This is Throwback Thursday #24. In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general. If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc ...), please sent them to [email protected]. Thanks!
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Over on the Coal City website, there's a page on the history of Coal City. In the 1850's, coal mining started in the area.
In 1820, Peter Lansett, a Canadian trader, was just one of the few that populated the soon to be Coal City area. Lansett collected coal from the ground and sold it to local blacksmiths and farmers, who formerly burned ears of corn for heat and energy. The more effective coal provided an economic boost for growth.
Mines started opening and towns developed around the mines. These towns included 1854 Gardner, 1858 Braceville, 1898 South Wilmington, 1875 Coal City, Clark City, Braidwood, Harrisonville, Sufferville, East Brooklyn, Central City, Godley, Richmond, Sandtown, Ramsey, Carbon Hill, Eileen, Torino, and Diamond. Miners lived within walking distance of the mines. In 1875 coal mine No. 3 was the first mine to sink, 1879 No. 4 sunk.
Coal City was incorporated in August 17, 1881 with a population of 900. The first Coal City Village Officials included President James Short; Village Clerk Henry Reese; Marshal Samuel Humter; Treasurer W.S. Kay; and Trustees John Brown, Montgomery Sharp, William Lindell, William Campbell, and William Homan.
Other small businesses started to develop during this time, including Coal City’s first two buildings, the Coalfield Hotel, and Charles Fisher’s Store. Coal mines owned company stores that supplied for the miners, these stores included shoes, groceries, dry goods, and meats. These purchases were then subtracted from the miners’ paychecks.
The population fluctuated as old mines closed and new mines opened. As miners moved ghost towns developed.
In 1883, the Diamond Mine disaster occurred. 74 men and boys were killed. The miners that were digging at the bottom of one of the shafts hit a water table and water started rushing into the shaft. Within minutes the mine had flooded, trapping these men underground.
Strip mine, operations began in 1928. Dirt piled outside mine openings, as mining moved more of the landscape was destroyed. Now, these mounds of earth are filled with water and wildlife, forming man made lakes.
The Coal City Library has a wealth of historical information. Life of a Miner is an interesting page. It describes the life of a coal miner in the 1870's. There's many, many photos of the strip mines and the shaft mines.
Mucker and drag line crossing the rail road between Godley and Braidwood. July 16, 1941. Photo printed by Douglas-Edwards Camera Shop, Joliet, Illinois.
In the foreground is the Northern Illinois Coal Co. Office. Behind it is the machine shop. In the right back-ground is the "tipple" and the "washer." The tipple sorted the bad material out of the coal and then sorted the coal by size. The washer (tallest part of the building) washed the coal. The shoot on the right side of the building leading to a tall hopper took the water and debris away from the coal. Photo by Charles Raworth
1930's worker's cars
Another great place to learn of the rich history of the surrounding area is the Carbon Hill School Museum. The curator, Michele Micetich, gives tours on request.
The original 1893 schoolhouse displays hundreds of original artifacts depicting immigrant turn-of-the-century life of families, businesses, and coal mines. Original items include the jailhouse iron doors, soccer trophies and bocce balls, coal mining tools, furniture and household items, old store supplies, Illinois coal reports, maps and plats, and plenty of family memories; there is something to interest everyone.
A significant portion of the north room represents all the coal fields of Grundy and Will Counties, Illinois. In the south classroom you can sit at the desks, read through the old books, see photos depicting our classes and school history, 1893-1955. Three rooms are filled with photographs, artifacts, local memorabilia, kitchen, bedroom and store displays from "the old days," plus a diorama of Carbon Hill, in its mining heyday, circa 1900.
The Carbon Hill Historical Society, a chartered and registered not-for-profit organization, invites anyone interested in our museum and local history to visit and also to join our society, which owns the school and sponsors all of its programs.Please phone Michele Micetich, 815-347-0810 or email [email protected] for more information on programs, presentations, hours and appointments.
