Shining a Light on UMWA Organizer, Ezra Fry
Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Erza Fry’s descendants to the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum. You might've heard about Sid Hatfield and Mother Jones, incredibly important figures who often get the spotlight when we talk about the Mine Wars, but have you heard of Erza Fry? Just as important as Hatfield and Jones, we are working to uplift those who don’t make the spotlight quite as often!
Ezra Fry was a local United Mine Workers of America organizer during the infamous Battle of Matewan, and also oversaw the establishment of the Lick Creek Tent Camp after miners and their families were evicted from the Stone Mountain Coal Camp by Baldwin Felts Agents. Ezra stood trial and was acquitted alongside Sid Hatfield, Ed Chambers, and others in Williamson following the events that unfolded in Matewan on May 19, 1920.
Ezra’s position as organizer likely followed the push by the UMWA, led by John Lewis and Frank Keeney, into southern West Virginia. Shortly after, Fred Mooney held meetings in Williamson and Matewan where hundreds of miners signed up to join the UMWA. The actions of Ezra Fry and other unionist organizers were integral to the success of unionization in southern West Virginia.
Today we thank Ezra and the hundreds of other unnamed organizers who contributed to this cause.
The picture above was taken in 1920 when the mine workers were engaged in a life-and-death struggle with the coal operators in Mingo County, WV. Those in the picture are a few of the brave people who risked their lives for the UMWA in that bloody struggle. They are, seated, from left: Charley Workman, the legendary Mother Jones, the also legendary Sid Hatfield, and Ezra Fry. Standing from left are: Red Doyle, Warren Hutchinson, Andrew Wilson, and Dave Phillips.