Sid Hatfield - Matewan Massacre to Grave - Old Jail - Mayor Testerman- Ed Chambers grave
Published 2022-08-18
Local legend William Sidney “Sid” Hatfield was Police Chief of Matewan and one of the most popular figures of the West Virginia Mine Wars, a decades-long conflict between miners and coal operators. Hatfield was a leader for the miners during the Battle of Matewan, a shootout that followed a series of evictions carried out by detectives from the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency.
He received his nickname, “Smilin’ Sid”, because of the gold caps on several of his upper teeth. He was a staunch supporter of the United Mine Workers of America and was instrumental in leading the mining community’s resistance to the Baldwin-Felts operatives.
The Battle of Matewan took place on May 19, 1920 between Baldwin-Felts Detective Agents against Hatfield and his deputies. After the battle, ten men lay dead on Mate Street: seven Baldwin-Felts Detective Agents, two union-armed miners, and Matewan’s very own Mayor Testerman. To miners, he was a legend and hero. The bullets from the shootout are still lodged in the building on Mate Street.
All Comments (21)
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Another fascinating video. You both do a great job making us feel like we’re actually there. Such a beautiful town.
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I LOVE your channel! My husbands family was Hatfield and McCoy. He knows nothing of his grandfather kin simpkins who was a descendant. All the history is so interesting! It’s so sad a lot of this history has been forgotten. Thank you for bringing it back to life!
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Me and my wife was there in April it was a great beautiful area lots of history good job y’all bringing our history into mainstream media
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Leo I love your videos I'm an old man 74 can't really move around too much anymore that you guys are taking me on vacation. Keep your videos coming they're great you guys tell the history as you go man can't say enough about you videos are great and your wife she's excellent to take care and watch out for those damn snakes they're everywhere in those heels this is Terry from Wichita Kansas take care😊
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My sister now lives in iager West Virginia about 45 minutes from welch. I have visited welch, but I would love to come to maetwon to do a tour with y'all. Love your videos on Hatfield's and McCoys.
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I moved to West Virginia after the military 27 years ago, I work with guys born and raised here and don't know these things, which is a shame
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Fascinating story! The murals were absolutely beautiful! Albeit a tad creepy, they tell the history with pictures. Great job!
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Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Its on my list of places to visit next time I'm in Matewan. Love the history, keep it up!
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I worked in that part of WV for meny a year I liked the people and the country.
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Love seeing and learning about the history of my family!! Devil Anse is my 5th great grandfather ❤
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Great video and good details.
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Was just there in May for my wife’s family reunion. She has kin on birth sides of that feud but mostly McCoys
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As a southerner from Alabama who loves history, most of our historical sites where burned to the ground by the northern invasion and stolen by carpet baggers with only stories left behind, I dearly love seeing actual buildings from our American past ,thank you for sharing, you folks are awesome!
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Love the history of West Virginia my son and family lives off Charleston and I go up and see them and do trails in West Virginia I am from Kentucky and still live here and love hearing the history of our states..
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Interesting video. The first building, with the sign that said " use other door, " I can go one better, Do not enter building, period! Nice little town, cemetery is in pretty good condition. Thank you, Leo and Heather, for another fine video.
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Great video, my wife and I were in Matewan a few years ago, wish we had known about you guys. We’re from the Mason County WV area.
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i enjoyed this very much. thank you.
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I really enjoy your videos, I have people down thatway. My Grandmother was born up near Branchland. Her people were Merritts and Clays.
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Do you have a video about the massacre? I couldn't find one when checking your channel. You've peaked my interest now....for us folks that aren't from that area, we'd be interested in the background details, since some of us have never heard of it. Thanks.
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my mother's best friend was from Red Jacket. She knew the Hatfields, Chafin's, was a Harmon, etc etc. Anyways, Sid was an honorable young man for that day and time. If he got upset he would smile, a steely smile and it unnerved people, because the angrier he became, the calmer he became. It is so sad. When he was shot on the courthouse steps, he whirled around and smiled in the direction of the shooter. As if too say, You got me. You finally got me.
