Did you see the latest announcement from our Executive Director? Kenzie formally announced the news that we now own one of the largest pieces of real estate in downtown Matewan, the Cecil E. Roberts Building (formerly known as the Matewan BB&T and Matewan National Bank).
Five years ago, when I was just a few months on the job, I vividly remember a few of the officers–Danny, Hawkeye, and Frank–inviting me to UMWA Local 1440’s union hall for a conversation. It was one of many we’d have over the years, and though the Museum has always had a long and strong relationship with this local union, for me, it was the start of a long friendship and relationship. It was also like a big homecoming, seeing as three of four of my great grandfathers were UMWA coal miners–a working tradition that spanned in my family for generations.
We laid out the idea that the Museum could expand its exhibits and programming in a building they had just bought in town–a two story local bank that was built about 70 years prior. They invited the Museum to occupy nearly half of the first floor. We put pen to paper–what could this look like? In the coalfields, small towns like ours have witnessed tremendous change when corporations step out, and community members step in. The same is true for this building: it was purchased by Local 1440 who had the tenacity and know-how to revive an important community asset. It was a no-brainer: we joined them, hand-in-hand.
I then remember the board call we had in early 2019, when we collectively made a bold step forward to move and expand the Museum. It was eight months later, after the close of the Museum’s regular season, we packed up our exhibits and moved into the first floor of the old BB&T and former Matewan National Bank. We got to work on re-building the Museum, inch-by-inch, nail-by-nail, and board-by-board.”
Here's what the space looked like before we got to work rebuilding our exhibits--and before we put the tent replica in this corner!
In the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek Exhibit, we have a canvas tent that depicts what miners and their families would've lived in once evicted from their company-owned housing.
In the past few months, I know we’ve had a ton of buzz happening around Museum programs and events: a new exhibit in Solidarity Gallery, an incredible inaugural union training, and welcoming tour groups from around the world and down the road.
But in case you missed it: we officially closed on our purchase of the Cecil E. Roberts Building in October 2023–four years to the month since we moved the museum over.
The front entrance to our forever home!
We spent the first nine years of the Museum's existence renting space to tell the stories of struggle, sacrifice, and solidarity. Through more than 135 donations, we were able to put the downpayment on our forever home. This milestone represents over a decade's worth of effort from the people who make the Museum possible: our dedicated staff, committed Board of Directors, and engaged community partners and volunteers.
The road ahead is no less exciting. It may take another decade to fill every corner of this building, transforming it into a vibrant hub that not only pays homage to our rich history but also propels Matewan's economy. We face challenges too, such as making the building self-sustainable, aligning with our museum and community vision, and expanding our programming. We're even exploring opportunities for commercial partners to share in this journey.
In solidarity,
Kenzie
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We didn't have a construction crew or design team, but we did have people who showed up at different times, doing what they could to see the project through. There were so many people who volunteered and helped us rebuild, including these guys: Lou, Marvin, Shaun, and Danny. For a behind the scenes look, check out this Flickr album to see some of the folks helping make a museum!
