Winds of Change Newsletter, December 2005     See sidebar for table of contents

Update on Blair Mountain - Feds Want Still More Information

The National Park Service informed the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) that some questions must be answered before Blair Mountain the site of the countrys largest labor insurrection can be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The historic importance of these events is without question, the park service wrote to the state. However, the struggle to define the locations, extent and comprehensive assessment of the physical integrity of these places continues.

Friends of the Mountains (FOM) sponsored the nomination. Frank Unger, our consultant, will conduct some of the requested additional work; SHPO will also submit more info.

We have been fortunate to gain the support of labor history groups and others locally and nationwide. Kenny King took National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) personnel Nell Ziehl and Rob Nieweg, and Preservation Magazine reporter Chris Swope on a tour of the 10-mile Spruce Fork ridgeline. After the site visit the NTHP wrote a letter of support for the nomination!

The Labor History Association recently inducted Frank Keeney, an early UMWA organizer, into their Hall of Honor. In the early 1920s, Keeney led the struggle organizing the miners in Logan and Mingo counties. In 1921 he was found innocent of murder and treason against the state when he was tried for his leadership in the miners armed march to Blair Mountain.

FOM representatives met recently with the citizens of Blair and devised a campaign to gain support of the union and state and local officials in addition to the Keeper of the Register. As part of the campaign, we will be asking you to contact the Keeper in support of the nomination. We are preparing some campaign material to be used by our supporters. Stay tuned!

(See From Ireland to Blair Mountain, With Love, on p. 23).