100th Anniversary of The Cherry Mine Disaster — Nov. 13, 1909
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Cherry Mine Disaster.
Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Cherry Mine Disaster.
I wrote this post back in September and sadly, given it’s historical significance, the post here as well as on my blog did not get as many hits as I thought it would.
There is also a personal connection for me–I grew up in Cherry, Illinois and lived there until midway through 2nd grade. My parents lived with my mom’s parents and from the house we could see the two giant pinkish slag piles, two visual reminders of the mine. I can still see them in my mind, looking at the window in the living room and seeing them in the distance–just across a field at the end of a dead end street.
Likewise, the house my grandparents had moved into back in 1945, after a tornado had destroyed their farm near Zearing, Illinois had once housed some miners, or so the story my Grandpa Hahn liked to tell went.
This weekend Cherry will be holding many commemorative events with visitors and dignitaries from all over the US and the world attending.
Take time out and read this post if you haven’t already and please leave comments on it to remember the men and boys who lost their lives in one of America’s worst mining disasters 100 years ago.
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User Comments
cardy
On November 14, 2009 at 5:50 am
People should remember thing like this a lovely post worth the read. thanks for the share
lillyrose
On November 14, 2009 at 6:00 am
Its always so sad and disturbing when any disaster happens, especially when it is so close to home!
Mr Ghaz
On November 14, 2009 at 12:39 pm
very interesting to read,well done my friend! keep it up..Thanks for sharing
Themax
On November 14, 2009 at 2:51 pm
really very interesting to read,Thanks for sharing
Frances Lawrence
On November 14, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I can identify with this, we have had a number of mine disasters in UK. 259 lives lost in this one, it is so very sad and it should be remembered.
Joe Dorish
On November 15, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Had not heard of this tragedy before. Must have been a terrible blow to that community but it’s good for people to learn about history like this and how people go on.
Ruby Hawk
On November 15, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I have read of so many tragedies I don’t know if I had heard of this one or not. In any case it was a terrible tragedy. Let’s hope these accidents will continue to be few and far between.
Linda Sullivan
On November 16, 2009 at 9:54 am
Hi, I missed this in September. I was at the commemoration this weekend. My great-grandfather (John Smith and a great-great uncle (Charles Waite) were killed in the disaster. This was the first time I have been there for the anniversary. I have read the books by Stout and Tintori and purchased another one this weekend. My grandmother was 4 in 1909. She recalls going to the mine and morgue daily with her mother looking for her father’s body. I don’t think he was found until April
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