Kickstarter

THE HAWKS NEST TUNNEL presents the devastating tale of the worst industrial disaster in American history. In 1932, it is believed that nearly two thousand laborers desperate for work died of acute silicosis due to corporate greed and negligence during the drilling of THE HAWKS NEST TUNNEL in West Virginia. For eighty years, their deaths were covered up by the powerful corporation who hired them, Union Carbide. These poor laborers (some as young as sixteen years old) died needless deaths and lay in unmarked graves unknown to loved ones who still mourn their loss.

This documentary is of great current socio-political importance today and digs deep into this largely untold story, uncovering the voices and faces of West Virginians who were impacted by our nation’s largest industrial tragedy. This timely story honors the memory of those who lost their lives at work and tells a critically important moral tale of greed, corruption and big business so representative of our current times of economic hardship and government bailouts for corporations. History continues to repeat itself. American industry and government have not learned from THE HAWKS NEST TUNNEL. This documentary serves to remind people of these horrific crimes against humanity and to prevent this kind of abuse of laborers in the future.

Work on this project has already begun. The Director and Producer have self-funded the shoots so far and are seeking funding to secure a professional crew and equipment for shooting this coming Spring, obtaining research, interviews and paying relevant legal fees. Our 501c3 status is maintained through our support from the Appalachian Center for the Environment and all donations are tax deductible. Note regarding rewards: All downloads and special collection edition DVD's will be shipped after the completion of the film and publication of the DVD's.