Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 57F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..
Tonight
Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 57F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Matewan was the site of a bloody battle in the West Virginia Mine Wars over 100 years ago. Fairmont State University art professor Joel Dugan is slated to paint a mural depicting the town’s history later this year.
This rendering shows what Fairmont State University Professor Joel Dugan’s WV Coal Mine Wars Museum mural will look like.
Submitted photo
Matewan was the site of a bloody battle in the West Virginia Mine Wars over 100 years ago. Fairmont State University art professor Joel Dugan is slated to paint a mural depicting the town’s history later this year.
Submitted photo
On May 19, 1920, 10 people were killed in what became known as the Matewan Massacre.
FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WV News) — Nearly one year after being chosen to illustrate a mural for the WV Coal Mine Wars Museum in Matewan in Mingo County, Fairmont State University arts professor Joel Dugan is putting the finishing touches on the piece of art, which is set to be installed in the museum later this year.
The mural is to be located in the stairwell of the Nenni Building in Matewan, which itself has a historic significance to the area and the mine wars that took place there 100 years ago, including the Battle of Matewan, which saw 10 people die in a fight between the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency and a group of local miners and residents.
Dugan said that after being picked to paint the mural in early 2022, he and fellow artists visited Matewan several times to get a feel for the town and meet with its officials, working together to breath life into the art piece.
“The decisions that we made have really helped not only to align to the goals of the Mine Wars Museum, but capitalize on the historical significance of the space it’ll go into,” Dugan said. “The Nenni Department Store … was the center of their community, and the top floor was where (Matewan Police Chief) Sid Hatfield lived. …
“When the Matewan massacre took place, Sid retreated to his apartment to get his second gun and went downstairs, and that’s where the actual shooting took place. The mural is in this space. It’s all coming together for them to create an era-specific reference to this space.”
The mural will be installed on a wall leading up the stairwell to the old apartments. Dugan said the last thing visitors will see on the mural once reaching to top of the stairs will be Sid Hatfield standing beside current United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil Roberts.
Dugan added that everyone else portrayed in the mural, from coal miners to general residents of the town, will be real Matewan community members.
“We shot reference photos of the entire community to switch out all of the figures in the sketch with real citizens,” Dugan said. “They put together a call that brought together people of various ethnicities and ages, and even found the Neenni family. …
“I could not be more excited about the inclusion of all of those community members. The goal we set out for, which was to include the local public in the creation of the art, has really succeeded.”
Dugan said he’s deeply grateful to have been picked for the mural’s creation, which has given him a year’s worth of insight into the rich, storied history of Matewan and the coal mining industry.
“I just feel so privileged to have a moment to sit (with the Matewan community) and hear the heroic stories of sacrifice and commitment to enhancing the living conditions of every member of that community,” Dugan said. “It was special to see the diverse groups that came together. That community is still reflective of all of the sacrifice and turmoil that they went through. …
“It’s still present in their makeup, and I truthfully feel honored to capture for them, and I hope (the mural) continues to exhibit how formidable their character is — to be able to put up with that much sacrifice and still have that same commitment.”
Dugan said the mural will be installed in the building after other projects related to the museum’s creation are completed, adding that he hopes that painting can begin by the end of summer.
Fairmont News Editor John Mark Shaver can be reached at 304-844-8485 or jshaver@theet.com.
You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
Post a comment as Anonymous Commenter
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.