# STATEMENT OF KAREN TAYLOR-GOODRICH, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, VISITOR AND RESOURCE PROTECTION, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC LANDS OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING H.R. 3821, TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY OF SITES AND RESOURCES AT MATEWAN, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSOCIATED WITH THE BATTLE OF MATEWAN TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNATING CERTAIN HISTORIC AREAS AS A UNIT OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.

## October 30, 2007

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the
Department of the Interior on H.R. 3821, a bill to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites
associated with the "Battle of Matewan" in Matewan, West Virginia.

The Department supports H.R. 3821. While the Department supports the
authorization of this study, we also believe that any funding requested
should be directed first toward completing previously authorized
studies.

H.R. 3821 directs the Secretary to conduct a special resource study in
accordance with the National Park System General Authorities Act to
determine the suitability and feasibility of designating these resources
in West Virginia as a unit of the National Park System and to determine
the methods and means for protection and interpretation by the Federal
Government or other governmental or non-governmental entities. The bill
also requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress no later than
3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out
this study.

The Matewan Historic District was designated a National Historic
Landmark in February 1997. The District and its surrounding coal mines
were the sites of a seminal event in the history of organized labor
fostered by attempts of coal miners in the southern Appalachians to join
the United Mine Workers of America in 1920.

Nowhere was the effort at unionization more intense than in Matewan,
where the local sheriff, Sid Hatfield, and the town's mayor Cabel
Testerman, openly protected the miners attempts to hold organizational
meetings in the town. On May 19, 1920, thirteen detectives including
Thomas Felts, President of Baldwin-Felts Coal Company, and two of his
brothers, entered Matewan to evict unionized miners and their families
from homes in the Stone Mountain Mine camp. Sheriff Hatfield and a group
of miners went to the Stone Mountain camp and tried to stop the
evictions, but the detectives and mine owner continued forcing miners
and their families from the homes. Later that afternoon in Matewan,
Hatfield and a number of armed miners attempted to arrest the mine
owner. A shot was fired and a battle ensued. Lasting only a minute, the
mine owner, the mayor, seven detectives and two miners were dead or
dying at the end of the confrontation. Hatfield, unhurt, became a hero
to miners throughout the nation. West Virginia's governor sent in 50
members of the State Police to take control of the town. In July 1921,
while unarmed, Sheriff Hatfield was shot and killed at a county
courthouse by Baldwin-Felts' detectives. His death sparked an armed
rebellion by coal miners all over West Virginia resulting in the "Battle
of Blair Mountain" in Logan County.

The Battle of Blair Mountain in August 1921 is considered the largest
organized armed uprising in the history of the American labor movement
and ultimately resulted in many of the laws that protect labor's right
to organize today. Up to 15,000 coal miners gathered in Logan County,
West Virginia and stood against state and federal troops. Up to 30
persons on both sides died on August 25^th^. On September 2^nd^, the
United States Army Air Service dropped pipe and tear gas bombs to
dissuade labor organizers from further action. In the history of this
nation it was the first and only time that the United States Government
ordered military aircraft used against its citizens.

Resources related to this period are still extant in the Town of Matewan
and its surrounding areas. The National Park Service assisted the
Matewan Revitalization Task Force to develop a strategic plan for the
area's resources in 1990. Matewan's nationally significant resources are
now included in the congressionally designated National Coal Heritage
Area.

Mr. Chairman this concludes my testimony and I would be pleased to
answer any questions you or the other members of the subcommittee may
have.