A uniform worn by John Watt in World War I is displayed at the Lewis County Historical Museum alongside photos taken by Watt in 1916. Watt was wounded during the 1919 Centralia Armistice Day Tragedy, but survived.
A century ago, Northwest cities roiled with labor unrest, strikes, and gunfights, but no more so than in Lewis County when on Nov. 11, 1919, the Centralia Tragedy rocked the region and drew attention nationwide. That cauldron of radicalism and violence is chronicled in the documentary film “Labor Wars of the Northwest.”
The screening scheduled for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday is the first of several events sponsored by the Lewis County Historical Museum and the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Labor Council commemorating the centennial from Nov. 11, 1919. Tickets, available for purchase at the door, are priced at $7 for the public, and free for students with identification. Following the film, Northwest historian David Jepsen, who wrote and edited “Labor Wars,” will lead a discussion and answer audience questions.
“Labor Wars of the Northwest” examines labor conflict in the context of a decades-long struggle that began with the arrival of the railroads in the 1880s and permeated throughout the region. It shines new light on tragedies like the Centralia Tragedy and the Seattle General Strike.
For information call the Lewis County Historical Museum at 360-748-0831.
