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Labor History
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1877
The great railroad strike, the first nationwide industrial strike, began at Martinsburg Other events that happened on or around 1877 The great railroad strike originated among B&O workers in Martinsburg The national railroad strike began in Martinsburg Romeo Freer and John Kenna traveled West Virginia urging voters to select Charleston as the state capital
1907
Alston Dayton issued sweeping temporary injunction against the UMW in Hitchman Coal & Coke v. John Mitchell Other events that happened on or around 1907 Babcock Lumber & Boom Company bought Thompson Lumber Company Walter Barnes began teaching English at Greenville State Normal School (Greenville State College) Fairmont, Clarksburg, and Piedmont played baseball in the Class D Western Pennsylvania League The great Winding Gulf coalfield opened Elkins Coal & Coke Company put beehive coke ovens into full production Brinkley Bridge was built Harry F. Byrd established the Martinsburg Evening Journal McMillan Hospital created by Dr. William A. McMillan The Chilton family acquired an interest in the newspaper and changed the name to the Charleston Gazette The Chilton family acquired an interest in the newspaper and changed the name to the Charleston Gazette Greenbrier Railway Company purchased by C&O Oliver Chitwood became professor of history at WVU Empire Bank building was finished in Clarksburg Michael Benedum moved business headquarters and home to Pittsburgh Stuart shaft mine explosion killed 85 men John Easton came to Williamstown Edgewood Country Club membership under Angus W. MacDonald constructed clubhouse and tennis courts State property levy was eliminated West Virginia lumber production peaked with 1.5 billion board feet sawed Stella Fuller returned to Huntington Howard Gore's father died and he took control of the farm Rimfire Hamrick was employed by the Webster Springs Hotel as guide and handyman City of Chester was incorporated A meeting of the West Virginia Fish and Game Protective Association occurred at Clarksburg John Nugent was appointed immigration commissioner Lily Jackson inherited the family estate after her father, John Jay Jr. died Fanny Johnson and husband, Vincent Costello moved to Wheeling UMWA President John Mitchell came to Charleston to launch a major union offensive Blanche Lazzell studied at the Art Students League in New York Coal mining began around Walkersville Mayor Scott Justice renamed the city of Logan Courthouse (formerly Aracoma) as Logan Ezra Cline was born Lawrence J. Corbly's title was changed from principal to president of Marshall College (now University) The old Tyler County High School building was built Three other mine disasters occurred including the Monongah Mine Disaster The first Corn Club in West Virginia was established in Monroe County Margaret Montague published The Sowing of Alderson Cree The B&O line extending to the Morgantown & Kingwood line was completed The Niagara Movement attempted to meet again at Storer College but officials wouldn't allow Pineville was renamed and incorporated, and became county seat of Wyoming County The William Ritter Lumber Company was indicted by a federal grand jury on charge of peonage Reported 6,159 schools in 396 districts in West Virginia The Lewisburg & Ronceverte brought rail service to Lewisburg The Banner Glass Company relocated from Indiana to South Charleston The Robey Theater opened in Spencer The original stone structure was replace by a viaduct Morris Harvey died There was an explosion at the Pleasant Valley Coal Company mine killing 12 men The Virginian Railway was established H. Rus Warne had two exhibits at the Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk, Virginia The Wheeling Custom House (West Virginia Independence Hall) ceased being a federal building. Black teachers formed a separate Northern Teachers' Association I. C. White advocated for legislation establishing the U.S. Bureau of Mines
Aug 24, 1921
The Miners' March began Other events that happened on or around August 24, 1921 Miners' March set out from Marmet
1932
President FDR's New Deal favored the growth of the labor movement Other events that happened on or around 1932 William "Coin" Harvey was nominated for president by the Liberty Party Legislature abolished the State Bridge Commission The construction of the Hawks Nest Tunnel, diverting waters of the New River, showed the dangers of underground work outside the coal industry Ella Holroyd was asked by the president of Concord College to create a music department Frank Hutchison moved to Ohio Howard B. Lee first wrote The Story of the Constitution Vitro Agate began operation Herschel Ogden led the state's tax reform Okey Patteson lost his feet in a hunting accident The Shenandoah National Forest was renamed the George Washington National Forest A group called Save the Children began sending food and other necessities to children of miners in West Virginia Cole Porter performed at Bricktop's club Grace Martin Taylor was the president of the Allied Artists of West Virginia Charles Ward Engineering closed Cassville's name changed to Fort Gay Hack Wilson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers
1933
The National Industrial Recovery Act guaranteed workers the right to collective bargaining and outlawed yellow-dog contracts Other events that happened on or around 1933 County unit plan for school systems was adopted West Virginia counties had to reduce term length Doddridge County High School was created The flat-spired three-toothed land snail was discovered Legislature established the Conservation Commission The Greenbrier College for Women was chartered as Greenbrier College Perry Gresham received a bachelor of divinity degree from Texas Christian University West Virginia erected a replica cabin and stone memorial at the birthplace of Nancy Hanks A great trial was held against the contractor of the Hawks Nest Tunnel by those who contracted silicosis Legislative act put every public road in West Virginia under direct state control The Democrats regained control of the governorship Charles Hodel was instrumental in developing the Beckley-Mount Hope Airport The radical West Virginia Mine Workers Union and the West Virginia Labor Party both collapsed Act replaced game protectors with conservation officers The West Virginia World's Fair exhibit was housed at Jackson's Mill The Charles Town Racetrack opened in Jefferson County Frances Benjamin Johnston began photographing early architecture of the American South William C. Kelly died Kumbrabow State Forest was created in response to the Civilian Conservation Corps Act Democrats took control of the West Virginia Senate The progressive Roosevelt administration secured passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act Melvin Goins was born Pare Lorentz conceived, edited and published The Roosevelt Year, 1933 West Virginia acquired the land for Lost River State Park Master Marble and Bridgeport Marble exhibited millions of marbles at the World's Fair in Chicago The Gallipolis Locks and Dam began construction The Civilian Conservation Corps first became active in Monongahela National Forest Prohibition ends Cacapon State Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps The National Recovery Administration was created with the passing of the National Industrial Recovery Ac Legislation passed establishing the Conservation Commission of West Virginia Camp Woodbine and Camp Cranberry were established by Civilian Conservation Corps in Richwood Ruth Rohde served as U.S. Minister to Denmark Eleanor Roosevelt convinced FDR to use congressionally approved federal funds to establish the first national subsistence homestead in Arthurdale Lynnside Manor, Monroe County, the traditional home of the Lewis family, burned down William Smith O'Brien became West Virginia secretary of state H. M. Calhoun died Buddy Starcher became popular performer at WCHS Charleston State Police field structure shrank to two companies State Police Criminal Investigation Bureau was organized Mel Moore and Billy Long led a strike at Weirton Steel Employees bought the Wheeling Traction Company and re-named it Cooperative Transit Company Festus Summers finished his doctorate at WVU The Braxton Democrat newspaper in Sutton compiled and reprinted the Wm. Byrne tales of Elk River West Virginia property tax revenue was at $27 million Fred Torrey created the "Lincoln Walks at Midnight" sculpture W. W. Trent became superintendent of Schools UMWA unionized the West Virginia coalfields Camp Watoga was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps Fred E. Brooks died WOBU changed to WCHS WCHS stopped sharing time with WSAZ in Huntington Wheeling Bank & Trust Company merged with Dollar Saving & Trust to form the Wheeling Dollar Saving & Trust Company The Athenaeum became the Daily Athenaeum Clyde O. Law became board chairman of West Virginia Wesleyan College The WWVA's Wheeling Jamboree country music show began A new central portion of Wheeling Hospital was constructed WHIS increased to 250 watts A strike at Widen occurred The Coal House was built in Williamson of bituminous coal Edwin S. Maclin became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology
1935
The National Industrial Recovery Act was declared unconstitutional Other events that happened on or around 1935 Roy Bird Cook became president of Cook Drug Company Civilian Conservation Corps established Camp Price Families began moving into their new homes in Eleanor The Myers brothers filmed One Room Schoolhouses Susanne Fisher sang with the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra School of Forestry was established at WVU Cheat Mountain salamander was discovered on White Top Mountain Howard Mason Gore served as director of the federal rural rehabilitation program for Harrison County West Virginia bought the park lands of Hawks Nest State Park and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made improvements The Wagner Act revived many parts of the NIRA relating to labor after the Supreme Court ruled the NIRA unconstitutional Joseph Hodges was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Richmond Fanny Johnson's story "The Dinner Set" was published in Weird Tales Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) moved to Charleston from Barboursville UMWA President John L. Lewis challenged the American Federation of Labor by initiating campaign to organize workers by industry rather than craft Governor Kump declared he wanted to see a library within reach of every citizen 89 percent of all families in Lincoln County regularly accepted government relief Tom Kromer wrote Waiting For Nothing Tom Kromer wrote Waiting For Nothing Logan Banner became an afternoon daily
1937
The State Labor Federation joined the CIO's new West Virginia state organization Other events that happened on or around 1937 Turquoise color was introduced for Fiestaware Louis W. Chappell began field recording of folksongs Garnet was classified as first-class high school Glenville State College received admission to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education "Biggie" Goldberg lead University of Pittsburgh to the national football championship The Model L Gravely tractor was introduced Benjamin Gravely retired from the day-to-day management of the company The National Park Service conducted a survey of the Jefferson County site for the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park The U.S. Department of Agriculture began purchasing property in Randolph County to reforest the land and reclaim streams to create Holly River State Park U.S. Army Corp of Engineers constructed a floodwall to protect Huntington from the Ohio The Huttonsville Correctional Center was founded as part of the West Virginia penitentiary system Monsignor Thomas Quirk died Louis Johnson served in the Roosevelt Administration as assistant secretary of war Kenova experienced a disastrous flood Blanche Lazzell returned to Provincetown to study with Hans Hofmann Pare Lorentz shot and edited The River Lost River State Park opened Sam Mallison was hired as head of public relations for the Benedum-Trees Company The Marshall College centennial brought descendants of John Marshall to the campus for the unveiling of a bust of the chief justice Walter Martens completed the Riverview Terrace apartments in Charleston The Appalachian Trail was established The Reber Radio Telescope was originally built by Grote Reber The PSC was given jurisdiction over motor carriers of goods and passengers. Walter Reuther represented 30,000 workers in 76 shops for the United Auto Workers The original 440 sites designated by the Commission on Historic and Scenic Highway Markers were erected The Harrison Rural Electrification Association was established Recreation facilities were opened to the public in Seneca State Forest Flood waters rose in the lower section of the Smoot Theater Sam Snead joined the Professional Golf Association tour Harley Staggers was elected Mineral County sheriff The National Labor Relations Board charged Weirton Steel with unfair labor practices The United Steelworks signed a contract at Wheeling Steel Joe Stydahar was first named to the All-National Football League team DuPont's Belle Works began world production of nylon A large wood mill was built in the Tygart Valley Homesteads The trade center building in Tygart Valley Homesteads was completed The women of Friendly seated an all-female municipal government CCC Camps Seebert and Will Rogers were closed Volkmar Wentzel became a writer and photographer for National Geographic Phil Conley sold the West Virginia Review Harrison Ferrell became dean of West Virginia State College (now University) West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company built a bleached paperboard mill in South Carolina Wheeling Downs opened for harness racing Patty Willis exhibited her work at the Society of International Artists in New York Carter G. Woodson began the publication of The Negro History Bulletin Joseph Newman Alderson became the national WPA director Grote Reber built a telescope with a 31.4-foot diameter parabolic dish in his backyard Katherine Johnson graduated from West Virginia State College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and French Sam Jones won the state marble-shooting championship
1950
The National Labor Relation board recognized the Employees Security League as the legitimate bargaining agent for Weirton employees Other events that happened on or around 1950 More than 19,000 black youth, grades 1-12, were provided education by the West Virginia public school system 123rd Fighter Group called to duty in Korean War and moved to Goodman Air Force Base Pastor Richard E. Shearer assumed presidency of Alderson-Broaddus College (now University) Ernest Bavely died The National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement was approved Sigus Olafson began publishing articles on petroglyphs, the painted trees, Gabriel Arthur and more A caretaker for Audra State Park was hired Walter Barnes helped revive the Folklore Society with help from Ruth Ann Musick Bear Rock Lakes area was opened to fishing Clair Bee wrote Hoop Crazy Raleigh Coal & Coke ceased operations About 25,000 people lived in Bluefield Everett Lilly appeared on classic bluegrass recordings Betsy Byars graduated from Queens College in Charlotte, NC Governor Patteson gave state funds to improve Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park Walter Eli Clark died Phil Conley ended his term as president of the West Virginia Publishing Company and founded West Virginia Education Foundation Name was shortened to West Virginia Council of Churches Virginia Ruth "Dagmar" Egnor was hired to be on NBC's Broadway Open House Julius DeGruyter wrote West Virginia: Its Charters and Municipal Affairs West Virginia's median age was below national average at 26.3 years Joanne Dru appeared in Wagon Master Ellis Dungan returned to Hollywood Fairmont population peaked at 29,346 Fayette County population peaked at 82,443 Floodwall in Parkersburg was completed Patrick Gainer organized the West Virginia State Folk Festival in Glenville Fostoria manufactured 8 million pieces of glass West Virginia population peaked at 2,005,552 Statewide coal employment peaked at 127,000 The Veterans Administration Medical Center was built in Harrison County Dave Gideon died Mechanization and automation in coal mining reduced the number of miners and a decline in UMWA membership The gates to the Home for the Incurables (now Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital) were removed The Cedar Lakes Conference Center was established as a state FFA-FHA camp Keystone's population was at 2,500 The Linger chair factory moved to Rock Cave The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers recorded for Cozy Records Louis Wohinc died Catherine Marshall published Mr. Jones, Meet The Master A new science building was constructed at Marshall College (now University) Jack Maurice became editor of the Charleston Daily Mail A fourth of McDowell population was black McDowell population peaked at 98,887 Mine mechanization led to widespread job loss Major coal companies formed the Bituminous Coal Operators Association The UMWA and Bituminous Coal Operators Association agreed that the union would not resist mechanization in exchange for a share of the proceeds Birth rate in West Virginia declined and pace of out-migration accelerated Traditional coal miners' vacation became formalized with the establishment of Bituminous Coal Operators Association Mingo County population peaked at 47,409 The National Hillbilly News switched to a smaller format Molly O'Day and Lynn Davis gave up show business to serve the Lord Port Amherst Ltd. was acquired by the Amherst Fuel Company Jack Rollins wrote "Frosty the Snow Man" Charleston's St. Francis Hospital had 130 beds Soupy Sales left Huntington The West Virginia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists consisted of 2,000 members Shepherd College was accredited by the North Central Association Jim Sprouse studied international law at the University of Bordeaux The Weirton Independent Union was declared a violation of federal labor law West Virginia steelworkers numbered 22,596 Joe Stydahar was named head coach of the L.A. Rams Leon Sullivan began ministry at Zion Baptist church in Philadelphia Hinton's population was 5,780 West Virginia tobacco production was at 4,000,000 pounds Richard Talbott stopped serving as state treasurer Riggleman Hall was constructed at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Welch population peaked at 6,603 Walter Barnes, Patrick Gainer and Ruth Ann Musick revived the West Virginia Folklore Society Helen Thompson became the Charleston Symphony Orchestra's first full-time executive secretary Weston's population peaked at 8,945 An outpatient department was opened at Wheeling Hospital Wildlife biologist tried trapping wild turkeys in the eastern mountains and moving them into other counties Williamson population peaked at 8,624 Wyoming County population was 37,540 Mullens had a population of 3,544 Hurry-up Yost was inducted to the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Morgantown obtained the Tibbs Run Reservoir President Eisenhower appointed Helen Holt to a new program in the Federal Housing Administration
Dec 22, 1972
Tony Boyle defeated by Arnold Miller in a special election, as Miners for Democracy take control of UMWA Other events that happened on or around December 22, 1972 Arnold Miller defeated Tony Boyle in a special election as Miners for Democracy took control of UMWA
Dec 22, 1995
Cecil Roberts became the president of the UMWA View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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