By Ruth A. Ringelstetter
When you think of coal mining, the state of Illinois is probably not the first state to come to mind. But one of the worst mining disasters in U.S. history actually occurred at the Cherry Mine in northern Illinois on November 13, 1909.
At 7:00 A.M. that fateful morning, there were 481 men and boys in the mine. For most of these European immigrants, it was their first job in the new world. The town of Cherry had a population of 2,000 and, in one way or another, everyone’s life was connected to the St. Paul Coal Company, the only industry in town.
The mine was 500 feet beneath the town and included a stable for the mules used in hauling the coal. When hay was sent down for the mules that day, it was left beneath one of the torches strung throughout the mine. The hay ignited and soon the timbers and the coal vein itself were on fire. The burning coal produced a thick black smoke called black damp.
The only method of communication between the miners was man to man, so it took too long for the message to spread that the mine should be abandoned. Some men made it out of the mine, but almost 300 men were trapped.
Some miners were rescued that first day before the elevator also caught fire killing all of the rescuers in the cage. After this, there was no hope of rescue as the fire burned. The mine officials had lumber and sand thrown over the blocked exits to try to extinguish the fire, and fire crews from Chicago were called. They poured tons of water into the shaft.
Eight long days later a rescue party descended into the mine. They found only 25 miners alive. These men were given emergency medical treatment and then a ride home to their families. One old miner wanted to walk home and was found dead in his bed two days later. He is considered the 259th death from the accident.
Serious exhumations of the victims in the mine began in the spring of 1910. Long rows of bodies were laid under white tents as they were identified. Then, horse-drawn hearses carried the caskets to the Cherry graveyard just south of town.
Joann and I first visited the Cherry Miner’s Cemetery in April of 2013. It was sobering to see the rows of gravestones all with the same date of death. We were amazed that the town had survived after the tragedy.
Before our trip in the spring of this year, I came upon more history of the mine and found that the gob piles (the waste of the mining process) were still there just north of town along with a building or two that had been incorporated into a farm.
In downtown Cherry, there is a memorial to the miners who lost their lives in the disaster. It includes an etching of the mine as it looked at the time, and the names of the miners lost.
In 1910, the Illinois legislature established stronger fire and safety regulations for mines, and a year later the state adopted a liability act which later became the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act.
You never know what history lies just down the road in your travels. Some good, some bad, but all of it shaped our country.
Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
Shunpiking To Heaven Backroads Blog
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Sunday, July 27, 2014
For Our Independence
By Joann M. Ringelstetter
Since 1776, when America declared its independence from Great Britain, Americans have celebrated their independence during the month of July. Our independence was hard-won by our ancestors who served this country in the American Revolution, which was fought from 1775 to 1783.
I was surprised recently to learn that there are 40 veterans of the Revolutionary War buried here in Wisconsin. This year, during the July 4th weekend, Ruth and I visited the Old Fort Winnebago Cemetery, where two of these veterans are buried.
As you enter Old Fort Winnebago Cemetery, a National Soldiers’ Lot, there is a historic marker to the left of the gate with information about Patriots Cooper Pixley and Alexander Porter, the two Revolutionary War soldiers buried there. Just inside the gate is a memorial marker “to the memory of our historic dead” that was erected in 1915 by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
According to the historical marker, Cooper Pixley was born in Massachusetts on July 16, 1763 and he enlisted at the age of 15. Following the Revolution, he lived in New York and Canada, moving to Portage in June 1849. Cooper Pixley died March 12, 1855.
Alexander Porter was born December 14, 1757 in Connecticut. On July 11, 1775, 18-year-old Porter enlisted in the Revolution. After the war, Alexander lived in Hebron, Connecticut and Oppenheim, New York, where he died April 28, 1833. He was originally buried in Freedom, New York, with his remains being moved to Portage and reinterred in this cemetery in 1924.
When the U.S. again fought Great Britain in the War of 1812, the only battle fought on Wisconsin soil took place on July 17, 1814 at Fort Shelby in Prairie du Chien. This year, a re-enactment of this battle took place at the Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle.
The Old Fort Winnebago Cemetery is also the final resting place of at least two veterans of the War of 1812.
We owe our independence and our freedom to the brave soldiers who have selflessly served this country since its beginning.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
Photos in this blog post can be purchased as wall art, paper prints, downloads, phone cases, and keepsakes by clicking on the photo. You will be taken to the gallery website where you will see a big blue "BUY" button. Or to see all photos available, click on the "Browse Galleries" button on the menu at the top of this page. Thank you for your interest!
Since 1776, when America declared its independence from Great Britain, Americans have celebrated their independence during the month of July. Our independence was hard-won by our ancestors who served this country in the American Revolution, which was fought from 1775 to 1783.
I was surprised recently to learn that there are 40 veterans of the Revolutionary War buried here in Wisconsin. This year, during the July 4th weekend, Ruth and I visited the Old Fort Winnebago Cemetery, where two of these veterans are buried.
As you enter Old Fort Winnebago Cemetery, a National Soldiers’ Lot, there is a historic marker to the left of the gate with information about Patriots Cooper Pixley and Alexander Porter, the two Revolutionary War soldiers buried there. Just inside the gate is a memorial marker “to the memory of our historic dead” that was erected in 1915 by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
According to the historical marker, Cooper Pixley was born in Massachusetts on July 16, 1763 and he enlisted at the age of 15. Following the Revolution, he lived in New York and Canada, moving to Portage in June 1849. Cooper Pixley died March 12, 1855.
Alexander Porter was born December 14, 1757 in Connecticut. On July 11, 1775, 18-year-old Porter enlisted in the Revolution. After the war, Alexander lived in Hebron, Connecticut and Oppenheim, New York, where he died April 28, 1833. He was originally buried in Freedom, New York, with his remains being moved to Portage and reinterred in this cemetery in 1924.
When the U.S. again fought Great Britain in the War of 1812, the only battle fought on Wisconsin soil took place on July 17, 1814 at Fort Shelby in Prairie du Chien. This year, a re-enactment of this battle took place at the Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle.
The Old Fort Winnebago Cemetery is also the final resting place of at least two veterans of the War of 1812.
We owe our independence and our freedom to the brave soldiers who have selflessly served this country since its beginning.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
Photos in this blog post can be purchased as wall art, paper prints, downloads, phone cases, and keepsakes by clicking on the photo. You will be taken to the gallery website where you will see a big blue "BUY" button. Or to see all photos available, click on the "Browse Galleries" button on the menu at the top of this page. Thank you for your interest!
Sunday, June 29, 2014
From Bank to Library
By Joann M. Ringelstetter
In mid-May of this year, Ruth and I spent a Saturday afternoon photographing mostly in the Mount Horeb, Wisconsin area. We ended our afternoon of photographing in the small town of Hollandale, in Iowa County. Ruth wanted me to capture an old bank building that had been converted to the town library.
As I stood in the middle of the intersection with my camera on the tripod, a car pulled up and the following conversation took place between the driver and me.
Driver: “What are you taking a picture of?”
Joann: “What am I pointing my camera at?”
Driver: “The bank…only it’s not a bank anymore.”
Joann: “Yeah, now it’s the library. I love that! And it’s got a burglar alarm.”
Joann: “I mean, how cool is that?! If anyone tries to steal a book, the whole town will know!”
And with that, the driver laughed and pulled away.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
In mid-May of this year, Ruth and I spent a Saturday afternoon photographing mostly in the Mount Horeb, Wisconsin area. We ended our afternoon of photographing in the small town of Hollandale, in Iowa County. Ruth wanted me to capture an old bank building that had been converted to the town library.
As I stood in the middle of the intersection with my camera on the tripod, a car pulled up and the following conversation took place between the driver and me.
Driver: “What are you taking a picture of?”
Joann: “What am I pointing my camera at?”
Driver: “The bank…only it’s not a bank anymore.”
Joann: “Yeah, now it’s the library. I love that! And it’s got a burglar alarm.”
Joann: “I mean, how cool is that?! If anyone tries to steal a book, the whole town will know!”
And with that, the driver laughed and pulled away.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
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