The town of Ludlow, located about 1 mile south of the Ludlow strikers' colony, was actually a small railroad depot with a few other buildings. As the major point for transportation in the area, coal company officials, strikers, strikebreakers, and the National Guard met there on a daily basis. The Ludlow depot was supposed to act as a neutral area in the strike zone. However, the role of the guard at the depot and the saloon (shown here) meant that the depot often acted as the center for violent harassment against strikers and against incoming strikebreakers.