The appalachian project a drive through historic matewan. A contingent of the baldwinfelts detective agency arrived on the no. The true story of the baldwin felts detective agency john velke iii on. The baldwinfelts detective agency played a controversial role in the early years of the coal industry of southern west virginia, enforcing public law in the coalfields at the direction of the coal operators who hired them. The baldwinfelts detective agency the secret life of ruggles.
Baldwin was from my own home county, tazewell county. Velke is a private security professional specializing in retail loss prevention. During the 1800s and early 1900s, it was common practice for the owners of mines and factories to hire private detective agencies to spy on and intimidate workers in order to prevent the workers from unionizing. Second, as the references show, the baldwin felts detective agency was notorious for its use of violence against labor union supporters. Baldwinfelts was a detective agency similar to the pinkertons, hired by companies to violently suppress union organizing and strikes. In the early 1900s, the baldwin felts detective agency played a brutal a. Blood creek by kimberly collins is primarily about the west virginia coal mine wars.
Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Sep 01, 2018 the battle of blair mountain was the result of years of bitter labor disputes between the miners and coal companies of southern west virginia. The film is set during the first red scare in the us from 19191920, so the company is terrified of reds agitating the. In the early 1900s, the baldwinfelts detective agency played a brutal and bloody role in the union strikes and violence that took place in both. The detective agency brought into the case was the baldwin felts agency in bluefield, west virginiaa substantial and professional agency. The battle of matewan also known as the matewan massacre was a shootout in the town of matewan in mingo county and the pocahontas coalfield mining district, in southern west virginia. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency by john. Baldwinfelts detectives browsing west virginia history onview. Jun 07, 2012 in 1997, after spending more than 30 years researching, velke published his book, the true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency. It occurred on may 19, 1920 between local coal miners and the baldwinfelts detective agency. Felts who is the cofounder of the baldwinfelts detective agency along with. During this, the town sheriff sid hatfield sided with the miners in a gun fight against detectives from the baldwin felts detective agency. Union propaganda and overzealous reporting have created a lasting impression that the detective agency was a group of criminal thugs.
The end of the baldwinfelts detective agency came soon after the deaths of the partners baldwin in 1936 at age 75 and felts a year later at age 69. The one contributed chapter is the guns of the baldwinfelts detective agency. Most of what has been written about the baldwin felts detective agency has concentrated on their work for the coal mine operators during the first 25 years of the 20th century. Rockefeller, mother jones, governor elias milton ammons, the baldwinfelts detective agency and the indomitable louis tikas, who also came from crete and led the colliers in their strike. The baldwinfelts detective agency was a private detective agency in the united states from the early 1890s to 1937. The paperback of the the true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency by john a. Coal miners, struggling to form a union, are up against company operators and the gun thugs of the notorious baldwinfelts detective agency. This business was in operation from the 1890s to the 1930s and was infamous for its brutal methods in preventing the formation of labor unions. The baldwin felts detective agency was a private detective agency in the united states from the early 1890s to 1937. Sep 04, 2015 in 1920 the campaign shifted to mingo county, during which a notable event was the matewan massacre on may 19, 1920. Serious history of the baldwinfelts detective agency which was involved with several major labor.
Asking for a balanced view of the baldwin felts agency s work would be similar to asking for an article on nazi deathcamp guards to talk about the good work the gestapo did. The detective agency brought into the case was the baldwinfelts agency in bluefield, west virginiaa substantial and professional agency. He sided with the miners, many of whom had recently joined the united mine workers of america umwa, against the gun thugs of the baldwinfelts detective agency, brought in by the stone mountain coal company to break the union by threatening or murdering its members and harassing their families, as well as to ensure at gunpoint that scab. Members of the agency were central actors in the events that led to the battle of blair mountain in 1921 and violent repression of labor union members as part of the coal wars in such places as the pocahontas coalfield region of west virginia, the paint creekcabin creek. In a time when state and national police agencies had not yet been formed, william gibboney baldwin and thomas lee felts created a firm of private detectives that became widely known and respected among law abiding citizens, and despised and feared by criminals and rabble rousers of all sorts.
Johns first book, a nonfiction account of the baldwinfelts detective agency has been optioned to a hollywood production company. John and his wife dani have been married for 35 years and have 5 children. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency by john velke. Coal miners, struggling to form a union, are up against company operators and the gun thugs of the notorious baldwin felts detective agency. Their often brutal, repressive policies, especially toward nion miners, contributed. Asking for a balanced view of the baldwinfelts agencys work would be similar to asking for an article on nazi deathcamp guards to talk about the good work the gestapo did. Rockefeller, mother jones, governor elias milton ammons, the baldwin felts detective agency and the indomitable louis tikas, who also came from crete and led the colliers in their strike. Whether its politics, celebrity talk, or the latest mustread awardwinning book, halli tackles all topics on the halli casserjayne show. Collins dives into the lesserknown coal mine wars and tells the untold story of the women of appalachia. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency john a.
The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency by. Union propaganda and overzealous reporting have created a lasting impression that the detective agency was a. The mine guards of baldwinfelts detective agency repeatedly shut down miners attempts at unionization with everything from driveby assaults of. The baldwinfelts detective agency played a controversial role in the early years of the coal industry of southern west virginia, enforcing. In this era, good private detective agencies had resources to investigate a crime that vastly exceeded the resources of smalltown sheriffsand, in many cases, exceeded the resources even of the biggest. Baldwinfelts also played the leading role in bringing the violent participants of the feud between the hatfields and mccoys to justice.
Lee, to remark in his 1969 book that baldwin and felt were the two most feared and hated men in the mountains. Black and italian miners, brought in by the company to break the strike, are caught between the two forces. Sep 21, 2017 the detective agency brought into the case was the baldwinfelts agency in bluefield, west virginiaa substantial and professional agency. The rich coal mine owners hired baldwin felts detective agency to keep the miners from striking. Mann ii, a railroad police agent and firearms instructor who discusses. The baldwinfelts agency was headquartered in roanoke and in bluefield, wv. Most of what has been written about the baldwinfelts detective agency has concentrated on their work for the coal mine operators during the first 25 years of the 20th century.
Tensions had escalated between the baldwin felts detective agency, a security group funded by the coal operators, versus the local coal miners due to numerous evictions of mining families from the companyowned housing in the area. Their often brutal, repressive policies, especially toward nion miners, contributed significantly to the violence of the. This book helps correct that and sheds some light on what is for many, an undiscovered subject. Nov 15, 2015 according to the book s description on amazon. I used to have a book of history which could give you a lot more than i could give you. The coal mining massacre america forgot history smithsonian. The baldwin felts detective agency enforced public law for the coal industry. Oct 29, 2019 he sided with the miners, many of whom had recently joined the united mine workers of america umwa, against the gun thugs of the baldwinfelts detective agency, brought in by the stone mountain coal company to break the union by threatening or murdering its members and harassing their families, as well as to ensure at gunpoint that scab. True story of the baldwinfelts detective agency an in depth look at one of the true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency an in depth look at one of the nations finest railroad and private detective agencies by john velke iii with a special feature. The baldwinfelts detective agency was a private detective agency in the united states. Baldwinfelts detective agency latest breaking news, pictures, videos, and special reports from the economic times. The baldwinfelts detective agency enforced public law for the coal industry.
The carroll county historical society and museum facebook. This is a colorful account of the open warfare in west virginias dark and bloody coal fields in 1920 and 1921, triggered by the killing by company detectives of matewan town officials friendly to the. Phil duke brings to his vivid canvas the largerthanlife characters who made the history that spiro, maria and their daughter anna live through. Felts, active head of baldwinfelts detective agency, the most feared and hated man in the mountains. The one contributed chapter is the guns of the baldwin felts detective agency. A coal miners granddaughter in the baldwinfelts house the. The rich coal mine owners hired baldwinfelts detective agency to keep the miners from striking. True story of the baldwin felts detective agency an in depth look at one of the true story of the baldwin felts detective agency an in depth look at one of the nations finest railroad and private detective agencies by john velke iii with a special feature. Longsmoldering resentments are about to erupt into one of the largest armed insurrections in us history. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency book. Their often brutal, repressive policies, especially toward nion miners, contributed significantly to the violence of the period.
This resulted in seven detectives being killed along with the mayor of the town. Battle of blair mountain redneck revolt antifascist. The film is set during the first red scare in the us from 19191920, so the company is terrified of reds agitating the workers, and are willing to kill to protect their. The agency was founded in the early 1890s by william gibbony baldwin. This was not necessarily because of the members, but that they worked for the coal operators themselves. The mine guards of baldwinfelts detective agency repeatedly shut down miners attempts at unionization with everything from driveby. In the early 1900s, the baldwinfelts detective agency played a brutal and bloody role in the union strikes and violence that took place in.
The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency. In 1997, after spending more than 30 years researching, velke published his book, the true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency john velke iii on. Testerman, and don chafin, this book tells the story of a clash between. The matewan massacre the baldwin felts detective agency kirk judd. The matewan massacre the baldwinfelts detective agency kirk judd. West virginias spoken word poet shinnston plumbing. The operatives the term used for private detective for these agencies were also heavily armed and part of their job was to attack striking. Rare famed baldwinfelts detective agency 1890s1937. Ellie cline arrives in west virginia the talk and envy of the town, hanging on the arm of john havers, top lieutenant to tom felts of the baldwinfelts detective agency. The baldwin felts detective agency played a controversial role in the early years of the coal industry of southern west virginia, enforcing public law in the coalfields at the direction of the coal operators who hired them.
Authors work casts light on matewan news, sports, jobs. The baldwin felts detective agency was a private detective agency in the united states, founded in the 1890s by william gibboney baldwin and thomas lafayette felts and based in roanoke, virginia and bluefield, west virginia. True story of the baldwinfelts detective agency an in depth. They came from outside the area during a union membership drive. Baldwinfelts detective agency blogs, comments and archive news on.
The battle of blair mountain by robert shogan houston. Shootout in matewan, west virginia, may 19, 1920 youtube. Baldwin felts agents west virginia history, history, west. Hes written many magazine articles, including the abcs of retail investigations published by loss prevention magazine in 2005. From new kanawha river and the mine war in west virginia by kyle mccormick. Rare famed baldwinfelts detective agency 1890s1937 copper. It would be for the period late 1800s to 1910 before the agency became baldwin felts detective agency. Tensions had escalated between the baldwinfelts detective agency, a security group funded by the coal operators, versus the local coal miners due to numerous evictions of mining families from the companyowned housing in the area. This is a colorful account of the open warfare in west virginias dark and bloody coal fields in 1920 and 1921, triggered by the killing by company detectives. Jellybean since you started this thread and apparently have an interest in the baldwinfelts detective agency i would be happy to send you a complimentary copy of my book, the true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency. In 1920 the campaign shifted to mingo county, during which a notable event was the matewan massacre on may 19, 1920. Savage and ayers offer a narrative history of the strike that weaves together threads about organizer mother jones, the united mine workers union, politicians, coal companies, and baldwinfelts detective agency guards with the experiences of everyday men and women.
Wealthy coal operators have hired the baldwinfelts detective agency to protect their fortunes and crush the rebellious miners by whatever means necessaryno matter how violent. The true story of the baldwin felts detective agency. The end of the baldwin felts detective agency came soon after the deaths of the partners baldwin in 1936 at age 75 and felts a year later at age 69. During this, the town sheriff sid hatfield sided with the miners in a gun fight against detectives from the baldwinfelts detective agency. Second, as the references show, the baldwinfelts detective agency was notorious for its use of violence against labor union supporters. It would be for the period late 1800s to 1910 before the agency became baldwinfelts detective agency. Apr 25, 2017 the coal mining massacre america forgot. Baldwinfelts detective agency the roanoker magazine. Baldwin felts also played the leading role in bringing the violent participants of the feud between the hatfields and mccoys to justice. Baldwinfelts detective agency deadliest fiction wiki fandom. Baldwin felts was a detective agency similar to the pinkertons, hired by companies to violently suppress union organizing and strikes. This led to violence on paint creek and cabin creek with the united mine workers of america and the strikers in april 1912.
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