Tom Rule of “When Miners March” and Bill Ramsey

Sept. 1, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Ramsey
304-623-3284
Celebrations, poster contest mark
state’s first Labor History Week

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – This year, Labor Day gets an added boost in the form of the newly designated annual Labor History Week. The event will be marked by statewide celebrations as well as a poster contest for students.

In March, the West Virginia Legislature passed a resolution designating the week following Labor Day as Labor History Week, said Kelley Goes, West Virginia Secretary of Commerce.

“Some of the most significant labor events in the history of the United States happened in West Virginia,” Goes said. “It is fitting that we set aside time to honor the historical achievements of our hardworking and dedicated labor force.”

Labor History Week was created with the intent to provide people with the opportunity to learn about these achievements and about important issues such as collective bargaining and labor management relations, said Kenny Perdue of the West Virginia AFL-CIO.

“Labor Day is an opportunity to remember the sacrifices and contributions that working men and women have made to the quality of life we enjoy today,” Perdue said. “Here in West Virginia, we have an even greater opportunity to honor workers, thanks to the resolution passed by the Legislature.”

Following is a sampling of some of the statewide celebrations planned in honor of Labor History Week. To find out if an event is happening near you, contact your local AFL-CIO office.

Whipple Country Store Labor Day Doin’s
Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 4 at Whipple Country Store and Appalachian Heritage Museum, 7485 Okey L. Patterson Road (W.Va. 612) in Scarbro. The event will offer free food, music and complimentary tours of the museum.

62nd Paden City Labor Day Celebration
Sept. 4-6. Events include a 5K Fun Run, carnival rides, live music and a parade at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6. In addition, Paden City Volunteer Fire Department will host a fish fry at 1 p.m. Sunday and 2 p.m. Monday and an all-you-can-eat breakfast at 8 a.m. Monday.

Marion County AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic
Noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at Hough Park (Mannington Fairgrounds), Mannington. The picnic will have food, soft drinks, live music, games for children, ice cream and more than $1,700 in door prizes. Special guest, UMWA International President Cecil Roberts, will speak at 2 p.m.

72nd Annual Labor Day Celebration and Picnic
Activities begin at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 6 at the John Slack Memorial Park in Racine.

“In the Company’s Hands”
7 p.m. Sept. 11 at the LaBelle Theater, 311 D St., South Charleston. This film focuses primarily on the struggle between miners and the oppressive reality of life in company towns where behavior was closely controlled by the mine owners.

Poster Contest
A group of educators, historians and union members have formed the West Virginia Labor History Week Coalition, which is sponsoring a Labor History Week Poster Contest for students in grades K-12. Cash prizes of $100 and $50 will be awarded to four first-place winners and four second-place winners, respectively. In addition, the teachers of all winners will receive cash for their classrooms. The deadline for submissions is Sept 17. For an application and contest rules, contact the West Virginia AFL-CIO at 304-344-3557.

“This coalition, which includes the West Virginia AFL-CIO, encourages everyone who works for a living to pause to honor workers even while we enjoy ourselves at parades and picnics, on Labor Day and throughout Labor History Week,” Perdue said.

# # #

From:  wvwrr8 at aol.com [mailto:wvwrr8@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 9:42 PM
To: Bond, Andrea B
Subject: Re: NEWS RELEASE: Celebrations, poster contest mark state’s first Labor History Week

Andrea,

I think the press release is terrific but we need to make a few corrections and additions.

In the section “Whipple Country Store”, it should read free food, music and complimentary tours of the museum.

In the section “62nd Payden City”, it should read and a parade at 1:00 PM, Monday, the 6th.

In the section “Mannington Picnic”, it should read Mannington, WV (Not Kingmont). Further, it should read, free food, soft drinks and ice cream. Live music, games for the children and more than $1,700. in door prizes.

I would like to add, if possible, another event that has been omitted. That is the 72nd Annual Labor Day Celebration and Picnic, September 6, 2010 at the John Slack Memorial Park in Racin, WV, activities begin at 11:30.

In the section about the movie, the correct title is “In the Company’s Hands”, (not “Even the Heavens Weep”), which is the lost Labor History film. The correct information about this film is: Most of the film focuses on the struggle between miners and the oppressive reality of life in company towns where all behavior was closely controlled by the mine owners.

In the section about the Poster contest, it should read ” A group of educators, historians and union members have formed the WV Labor History Week Coalition, which is sponsoring a Labor History Week Poster Contest for students K-12″. (This would be the only time that the official name of the group is mentioned).

If we can make these changes, all the information will be correct and complete without any ambiguity.

Dianne and I will be leaving to go to Morgantown at 8:00 AM, Wednesday, Sept. 1, to tour the WWII B-17 bomber, Sentimental Journey (only 1 of 10 that is still in existence), therefore, if you need any other information or further clarification, please feel free to call me on my cell phone, (304)203-5229.

Thank you for all your help and assistance,
Bill Ramsey, Chairman, WV Labor History Week Coalition

Aug. 31, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Ramsey
304-623-3284

Celebrations, poster contest mark state’s first Labor History Week

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – This year, Labor Day gets an added boost in the form of the newly designated annual Labor History Week. The event will be marked by statewide celebrations as well as a poster contest for students.

In March, the West Virginia Legislature passed a resolution designating the week following Labor Day as Labor History Week, said Kelley Goes, West Virginia Secretary of Commerce.

“Some of the most significant labor events in the history of the United States happened in West Virginia,” Goes said. “It is fitting that we set aside time to honor the historical achievements of our hardworking and dedicated labor force.”

Labor History Week was created with the intent to provide people with the opportunity to learn about these achievements and about important issues such as collective bargaining and labor management relations, said Kenny Perdue of the West Virginia AFL-CIO.

“Labor Day is an opportunity to remember the sacrifices and contributions that working men and women have made to the quality of life we enjoy today,” Perdue said. “Here in West Virginia, we have an even greater opportunity to honor workers, thanks to the resolution passed by the Legislature.”

Following is a sampling of some of the statewide celebrations planned in honor of Labor History Week. To find out if an event is happening near you, contact your local AFL-CIO office.

Whipple Country Store Labor Day Doin’s
Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 4 at Whipple Country Store and Appalachian Heritage Museum, 7485 Okey L. Patterson Road (W.Va. 612) in Scarbro. The event will offer food, music and complimentary tours of the museum.
62nd Paden City Labor Day Celebration

Sept. 4-6. Events include a 5K Fun Run, carnival rides, live music and a parade. Paden City Volunteer Fire Department will host a fish fry at 1 p.m. Sunday and 2 p.m. Monday and an all-you-can-eat breakfast at 8 a.m. Monday.
Marion County AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic

Noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at Hough Park (Mannington Fairgrounds), Kingmont. The picnic will have food, soft drinks, live music, games for children, ice cream and more than $1,700 in door prizes. Special guest, UMWA International President Cecil Roberts, will speak at 2 p.m.

“Even the Heavens Weep”
7 p.m. Sept. 11 at the LaBelle Theater, 311 D St., South Charleston. This is a “lost” labor history film about the southern West Virginia coal wars as shown in John Sayles’ “Matewan.”

Poster Contest
A new coalition of union members, educators and historians is sponsoring a Labor History Week poster contest for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Cash prizes of $100 and $50 will be awarded to four first-place winners and four second-place winners, respectively. In addition, the teachers of all winners will receive cash for their classrooms. The deadline for submissions is Sept 17. For an application and contest rules, contact the West Virginia AFL-CIO at 304-344-3557.

“This coalition, which includes the West Virginia AFL-CIO, encourages everyone who works for a living to pause to honor workers even while we enjoy ourselves at parades and picnics, on Labor Day and throughout Labor History Week,” Perdue said.

# # #

John Averill of Hinton has produced an amazing film about two miracles that took place there, “Angels at the Altar.” It tells the story of an English war bride that took a picture of a local altar one Christmas, showing angels.

Years latter, she died on Christmas Eve in the same church. The story is very touching irrespective of the angels, but it does add a religious aspect that has seldom been shown in a WV film. You can contact Mr. Averill at “callejon@mac.com” if you wish to buy a DVD copy. The profits go to the church, Ascension Episcopal Church of Hinton.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Patrick Felton
Communications Director
West Virginia Filmmaker’s Festival
304-741-2518
 Patrickfelton at gmail.com

Web site address
WEST VIRGINIA FILMMAKER’S FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES OPENING NIGHT FILMS
Horror Films, Oscar-Nominated Short Highlight Weekend of WV Film.
Sutton, WV, Date — An evening of local horror films will kick off the 11th annual The West Virginia Filmmakers Festival On October 1 in Sutton, WV. The festival runs through the 13 at the Elk Theater and Landmark Studio For The Arts in Sutton WV.

 A full schedule will be forthcoming.
Highlights from this year’s festival include:
• WV Horror Double Feature and party (October 1 – Elk Theater) Charleston native Eamon Hardiman’s 1980s slasher homage “Porkchop” and Matt Walker’s Martinsburg-shot “Scarlet Rain” screens at the historic Elk Theater. The Screenings are followed by an opening night party at the haunted Elk Hotel featuring food, music, and great company. Don’t miss this night!
• Toxic Soup (September 29 – Glenville State, October 2, Landmark Studio) Rory Delaney’s Incendiary documentary traces the growing battle over contamination of water and air in WV and throughout the Mountain State. Join Delaney and his team of raconteurs as they exposes alleged neglect and malice to water supplies by some of the world’s largest multinational and encounter a colorful cast of characters including Morgan Spurlock, Hillary Clinton, and even Jim Carey.
• Shorts Program 2010 (October 2 – Landmark Studio) Kim Spurlock’s Student Academy Award Nominated Short “Down in Number 5” anchors an evening of extraordinary short films. Based on a true story, this Southern Gothic story follows a terminally ill coal miner as he seeks refuge for his Down Syndrome son. This promises to be one of our strongest progams in years.
Admission is $5.00 per screening or 15 dollar for a festival pass. Tickets will be available at the door.
More information including a full schedule will be available at www.wvff.art.officelive.com.
Now in its eleventh year, the West Virginia Filmmaker’s Festival is the state’s only film festival dedicated to the exhibition of films made by, for , and with West Virginia
####

Sug Hawkins

The South Charleston Museum will present the showing of a “lost” film, “In the Company’s Hands,”on Saturday, September 11 at 7 PM at the La Belle Theater. It was made shortly after “Matewan” in fall 1987. The film is a “balanced” view of the coal mine wars that took place in southern West Virginia, interviewing relatives on both sides of the conflicts. Dr. Fred Barkey, SCMF board member, was one of two historical consultants for this film projection.  This event is part of the West Virginia Labor History Week Coalition’s statewide project of promoting West Virginia labor history during the week of Labor Day as proclaimed by the West Virginia Legislature in 2010. Director Jack Kelly, now vice president of Miami Public TV, will be flying in to introduce the film in person. He owns property in the Eastern panhandle and will be retiring here in WV. Admission will be $5.00.

JF Kimball

About “In the Company’s Hands”

IN THE COMPANY’S HANDS
1987 58 M.
Jack Kelly directed, wrote and produced this comprehensive documentary about the Southern WV coal mine wars. It is narrated by Kelly and local actor Michael Martin who also acts in some of the recreations. Using archival footage, photographs, and historic songs, Kelly recreates the world of coal mining in the area. He interviews the descendants of people on both sides – the children of coal mine owners and the children of coal miners. Some of the people interviewed include black coal miner Sug Hawkins, Cecil Roberts (not UMWA president), and William Becker. The nephew of Tom Felts of the Baldwin-Felts Agency and a son of an owner are also interviewed. The film goes back to the first days of coal mining in WV, which started in 1871 in the New River area near Beckley. By 1896, 26 million tons of coal from the Pocahontas Field was being shipped all over the country to power the developing industrial age. 14 millionaires lived in Brawell. Around 1900 many miners from Europe were brought to the coal fields, segregated in their own sections of the company towns. 80 % of all coal in WV was mined in company towns. The coal mine owners felt they had a divine right to do whatever was necessary to build their companies in “the wilderness.” Most of the film focuses on the struggle between miners and the oppressive reality of life in company towns where all behavior was closely controlled by the miner owners. Key events such as The Matewan Massacre and The Battle of Blair Mountain are analyzed. Dr. Fred Barkey, a well-known WV labor historian, and industry historian Dr. C. Stuart McGehee provided the historical information. Executive producer Donn Rogosin, station manager of WSWP-TV.

Pocahontas Seam 

South Charleston Museum
At the Historic LaBelle Theatre
311 D Street
South Charleston, West Virginia 25303
United States of America
Tel. 304.744.9711 Fax.304.720.3769

PARAMOUNT PICTURES TO FILM IN WEIRTON, WV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Paramount Pictures will be shooting a film titled “Wickham” in the Weirton region and surrounding areas. Filming is anticipated to occur from late September to mid-October. It is expected to be rated PG-13. The movie is about a group of teens who spend the summer together and deal with the struggles of growing up.

Gov. Joe Manchin had previously contacted Paramount executives to encourage the studio to film in the state. “I’m pleased that Paramount Pictures recognizes West Virginia’s assets and selected us for their on-location shoot,” Manchin said. “The state is eager to work with the company and assist them as needed.”

The West Virginia Film Office has been working with Paramount since May on scouting locations throughout the state, Film Office Director Pam Haynes said. Paramount is participating in the West Virginia Film Industry Investment Act, a tax credit program designed to recruit business into the state.

“The Film Office staff fought hard to bring this production into the state, and we could not have done it without the incredible support we have received from numerous city, county and state officials as well as business leaders throughout the Northern Panhandle,” Haynes said. “We are equally grateful for the support shown by the residents of the entire area.”

Haynes further said that the West Virginia portion of filming represents all of the on-location filming for the film. The remainder will be shot in Los Angeles.

The West Virginia Film Office is a section under the WV Department of Commerce, Division of Tourism, and can be visited at www.wvfilm.com.

# # #

Ann Montague, second from left, with two WV Rosie the Riveters and Bill Ramsey on the far right at the Charleston Marriott, Aug. 14th.

I attended the statewide meeting of groups supporting the WV Labor History Week resolution passed by the WV Legislation this year. Below are some of the photos I took. It was great to see Ann Montague there with several WV Rosie the Riveters plus all of the others groups. Betty Carver, director of the WV Tourist Office, spoke. Even WV AFL-CIO prez Kenny Perdue attended and spoke.

Gordon Simmons, prez of the WV Labor History Assn, with Betty Carver, director of the WV Tourism Office

He told a story about asking a group of 50 people if they had ever heard of the Battle of Blair Mountain. None had. I can’t count the number of times I have asked people in WV if they knew who Mother Jones was – and they had NO IDEA.

Bill Ramsey, the prez of the group, did a great job moving along the agenda, getting it all down to a little over an hour. I had to leave before he showed a video, “What is Labor History”. 

Dr. Fred Barkey, one of WV’s leading labor historians, with WV Labor History Assn. prez Gordon Simmons

Dr. Fred Barkey talked about the 1,000 copies warehoused by the WV Humanities Council of the teacher’s guide he wrote more than 20 years ago that help teachers bring WV labor history to their classrooms. ( Hopefully, they will be sent out and used rather than sit in a warehouse for another 20 years.)

The group also talked about bringing the message to History Day at the Legislature, having an essay contest in 2011. ( There is a statewide poster contest this year. More below.)

Everyone gave their applause to the group of Rosie’s that Ann Montague brought to the event, and one person even suggested that local school children should contact their local Rosie and perhaps do their WV labor history poster about them. ( Montague showed a great painting done by one Rosie of another at the event.) The Rosies are making a quilt that will be displayed on Labor Day in Paden City at their annual Labor Day Parade. There will be a dinner on Labor Day in Mannington, Marion County, and Tom Rule talked about a get together at the Whipple Store in Fayette County the Saturday before Labor Day, sponsord by Wess Harris, the publisher of “When Miners March.”

There will be more events to come on WV’s Labor Day and the poster contest winners will be posted on a new website. More to come.

I have been waiting for this event for 32 years and I am sure that many other West Virginians have been waiting even longer. Our state’s great labor history is barely known and it’s time to tell the world, including ourselves, about it.

Parlor D at the Charleston Marriott with labor history groups

West Virginia Library Commission Resources page for WV Labor History Week -

http://wvlcguides.org/content.php?pid=130497

Info on the 2010 WV Labor History poster contest -

The teacher of the 1st Place Winners will receive

$150.00!

The teacher of the 2nd Place Winners will receive $75.00

RULES and REGULATIONS:

• • Each entry must be postmarked by midnight on September 17, 2010;
• • Each entry must have completed ENTRY FORM attached to the back of the entry;
• • Each entry must illustrate any aspect(s) of labor history and working people in West

Virginia;

• • Each entry must have the artist’s name in the bottom right hand corner, no larger than ½”

in height;

• • Each entry must be on 12” x 18” paper with a ½” white border on all sides;
• • Each entry must be two-dimensional;
• • Each entry must be smear protected (for pastel or chalk work please spray with protective

spray); and

• • Limit entries to two per school!
• • Please mail entries to: Ms. Cheryl Judy

PO Box 15065

Marmet, West Virginia 25365

WINNING ENTRIES will be reprinted and sent to various public entities – public

libraries, government buildings, museums, schools, etc.

IDEA STARTERS: Mother Jones, Coal Camps, Blair Mountain, Monongalia Mine Disaster,

Hawk’s Nest Disaster, Importation of Foreign Workers, Glassmaking, Pottery, Company Stores,

Iron and Metal Works, and Ma Buzzard.

All prize monies have been generously donated by the Affiliated Construction Trades of WV and

the North Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO).

The following ENTRY FORM may be copied and attached to the back of each entry.

School _________________________________________ County _________________

School Address _________________________________________________ Zip ____________

School Phone Number (______)_____________________ Grade Level (circle one)

Student Name _____________________________________________ K-5

Student Address ___________________________________________ 6-8

_____________________________ Zip___________ 9-12

VOCA

Student Signature ________________________ Parent Signature ________________________

Teacher Name ___________________________________________ Date __________________

$100.00

1st Place

$50.00

2nd Place

The reason WHY it is a masterpiece is NOT because of the crazy and self-destructive lives of the White clan, but the filmic artistry used by the filmmakers to reveal what such lives are really like. That is WHY the first film, “Dancing Outlaw” was so great – to compress in to 25 minutes so many insights in to a distorted man’s life without obviously making judgement is almost unknown in cinema. This new film continues where Jacob Young left off twenty years ago, and shows that the Whites have paid a terrible price for becoming welfare criminals at the instigation of their father, the infamous mountain dancer.

During the course of this year the mother who has raised all of the Whites and orphaned local children dies and is buried. One of the nieces of Jesco loses her newborn baby to Child Protection Services because of drugs in its blood. When Jesco visits the family cemetary, and goes through the headstones of his brothers and sisters, I was almost overcome with grief I have seldom felt in any film. I myself have lost my oldest three siblings and have some awarenesss of what that does to a person.

Statistics show that there are many White-type people all over WV, the country, and the world. A recent film, “A Prophet,” made in France and winner of the top award at Cannes, shows the life of an Arab young man who has to either kill or be killed, and how he rises in the prison system. It was a very harrowing film to watch, just like this film.

I often tell people if they want to read depressing stories, read the Bible or the front page of the daily newspapers. Life is often sad. But life can also be happy, and there is plenty of that in this film, and some even in “A Prophet.”

 I hope everyone in WV gets to see this film on the Big Screen, and learn that the camera tells the truth. This film should make all of WV’s drug users stop using, and go straight. Who is their right mind wants to end up like Jesco and his clan? ( I was born in to a family almost as crazy as the Whites, and luckily, myself and my younger brother were saved by our college educations. The rest of my own clan, famous in Minnesota for boxing, is now dead, or not doing so well. It was ironic that the one White who has escaped their curse now lives in Minnesota. Minnesota does have lots of crazy people, but it also has lots of programs to help them, etc. I was one of those people, sent to library school after a serious work-related injury.)

NY Times Review.

One of two recent films based on the life of the Dancing Outlaw will be shown for a week or so at the Park Place Stadium Theaters in downtown Charleston starting this Friday. They have a poster in their lobby and I saw the preview – on the Big Screen!   The film has received a lot of local ink because it is about our most famous mountain dancer, Jesco White. The film is called “The Wild, Wonderful Whites of West Virginia.” I have written extensively about it and the other film, a Brit docu-drama called “White Lightnin” which hired Jacob Young, the director of “Dancing Outlaw” to assist on.

B.J. Gudmundsson began her career working with the Pocahontas County Free Libraries, working on her Galford Lumber Company film, “Out of the Storm.” Recently she has been hired by them to become the first digital archivist working in any WV public library.

She will be collecting and scanning local history items in to a database that will be searchable on a computer at the Marlinton main library. Director Allen Johnson said, “BJ Gudmundsson brings many attributes to her new work as Records Preservation Officer. She has lived for many years in Pocahontas County, has many connections, is experienced in documentary filmmaking, has a passion for preserving history, and has a talent for bringing out people to tell their own stories.

She has already created a digital kiosk for the city of Lewisberg which has installed it in its city building.

Much of the work that is done by contemporary filmmakers includes scanning digital resources. See the work of Ken Burns – or of course, any of the historical films by B.J. herself.

The West Virginia Library Commission . has joined the campaign, alerting its 173 public libraries to the poster contest and the Resolution passed by the WV Legislature this year. They are building a resource webpage that will include filmographies and bibliographies on WV labor history. Joe Geiger, state archivist, is also aware of the event and will be putting information about it in their coming newsletter. Hopefully, the WV State Board of Education will also get involved and send info to all of its history and social science teachers.

Bill Ramsey, a retired state worker living in Clarksburg, is the official head of the group. He will be meeting with others this coming Saturday, August 14th at 10 am at the Marriott in downtown Charleston to finalize the 2010 program.

I hope to attend the meeting and I hope that the media – newspapers, TV, radio, etc. all joing the campaign and do new stories on WV’s great labor history during the week after Labor Day 2010.

The West Virginia Labor History Association is one of the many groups involved. In May it co-sponsored the WV premiere of a new film on WV native son Walter Reuther, “Brothers in Line.”

Contact info for WV AFL-CIO labor councils that are part of this campaign can  be found here.