_,.. k >d"~'o . 1. - - ,~ -" -" '- --.'t~"---".:':!II"'-'-""_: :, -: . _....c:


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,. ,

Bandholz, but it fired no shots and dropped no bombs.J9 The2,100 troops arrived on September 3. Bandholz utilized a classicmilitary strategy to quell the rebellion: a pincer movement.The Nineteenth moved up Coal River from St. Albans to the SpruceFork Valley, behind the miners' lines; the Fortieth Infantry from,Carr.tPnox moyed to Logan to relieve Eubank's army, and theTwenty-Sixth'was stationed at Madisonl ready to relieve the~inetee~th'in the Spruce Fork Valley. 0 'Although fighting continued along the front throughSeptember 4, the miners did not r.esist the Federal troops. Theywould not fight Uncle Sam, they said. They surrendered and weredisarmed. Many reportedly buried their guns or hid them intrees. '...y September 4, after the Army troops. marched up HewittCreek to disarm the miners there, the battle was, over. OnSepteMber 4, the National Guard and volunteer forces weredisbanded. 41 .

. .."It, is difficult to ascertain the exact number of deaths.incurred in the, battle. Newsmen covez Lnq, the battle found it. difficult, to learn the number of casualties because the miners,.:"carried their dead and wounded away with them. ,,42'GeorgeSwain, author'of 'the Facts. about 'the Two Armed Marches On Loganclaims that as many .as 47 lost their lives. 4; Lon Savage, whodocumented, every' death, gives a lower, probably more accurate,.count of,16--all but four from the miners' army."

.;~.. . ' , J--

J9Ibid., p. 128. See also Dr. Maurer Maurer and Calvin F.Senning, "Billy Mitchell, the Air Service, and the Mingo War," The, Airpower Historianl_Y'Ql!._XIl.J pp , 37-43. c --_::~~~~~{:;~~~~~.~:~~0~~~;,-r ~~Z' ._. - ':,~~df~:"~":._'~';: , _ ~-4~'i'......._;-;:~~::::..::,-..~~~~~". "', Savage~""Tnunder"ln=tfie lf6unl:-arns,p.131-:- ':"..,.,....-._:~.'_--...:...

. ....

. 41 .Ib~d., p. 139-142.4~ew York Times, September.3, 1921. Quoted in Maurer Maurerand Calvin F. Senning, "Billy Mitchell, the Air Service and the

Mingo War," p. 41.43George Swain, Facts About the Two Armed Marches On Logan, p44.44 .. S avage,.-Thunder ..n the Mountains, p. 140.

24. ..

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.~'':'''':.'::.k.':~~'.J._~~'::'l'':':'~':f'' '''-:''''':::!'"''''~'"~'~-'l" ,:.~, v= ..;_.". 'l -~~ >: 1 __ . ':l.. ..~~~,,,:,,,_,'''' ~ ,~__.-.,--:,.._~,._._ ~_._.,_._,,,,,,_..~., _._L~ ~_- ~_ ~ , , . . = " . , , , - . . . _ . . . . .M_ . .. . ,. _ ., ,._ .. _ ~,._ ._."

Significance of Battle of Blair MountainThe Battle of Blair Mountain is significant on a national. level in two areas: military history and labor history. Underthe'first heading, the battle has been called America's largestarmed insurrection since the Civil War.'s Seven to ten thousand.coal.miners took up arms against state and local governments andmarched, in defiance of a Presidential ultimatum, against an armyof nearly three thousand state constabulary, deputy sheriffs andvolunteers. The intervention of ~,lOO Federal troops wasnecessary to quell the rebellion. In addition, the 88thSquadron Army Air Corps under the command of General BillyMitchell was used for reconnaissance flights, this being the onlyoccasion in which an Air Corps unit was used in a civil.6 .disturbance .

. - ";; In labor history, the' battle was the greatest domestic armed" corifLfct:in Arnerican labor .history." It marked the high tide'of.the' un; ted Mine Workers' of America as it attempted to organize;/.. aLl .the nation's mines under its banner following World War I.. .:. On t.he eve of the battle, only Mingo, Logan; Mercer, McDowell and.Wyoming counties of Southern West Virginia stood in the way ofcomplet~'unionization of the nation's coal fields. If thesehighly.product~ve fields could be organized, the union would'.:.' \ -;ticcee(:Linfulfilling this long-standing goal. For a few hours." .... at:Crooked:.Creek Gap, the.miners/ like Pickett's. forces att;":"~Gettysburg;:: broke through .the defenders' lines arid threatened:, .' =: Logan Town. '.;ut they were quickly throwri back. Sheriff Chafin.and' the .Logan,County defena i ve forces, like the French at Verdun,.'said,' "They shall not pass," and held the miners'at the ridgelineuntil the Federal troops arrived.

The Crooked Cre'ek Gap breakthrough would be the deepestpenetration' of. the UMWA into Southern West Virginia :for.cvez adec ad e .. T he "de cl ine in the coal'market and the rise ofconservative, even reactionary, political forces in the 1920s, .placed the union on the defensive. Within a year after the miners.withdrew...f~Qf!L.the..attlefi.elq, the UMWA wasexpell~d ~f.r9m.~e.__._ ,::-~r::~~th-oasterriWest.: irniR.ia-'~:~h~~:' fu~"'4 .~~~.:~.. ..~~~' ~ '. ..,.. .~_.:...:;,&_~_!":!':\~~J.J.. .::::t:~ i"~cheaper, nonunion coal displa6ed union coal in-th~ shrinkin ..'mar~et, the union was thrust out of the Kanawha field, en.ding its.SSavage, Thunder in the Mountains, p iii.6Maurer and Senning, "Billy Mitchell, The Air Service and theMingo War," p. 42.n ... David Alan Corbin, Life, Work, and Rebellion in the .Coal .Fields' - The Southern West Virginia Miners, 1880-1922, (Urbanal'.illinois: University'of IllinOis Press, 1981), p.195.~..... :~.;....'

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presence in Southern West Virginia. In 1925, as the open-shopmovement gained momentum, the union was expelled from theFairmont, Elk Garden and Panhandle fields of Northern WestViiginia~ In 1926-27 it was pushed out of SouthwesternPennsylvania and Southea~tern Ohio. By 1928, the UMWA was facedwith extinction as even its home base in Indiana was threatenedby nonunion foz-ces .48 It was not until 1933, after the-enactment of the National Industrial Recovery Act, that the UMWAwas-firmly established in Southern West Virginia and thet. 49na ~on. - -

In West Virginia history the Battle of Blair Mountain issignificant in two areas: political and labor history. HowardB. Lee, Attorney General of West Virginia from 1925 to 1933,_wrote in Bloodletting in Appalachia that the battle was a "bloodyblot --n the State's history." '0 Certainly, it produced apolitical crisis of large proportions. The battle and theTreason Trials, which lasted from April, 1922 until 1924, fixednational attention on-fabor problems in the state. _Two separateCo nqz-ess Lona L investigations of the coal industry in 1921 and1922_focused on conditions in the state. 51 In terms ofinstituti6nal development, the battle brought about the peacetimeorganization of the National Guard as an means to deal with suchdisturbances. 52 In labor history, the battle, as aforementioned,led to the expUlsion -of the UMWA from the state.

--. " ;i l '~.

- - -48Irving Bernstein, A History of the American Worke~,- 1920 -1933: The Lean Years, (Boston: --Houghton Mifflin Company, 1960),pp. 127-136.~;~:z~~~-~;~~-.ii~B-~*-P~ii~1F~,,-oirtr~~;i~n; ;-_--4-~~"~~; : {~.~I- i - . ;~&~Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 1985), p. 234

.. sOHoward Lee, .Bloodletting in Appalachia, (McClain PrintingCompany: Parsons, 1969), p. 102.5~ni ted States Senate, Committee on Education and Labor,

Hearings on West Virginia Coal Fields, (Washington, D. C.: GPO,1921), 2 vols.; United States Coal Commission, Coal CommissionReport. (Washington, D. C.: GPO, 1925).. . . . . . -. -. . . - ' .. - ._ _:.".5~ountaineers Are Free: A History of the Guard, pp. ~31'- 138...Manuscript.-obtained from.theest Virginia -Air NationaloGuard .::.~.

26

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Selected BibliographyAnson, Charles Phillips. A History of the Labor Movement in WestVirginia. Ph. D. dissertation, University of NorthCarolin9-' 1940.Blankenhorn, Heber. "Marching Through West Virginia." TheNation, September 14, 1921, pp. 288-89.Bluefield Daily Telegraph. August - September, 1921.

,27

Charleston Daily Mail. August - September, 1921.Charleston Gazette. August - September, 1921.

"Corbin, David Alan. Life, Work, and Rebellion in the ,CoalFields: The Southern West Virginia Miners, 1880-1922., 'Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press" 1981._ . - r -..:..; . ,.- - . ;Deitz,~Dennis J.' The Flood and th~B1ood. South Charleston,

-i '.._West'Virginia: Mountain Memory Books, '1988.Feth~rliri~ Dale. Mother Jones, The Miners' Angel~ C~rbonda1e,.,''~Illinois: Southern ~llinois University Press, 1974.

" Firi'k~Gary M.'and Merl E. Reed, editors. Essavs in Southern' ;:',',',"'," < ' Labor History. Selected papers, Southern Labor History",' 'Conference, 1976., Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1976.-.Essays by David P.Jordan; "The Mingo War: Labor Violencein the Southern West ,Virginia Coal Fields, 1919-1921," and,by David ,A. Corbin, "Frank Keeney is Our Leader, and WeShall Not Be Moved: Rank and File Leadership in the WestVirginia Coal Fields."

\.

: -' .Hu'ntington Advertiser.' August - September, 1921.Lambie, R. M, Chief, Department of Mines. Annual Report of the" , _ _,.Departmentf Minas for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, .1920.__'_;\~F~'~~r~_t:D:Pcrdtl_Qsj;.:~g~~~~~:-~r,f~J;l~'r_.p~:!;ltfEg:~~~; ..-~~~::;:;!2.~Lane, Winthrop D. Civil War in West Virginia. New York: Arno. Press, Inc., reprint edition, 1969. Originally published in1921.Lee, Howard B. Bloodletting in Aooa1achia, the Story of West

Virainia's Four Major Mine Wars and Other ThrillingIncidents in its Coal Fields. Parsons, West Virginia:McClain Printing Co., 1969., Logan Banner. August - September, 1921. . .

~, .

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Logan County Coal operators' Association. "Report of G. H.Gwinn, Carl Dodge, et al." From file at the West Virginiastate Archives.Lunt, Richard D. Law and Order vs. the Miners--West Virginia,1907-1933. Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books, 1979.Mechinsky, 'Ann. "National Register of Historic Places Nomination

of Battle of Blair Mountain Site." 1980.McCormick, Kyle. The New-Kanawha River and the Mine War of WestVirginia. Charleston, West Virginia: Mathews Printing andLithographing Company, 1959.

.' "The Historic Battle for our State Police." The---C~h~a-r-l-=-estonazette Magazine Section, July 28, 1957.Maurer, Maurer and Calvin"F. Senning. "Billy Mitchell, the Air..Service, .and the Mingo War. II The Airpower HistoI:"ian.MontgomerY, Alabama:' Air Force Hist9rical Foundation, 1965.Vol. XII, No.2: pp. 37-43.

. ..Meador,'Michael., Charleston,'.June, 1981,"The Red.Neck War of 1921... Goldenseal.West Virginia: .Mountain Arts Foundation, April-pp . 44-51.. , _ . ' .

\.',.. .

..,.' "The Siege of Crooked Creek Gap," Goldenseal.,:"< '..cnar-Lest.on, West Virginia: .'ountain Arts Foundation, April-~_:.,:.'.:r.u~e,1981.pp~ 52-57.. ',- - .'~The"ine.-Operators.Explain. .. The New Reoublic, September 28,1921"pp. 118-9.

Miners' Treason Trials. "State of West Virginia vs. John E.Wilburn and Walter Allen,'~ 1921. 6 rolls of unpaginatedmicrofilm available at West Virginia and Regional HistoryCollection.

Guard.National Endowment for the Humanities. On Dark and BloodvGround. Oral history published by Miner's VOice,Charleston, West Virginia, 1973. Anne Lawrence, ProJectDirector.Phillips, Cabell. "The West Virginia Mine War." AmericanHeritage, August, 1974, pp. 58-61, 90-94.

. .Rice, Otis.' West Virqinia: A History. Lexington, Kentucky: _.__.'.niversity ..Pressof "Kentucky.,1985.- !,-. -:----:';~28

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Savage, Lon. Thunder in the Mountains. Elliston, Virginia:Northcross House, 1986.Swain, George Thomas. Facts about the Two Armed Marches OnLogan. Charleston, West.Virginia: Jones Printing Company,1962.

History of Logan County,'West Virginia. Publishedby Swain, 1927, printed by Kingsport Press, Kingsport, Tenn.

Thurmond, Walter R. The Logan Coal Field of West Virginia.Morgantown, West Virgina: West Virginia University Library,.1964. .'.United states Senate. Committee on Education and Labor. Hearingson Conditions in West Virqinia Coal Fields. 67th Congress,.first session, 2 vols. Washington, D. C.: GovernmentPrinting Office, 1921-22.

Wheeler, HoytN.- "Mountaineer Mine'Wars: 'An Analysisof,theWest Virginia Mine Wars.of 1912-1913"and 1920-1921,"Business History Review, Spring, 1976, pp. 69-91.-

Wheeling, Intelligencer'.August - September, 1921.Williams, John Alexander. West Virginia, a Bicentennial History.New Ydrk: W. W.,Norton & Co., 1967._ ' P,'~ & ,wo~kman,Michael E., Billy 'Joe Peyton and Lee Maddex. Interviews'6f,BillyAdkinsj,JoeBall, Chick Chafin, Orville Craddock,'Claude Crawford" Marvin Dial,'Mel Triolo, Henry White and" Wavy White. February 6, 7, 8, 1991. .

. . .... . . .~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - , - . . : ~ . '_ ' : : _ - - .. . . . . .e : ~ . . , " : : ' , - . ; ~ _ . . .~: _ ~ - . c .- - " . 'e : . ' "" . . .. . - .. ~~; -' vT~. - ,"~.:;:~~r.--";.''~~:7 ~j .., .. !! II ItEILOJ-=: . .. . 18 ._ .__

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Primary Resources

1. Crest of Blair Mountain - scene of major fighting, includingarea where deputies Gore, Cafalgo and Munsey were shot andkilled.~'Thi area is a likely location for material evidencesuch as eatth and stone fortifications, archaeol6gical remainsand artifacts. A historic marker on Route 17 and the BlairMountain Fire Tower and CCC ranger cabin site are included withinthis area.

2. Spruce Fork Ridge ~ from crest of Blair Mountain at the FireTower northwest to Crooked Creek Gap, covering an area of roughly10 miles. It is the top ridge, generally regarded as the primaryline of battle where much of the fighting occurred. Materialevidence of:the battle found along the ridge might includearchaeological remains, fortifications and artifacts.. .

3~ .Cro~ked Creek Gao - low gap at head of Crooked and HewittCreek watersheds. Scene of major activity and shooting during~he battle,~specially when attacking foices broke through andpenetrated Ciooked Creek. There is much material evidence~e~aining'of the battle. The survey team and others found 10sperit rifleshel~ ca~ings and two live shells in the gap, alongwi t.h evLdencie of.st.orie fortifications used by combatants.,: -,;'4. Sanders Farmhouse and School Site - up Hewitt Creek atSycamore Branch. Location where miners' assembled before movingup to Spruce Fork Ridge battle line, and where defending forcesdropped homemade bombs on attackers. Although the schoolhousehas been removed, the farmhouse (said to have been extant duringthe battle) and a barn are nearby. This site has few intrusions,retains a great deal of integrity and offers a good resou'rce forinterpretation.

":".,. .;.._~~.::.:~':.:!.~_.:~~ .....~-.-.- -.: ....> '" . : . ~ ~ . _ . : " . . : - : , _ . . . . . . . ,. . , : . . . . - . . . ~ . . . ~ :- . . . _ . .~ - . . . : ~ . ~ . . - . , . ; ~ . . ._:...!"'~.~--"' ... . .. o: ": . ..,;-,v'--5':-"r~Ta:Ir~choODio\rse~ernarris~ l)eoot'Remalns; 4:bUlf?'anY'~fi'Otlsri-~'and''''.Schoolhouse Bottom Area - in Blair at base of Blair Mountain.Miners assembled in Blair here before moving up to the battlefront. The foundation of the schoolhouse and the railroad depotboth remain: the schoolhouse is significant as a commissary andsupply station where Bill Blizzard spoke to marching miners; thedepot was the last point where miners de-trained before walkingup Blair Mountain; schoolhouse Bottom was the site of anencampment by Federal troops. Up Spruce Fork toward Sovereignthere are a group of some 10-15 coal company houses which wereprobably extant during the time of the battle, and still maintaina high'degree of integrity~ .

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6. ,Aracoma Hotel - downtown Logan. Utilized as headquarters forSheriff Don Chafin and Colonel Eubank, and as a commissary forthe defending army. This was the scene of much activitythroughout the entire conflict as townspeople gathered to hearword of action at the front. The Aracoma, still in use as ahotel, has ,undergone some renovation over the years. Still, thelobby and exterior retain a great deal of their originalcharacter.

-7. Don Chafin Residence (currently Women's Club of Logan County)- near downtown Logan. The Don Chafin family lived here at thetime of the battle. However, all of the family except Donremoved to Barboursville during the course of events in 1921.From the exterior, the house appears to have retained itsoriginal appearance.

00209 .

". '8~" Jeffrey 'Bottom Area, Boarding House, Company Houses, Armed.,'Marcher's Camp, Bomb Site - at mouth of Hewitt Creek'. Thesesites cover a wide area in the town of Jeffrey. Among extant,cultural resources located.here is a boarding house, miner'shouses, the bottom where marcher's camped and the site where',defending forces dropped a homemade bomb . Jeffrey, in Boone'county, marks the northernmost town on Spruce Fork where,~ignificant'events took place directly related to the battle.

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32

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J.r':'_:":.0:..'.:i :..\:.:.:.'~", :_"..~ '~" . : . . : . l . . ._ . !. " ". " ,, _& . , , - . . .. . . . . .. . .. , ___ _ ._ . _~ . .~~!~ . ~~ . _. _. _ . ~_ . ,_ .i.

I..

Secondary Resources

1. Logan Railroad Depot (currently City Hall) - downtown Logan.Site where Federal troops detrained upon arrival to Logan County,and defenders. regularly arrived and departed. A windshieldsurvey revealed that the exterior of the structure retains muchof its original character.

2. Site of Jeffrey Railroad Platform and Brick Store - just offRoute 17. Site of activity among miners going to and from thebattle lines. This site could conceivably be integrated into theprimary resources related to Jeffrey.3. Compani Houses at Dobra - along State Route 17 betweenClothi~r. a~d Sharples . A row of coal companY7built houses whichmaintain a high degree of integrity. .4. Clothier Town Site - along Route 17, includes site of.,railroad depot (non-extant), foundation remains of Chamber'sHotel,andvarious downtown structures. This was a key.transportation point for the attacking forces.''I, ". . .5.~~Sharplesand Monclo Town Sites - along Route 17 and up Beec~Creek. A number of extant structures exist at Sharples,including a partially demolished company store (which may havebeen extant before the battle). Monclo is significant due toevents that occurred when state troopers attempted to arrestminers, kindling the spark which set the Battle of Blair Mountainin motion. Currently, the Beech Creek area is being heavilysurface min.d, cuasing the integrity of cultural remains ~nMonclo to be seriously compromised.

--.~.;'~~=-O-~thel~:'Site!~..:;.aJ.-ong~~oute -117, there. are--abandoned~~~s..~~~. to be demolished in preparation for proposed mihlrici-o'per-atloris--Ethel Hollow. Most of these have very little integrityremaining. Ethel was an outpost for the state police during theconflict, although the exact location has not been determined.

7. Company Houses at Sunbeam - between Ethel and Logan on Route17. There are a number of company houses that date from the timeperiod of the battle, many with a high degree of i~tegrity.

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- ~ - . _ _ _ _ _ ~ - . - . - _ , - . - - - - - - ~ - . - . ~ - - _ - . ~ - - .", ~ . .\~}~". " ,: , ':~ .

Resources of Undetermined Significance~ .1.' Cultural Resources up Bill Smith Hollow - tributary ofDingess Run in vicinity of Ethel. The survey team located andphotographed a cultural site of unknown significance and originat the head of the hollow which contains remnants of a road,

ston~'retaining wall, stoneworks, and various metal barrels and.fragments. It is impossible to say at this time whether any ofthese remains relate to the battle. 'It is recommended that ahistorical arch~eologist be consUlted to investigate this site assoon; as possible for an ~pinion on possible significance.

2 . Ethel' Hollow Site - tributary of Dingess Run located offRoute 17,., wi thin the proposed mining permit area. A mine supplyhouse'constructed of stone; a brick vault and a frame,two-story4~squ~re ho~se are virtually the only intact structures found.','with a:::igh 'degree of'integrity. Other "abandoned. company, houses'and mine' machinery scattered up and down 'the holloware in',;vari6u.s:~tage'~:f"f demolition and ,decay. Further research is'recommerided to determine dates of 'construction for the intacts~~u~tur~~'and to ascertai~ what, if any, affiliation exists withthe battle

" : , - j : : . : , :cilutchrat.","H:tzeI- a'large white frame church along' Route 17:' , : > : ~> ' at Hetzel,.. Further research' is recommended to'determine a.',. co:nstr'uction"dat'e:and historical significance, 'i f any, in,-relation' to,~~ents on Blair Mountain~4. Two Story White Frame House at Mouth of Freeze Fork - onRoute 17 near Ethel. Although the significance of this structurerelative to BlciirMou:ntain is 'unknown, it is built in an style' -indicative of the home of a mine superintendent or other companyofficial. Further research is recommended to determine date: ofconstruction and possible historical significance.

: - . : ', -- : '. ~ - :- ;, ~ ' ~~ . :. :. _ .: ,: ., ' _ _- .- .~ _ :_ ~ ,~ _ __ ~ ~ - -.~ _ .' "' _ ~ : ; ~ . ,~ ,- -" -, ,= ' - ',~ . - , r . , ~ . = ~ _ =_ . ~ : ~ . " ~ : ~ & _ - , ' -, : - ~ " :_ :, _ , : a - . . : - , ~ . _ . . . _ . ' , _ _ . ; , ' . ~ : . ., . . ~ " . , ; ' : : . _ . , . . s \"" , ,'._ ~ .' - " C .: ;. .~ : ~ . : : ' .~ .~ - : ,: ~ .. : . ~ : " :., iL5. Methodist Episcopal South Stone Church at Mouth of CamoBranch Hollow - along Route 17 near Ethel. This represents oneof the only remaining intact structures between Logan arid thecrest of Blair Mountain which could date from the battle. Thecornerstone of the structure shows construction 1911 - 1922, andtherefore additional research is recommended to determine thecorrect date and connection to events of 1921.

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\9~Sovereign Town Site -.up SpruceFork~ off'Route 17.Attacking. forces'advancing on Blair Motintainwere in control of ..,,'he ar~a around Sovereign .. The significance of the town itself...,.. ,~hasnotbeen-ascertained, and further research' is ' recommended to'determine ..hat/ ifany> roie it played in the battle." -- : ". .

_ ;.:..11. -,cr~~ed"1:re~kWatershed - empties into the GUY~l1d~t.;.e~~iv~._ ".--"~above:Logan.~-Crook-ed-Creeklsdocumented.as.he ,.hlgh~e~:~rlC:;:-:;:-;:~:.-;.~of ~he advancing miners, after they broke through the gap when amachine gun operated by the defenders jammed. Because time didnot allow exploration of the region, it is recommended thatfurther research be undertaken to identify ~ny material remainson Crooked Creek

..

:;.

. .. : 0 : :: ' . . .

6. Head of Craddock's Fork of Hewitt Creek - in vicinity ofWoodyville. While a number of old style company-built housessurvive, their dates of construction and possible affiliationwith events on Blair Mountain are not clear, and so furtherresearch is recommended.7. Abandoned Tipple - at Stringtown up Hewitt Creek. This is

.the.most intact example of an abandoned tipple observed by survey.team. Although it appears old, it does not seem to date fro~ the.battle period .. However, further research is 'recommended todetermine its date of construction. This structure might beincluded 'as a contributing resource interpreting the history ofcoal mining. in Logan County.8. Mifflin Town Site along Route 17. Mifflin was directlyalong ...he.-lineof march down Spruce Fork, and was the site of anincident between miners and state troopers on August 12, 1921,which..riggered subsequent events. Further research' isrecommendedtodeterrnine if any relevant cultural'resources existfrom the period.

10., Georqe's Creek Watershed' - flows into Dingess Run atHetzel. Due to time constraints the survey team did not explorethis area of potential significance, identified in primarysources as the southern flank of activity between combatants.This area is recommended to be the subject of further research todetermine where forces were and if any material evidenceremains.

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SUGGESTIONS FOR PRESERVATION AND INTERPRETATION

,De~ignconsiderations, The very n~ture of the Blair Mountain site as a steep,

remota and wooded area has undoubtedly helped it retain a highdegree of iniegrity over the past 70 years. Coal mining has beengoiri~ on in the vicinity since b~fore 1921, and yet the extent ofsurface disturbance has remained very small until recently. NOw,'however'; modern technology allows mountaintop removal to be a.i,profitable method of coal mining. It is true that ,proper:,reclamation of surface mined areas yields large parcels of,," desirable' flat land for economic, growth and development, yet,this ,form of mining reduces the wilderness quality of surrounding;'areas which,;'fall within the "viewshed" of reclaimed mine sites.- ,~. .. . . - ._ .. ' , ~ ~ H : - _ - ,_~, \ '_. " " ~ -. " , ''f',,~;', P'ortibris' c:if't.he Blair Mountain site have been identified by, ~:",:~:;the,urvey~ team' as hav'inga primary or secondary level of, ;;;'('siglll:'fic'ance; based on historical research detailed in the,

;',0" .: : Nari'ative sect.Lon iof this ~eport. 'Included are specific, g~'o(.#~'aph.ic,se


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Ethel Hollow permit. The first relates to an adequate boundaryto safeguard significant natural and cultural resources within aproposed Blair Mountain park. The second deals with the issue ofsite integrity, and whether the proposed mining operation wouldgreatly alter it.With an' ~ctive mine on one side of the mountain and aproposal pending on the other," the issue of an appropriate"buffer" zone between mineable land and park land needs to beaddressed for both sides of the mountain, if the site is to bepreserved with-an-eye toward possible National Historic Landmarkdesignatiori." It should be acknowledged that what is done isdone. Any decisions regarding Blair Mountain should be madefairly and equally in regards to future mining practices, andwhat amount of coal, if any, is to be t.ekenrout; of production".It is "riotwithin the purview of the survey team to addressthe likelihood'of whether the proposed mining operation on EthelHollow will "adversely affect the natural or cultural resources ofBlair 'Mountain~:""Clearly, however, the issues now being addressedwill have a far-reaching "impact on the Blair Mountain site interms"of a potential "boundary" and subsequent eligibility forNational Register or National Historic Landmark status. The nextsegment of the report contains an explanation of the NationalRegister and NHL designations, including general guidelines underwhich ~ominations may be considered.

. ,...... .. _ . . - . . . . . .. .' ' _ . . .' ...">: -. -.~t. .~: ::"-. ,-"" ' :' --:~~ _: .. ' ~.: .~ . .._.-.!.":.~ _" . , .' _" .. - _ : : " ~. -' _.., '.: :.. . ::.... ~-~.- .. : . - , . - : - : " ' : - . : ...:-". :.

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Suggested Themes for Interpretation

, .InterpretationInterpretation of the Battle of Blair Mountain should not.:nly commemorate, the events which occured there in August andSeptember, 1921, but also help develop a broader appreciation andunderstanding of the history of ~oal mining in West Virginia andthe United States.

Theme: Blair Mou'ntain represents more than a violent clashbetween labor and management in the narrowest sense. Itforeshadowed ,the great social and technological revolutions whichswept the coal i~dustry, and the nat.Lon years later.- . ' _ ._ . t > ~ . ;- \, Go~l~:~ Vi~itors would l~~rn about t~e social and technologicalhistory of coal ,through a' balanced interpretation of significant, ,- events leading up to and following the battle, as well as the~:o~c~~en~e~'at Blair Mountain, itself.

", ..0Th~m~: Coal mining heritage is a unique story of men and":machines,,-littleappreciated by.'those outside the industry. 'As aresuit-,there' isa'pervasive misunderstanding about coal mining;life'~;'imdwork.:Goals:' ," V{sitors would learn about the coal industry from itsearliest discovery in Logan County forward, through the words ofthe miners who dig the coal and the operators who invest thecapital.Visitors would understand and appreciate the role that WestVirginia and Logan County have played in the industrialization ofAmerica.

The-poss"lbl'l-ile~-,:,fo'i':-ihterpretinglair Mountain ,~d:~bal~::.~:'mining heritage are bound only by the limits of cooperationbet~een interested groups. It would not be beyond the realm ofpossibility to make Blair Mountain the hub of a larger effort tointerpret coal heritage through a series of linking "spokes"linked via Route 17. For example, a small coal mining life museummight be set up in a group of company houses in Dobra, while arailroad interpretive center is developed at the mouth of PeachCreek., LikeWise, while Logan interprets the life of Don Chafinand'the'coal'operators, Sharples deals with the company store.In,:the'end" everything revolves around the Blair Mountain,h.1st6rical.park~' It'is,very important to interpret thesevaluab!e"resources 'on as' broad a scale: as possible in order to

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service a wider visitor interest, and tie into a broader theme ofcoal heritage., This coal heritage theme does not have to deal only with'things-past. There Is an important opportunity here ,for modernmine.operati6ns to become involved in this scenario, too. Thiscould be done by having companies cooperate'in ,opening a Coal

,Exposition Center with exhibitions to showcase the latest in .mining technology and uses for coal~Realizing that a modern mine operation cannot toleratetourists hovering around its work site, a long distanceinterpretation of a working mine and preparation plant may be inorder.',:one possibility would be to construct a glassed-inobservation, deck or to utilize the Blair Mountain Fire'Tower, inorder to ,tell-.he story of modern-day mining techniques alongsidethe story,of coal minirig the old-fashioned way. Whatever theappzoach ,'. coa L ' companies will benefit fronithe positive publicimage,'which results from a cooperative venture to interpret LoganCounty's rich heritage.: "

A.,.,

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r . . ; ' , '\- Suggested Alternatives for Preservation'Based on historical evidence, the survey team discus~ed possiblescenarios for preservation and interpretation and came up withfoursuggest.'ed alternatives, which are presented in this section ..These alternatives are graphically depicted on MAP 2.

ALTERNATIVE I- National Register Nomination for Blair Mountain

This alternative addresses the significance of BlairMountain as a representative site where deputies Gore, Cafalgoand Munsey were shot (See MAP 2). Under this alternative, a .ncrrdna Lvamount; of protection is offered to the crest of themountain, with no consideration for other areas of significance... ...he boundary of this al ternati ve is a four acre square on.the crest of'Blair Mountain, just off Route 17.

Realization of this ~lternative requires a minimal effort tocomplete the National Register of Historic Places nomination.begunin1980~ .'~. A small parking'area off Route 17 would facilitate visitors,.'as they "dd scovexv Blair Mountain .

.Methodsof interpretation for this plan include.the existing-historica) highway marker, interpretive waysides at the crest ofthe ridge, a self-guided driving tour along Route 17 and anaccompanying brochure.Minimal maintenance costs and a limited interpretation arethe major features of this approach.

:. ..... _ - .'--., - ..

4000217


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~~

~'- _ _ " q ~.~ .~ \ . ':_ . " ~~ V.,~~.~.~.",".' " ,.,..1

.ALTERNATIVE III - Ridgetop Trail with 2000' Buffer Zone andTrailheads at Crest of Blair and Crooked Creek Gao

This alternative expands the historic corridor concept byincorporating a 1000' buffer strip on each side of Spruce ForkRidge, an4 a"node" encircling the crest of Blair to George'sCreek and Crooked Creek Gap to near Woodyville. In so doing,much of the significant area of direct confrontation is earmarkedfor preservation. The boundary would include the heads ofimportant watersheds, and offer.a certain amount of guaranteedgreens pace as a buffer against adverse development along theridgetop.

Interpretation would replicate that suggested forAlternative II~ including the Fire Tower as an observationplatf9rrn~ With this alternative, more emphasis could be placedon the natural aspects of the mountain, thereby offering an" opportunity' for interpretation 'of West Virginia's flora andfauria~" .'. . .At the very least, a National Register nomination should be'completed and submitted. .From there, a National HistoricLandmark nomiriation could be prepared with defensible boundariesbased~pon historical evidence.

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_ . ALTERNATIVE IV - Ridgetop Trail with 1/2 Mile Buffer on Each Sideand Trailheads at Crest of Blair and Crooked Creek GapThis alternative broadens. the site boundary to a point 1/2mile on either side of Spruce Fork Ridge, from crest of Blair to.Crcioked Cre~k Gap. As with Alternative III, this includes a

."node" of preserved land encircling the crest of Blair toGeorge's Creek and Crooked Creek Gap to near Woodyville. Aboundary of this size would offer a sufficient buffer betweenmined lands and park lands.As in ~lternative III, a National Register nomination shouldbe completed at the very least, with the option of a defensibleNational Historic Landmark nomination boundary carved from thepreserved area.'

,AIl:of:th~ significant confrontation points and lines ofma.i.ch:alongthe h eads of Hewitt, Crooked, Beech and Mill creeks," are~ aff,oided a 'degree of implied protection with this boundary.,. .':-This alternative utilizes the Fire Tower as an observation.platform: . In addition, the site of the 'burned CCC ranger cabin.(adj~~~ntto the Fire Tower) has unrelated significance whichCOUld: be. interpreted in a broader multiple resource approach. A''i\picnic.area could be developed at the Fire Tower as well .; , : . . . ' , ' . t ~ ' : ; ' : : : , As.in',lte'rnative' III, a visitor center with a video.'resenta'tion 'would be desirable, as would an audio tape rental'.with.accompanying brochure for use on a self-guided driving tour.

This approach ~ould also include interpretation of siteswith primary resources located outside the deSignated boundary,as in Alternatives II and III.Regular maintenance and site supervision will be necessaryfor this alternative.

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_ ~ : : ~ ~ ; : ~ : - ; ~ - - ~ - - - ~ ; - ~ : ~ : - - - - - - - - - . - -~ - - - . - - . - . - - . - - - - - - . . - _ .-; '; -. -.

criteria and Standards6iiIi..- Natio~al Register of Historic-Places Nomination - The Natiorial~Register is the nation's roster of properties important in the'.:.history, architectural history, archaeology, engineering and.~~ulture6f .the United states. Since' its founding by the NationalPark S~rvice in 1966, thousands of districts, sites, building$,structures. and objects have been listed "that possess integrityof location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling andassociation." The resource must- be associated with historic"events, important people, reflect a specific architectural styleor yield information important to prehistory or history. As a~ule,:a R~gister listed property mu~t be over 50 years old.

. .. - . .Lis~in9 in the National Register does not protect a propertyfrom,destruction~ and it does' not result in any direct funding tothe, property owner. But, there are certain tax credits related.to~eh~bil~tation ~hichownersof income~producing Natiorial.Register properties may.'obt.eIn ,> Unlike a'National Landmark,which mus~.clearly have national significance,' a property on theRegister may have national, state or local significance.

It:is the 'opinion of the survey team that certain sites~~lated to the Battle of Blair Mountain would qualify for'; .::':::.J1omin.ation.ctothe National Register on,the state and local levels " . .. . . . ~ , ' . ' : ' . 6t: significa'nce,: as.'the.everit s"clearly meet NPS criteria for:~ ..eva Luat.Lon > ., Furthermore, the incidents at Blair Mountain are' ind~ed'nationally ~ignificant, and worthy ofa n6mination as~ such i." .- ": '

It should be added that the owner(s) ofa potentiallyeligible property must consent in order to list that property onthe Register. In the case of Blair Mountain, if it is in factdeclared by the NPS to be eligible for the National Register, itis recommended that a generous area be considered, in order thata possible National Landmark nomination could be carved from ,itat a later date.

For Further Information: For a copy of "How to Apply theNational Register Criteria" and more information on the NationalRegister, contact:The National Register of Historic PlacesInteragency Resources DivisionNational Park Service.P.O.,Box 37127Washington, DC 20013-7127

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..!., -' . ... - ~ , '. ~ - ,_. '-'..:.

National Historic Landmark - the National Park System has longbeen. recognized as a leader in communicating American history to.the public. As of 1988, over 1,700 properties nationwide had.been' listed as a National Historic Landmark (NHL),' the highestofficial rec9gnition a historic site in this country can receive'(without being designated a National Monument by the President,which may be a cultural or na~ural site). Designated sites areso recognized by the secretary of the Interior for theiroutstanding importance in commemorating and illustrating Americanhistory .

~, .

Although the oldest component of the national preservationprogram~ the only tangible reward an NHL designation carries withit is'acornrnemorative plaque. Unfortunately, the symbolic natureof a plaque goes only so far, and does not protect the site .., Listing a site as an NHL neither guarantees its survival, nordoesii~"automatically release money from the National ParkServicE!~for.'itsprotection .. However, if an'NHL is within a unitof .the~~ationa~ Park Service - a park, hist6ric site or national~onument'- 'federal funding and protection ~ould be afforded it aspartof:that lar~erunit. "

.In'.view of. the..evelopment encroaching on Blair Mountain, aquestion' arises concerning the boundary for a potential National. .."~Histor,ic.,.Landmark.An acceptable boundary for a NHL must be.." '.;'~'~defensible i "that is, :it must be able to stand up in a court of.\ .'.....'law,'be clearly "definedand based on historical evidence. The. .', not.Lon of.'including a buffer. or'viewscape in the boundary, with _!notarigible relationship to the site other than to protect its "inte~rity;'is not allowed. Likewi~e, areas of little integrity(like'Beech Cr~ek) would stand little chance of being included inan NHL boundary. Also, the owner of the property has theultimate word on whether a property is to be nominated.

NHLs, like national parks, are categorized ~hrough athematic framework, which guides those involved in the study ofhistory and gauges the representativeness of the National ParkService. The purpose is to cover all areas of U.S.' historywithout excessive detail and minutiae. There are a total of 34themes within this framework, with each site listed in as"manycategories that apply. Recognizing this approach as the way tocla~sify a potential National Historic Landmark, the BlairMountain site might be considered for inclusion in the followingcategories:

Theme: Political and Military Affairs 1865-1939-Sub-theme: Military Affairs not Related to World War I or WorldWar II 1914-1941

"As of 1987, the f6llowing sites were listed:45

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~- _.~ -.,.- .. --.~., - .- - . . ~~.- .. . . . ~ , .. . . , L _ ._ '. . _ . . .. . . .

Louis D. Brandeis House, MAJames B. (Champ) Clark House, MOColumbus and Camp Furlong, NMJosephus Daniels House, NCFt. Hancock & Sandy Hook Proving Ground Historic.' District, NJFort Sam Houston, TXFort Myer Historic District, VAFort Sheridan Historic District, ILHangar 9, Brooks Air Force Base, TXGeneral William L. Mitc.hell Hous~, VANational War College, DCPensacola Naval Air Station Historic District, FLGeneral John J. Pershing Boyhood Home, MOSpringfield Armory, MaState, War and Navy Building, DCU.S. Capitol, DCU.S.S. Texas, TX

Theme: Social arid Humanitarian MovementsSub-theme: Labor Organizations

As'of 1987,the fol16wing sites were listed:- Arne rLcan Federation of Labor Building, DCPietro and Maria Botto House, NJEugen~Deb~ H6usei INSamuel'Gompers House, DC,Terrence V. Powderly Home, PASpence's Poi~t, VA

Theme: BusinessSub-theme: Extractive or MiningFacet: Other Metals and Minerals

As of 1987, the following sites were listed:Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine, UTJames C. Flood Mansion, CAJerome Historic District, AZKennecott Mine, AKAndrew Mellon Building, DCNew Almaden, CAPhelps Dodge General Office Building, AZWilliam C. Ralston Hous~, CAReed Gold Mine Site, NC

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There have been a few additions to these categories since 1987.However, in reference to the NHL framework, it is reasonable toassume that the Battle of Blair Mountain is unique as one of thefirst sites to commemorate:1) a Labor.conflict which is treated as a battle (construed tobe the largest armed "insurrection".sincethe Civil War), and2) the deployment of Federal troops to quell a civildLs curberice;Within these parameters, it is the impression of the survey teamthat an NHL.nomination for the Battle of Blair Mountain is indeedfeasible.

The opinions expressed in this report are not those of theNational ,Park Service. It is therefore recommended that a NPS-""park planner be called in for review in regards to possible NHLstatus''for any portion of the battlefield. 'For Further Information: .Regarding criteria and other,information pertaining toNHLs, contact Ben Levy (202)343-8163:

.r,~ '~" .National Park ServiceP.O.'Box 37127Washirigton D.C. 20013-7127

Information on NHLs from: History and Prehistory in the NationalPark System and the National Historic Landmarks Program, 1987. ,47

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APPENDIX

Suggestions for a Blair Mountain Oral History Project

It is the recommendation of the survey team that a BlairMountain Oral History Project be undertaken at the earliestpossible convenience. The majority of names on this list areelderly people who have recollections of the battle, or knewsomeone who did. They should be located and interviewed at theearliest possible convenience.** Resource persons who have photos, information, etc.'Mrs~ EiriY'Ball, Lake, Logan Co., WV (ca. 90s) ~ widow of EarlyBall, aveteran'whci was at Crooked Creek Gap on the attackingside ~..

.Bill Blizzard; Jr. 11? (ca. 70s) - son of UMW leader~ whoformerly lived in Teays Valley area, but has not been seenreEently. .. ' ...Lesli'e Baldwin, Hewitt Creek, Logan Co., WV (82 yrs.) - lived up,.Hewitt Ck~and was an eyewitn~ss. Phone: 369-1464Chris Holt, Sharples, Logan Co., WV (ca. 70s) - retired teacher,has information on events.Bill Adkins, Sycamore Branch, Logan Co., WV (b. 1909)Ethel until 1943, was there during march. lived at

Orville Craddock, formerly of Ethel, Logan Co., WV (b. 1900),jus~ returned from service in 1921, lived at Ethel. Father wouldnot let him out of house during trouble.Henry White, Jeffrey Bottom, Boone Co., WV (ca. 60 yrs.) - hisfather knew where bomb dropped on Hewitt Ck.

."Walter Bias, Jeffrey Bottom, Boone Co., WV - has photos maybe of" som_eLmpoxt.arice . .~

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,Moss Burgess, Dehue, Logan Co., WV (b. 1913) - miner whose fatherwas a buddy of Don Chafin. Claims to have helped organize LoganCo. with Van Bittner and Bill Blizzard., ..*.*Paul Baldwin, Blair, Logan Co ~, WV - contact at Blair with someinformation.

Andv Thomas, Charleston, WV (87 yrs.) - fascinating man! Fishingbuddy of Don Chafin, knew Gov. Ephraim Morgan, machine gunner whowas,on line with miners at Logan was his neighbor "Davy"Crockett.Chick Chafin, Huntington, WV (b. ca. 1909) - son of Don Chafin,-,. has lots of stories about his dad and about Tennis Hatfield.

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" John Chafin, Huntington and Wrightsville Beach, NC. (ca. 80) -another son of Don Chafin.

,Jack Hatfield, Logan area, WV (ca. 70s) - has alot of info aboutbattle from his, father Tennis Hatfield {sheriff after DonChafin} .-.\ '~.AlsOi has; a bi6ther Henry Hatfield.**Kendall B'eres, Logan, WV - says he may have old letters andtestimony which could implicate Chafin and others who perpetratedatrocities against the UMW organizers prior to Blair Battle. 946-6351.Sammy Litteral, Henlawson, Logan Co., WV (ca. 60s?) - hasscrapbook of clippings, copies of photos of Ethel Hollow.

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Evaluation of Shell Casings Found at Crooked Creek GaEThe Batt.le of Blair Mountain literature suggests a varietyof weapons were used by both sides during the battle. Theseweapons ranged from muzzle loading rifles to modern bo

Documents

Recon Survey Phase 1