Phase One — Done
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By BOB FRAKES
It Caught My Eye
I have noted from time to time the progress of the Prairie Historians Miner’s Memorial going up in Waltonville. It honors the contributions of all area miners and Nason Mine, Freeman #3 & #6 and Inland/Consol in particular. One milestone was passed on the 28th, when Pyramid Granite set the centerpiece monument at “Memorial Park” next to the fire station. The three or so ton stone was up in no time with the expertise of the crew that came down. See picture.
PHASE ONE — This granite monument represents one of three phases to the project. The order for this premium slab of granite went in months ago. It required shaping and etching and lots of work. It sets at a NNE orientation for maximum viewing and has on its northish side images of the four area mines etched. Under each you will find a direction and distance to the location where each stood at one time. The pictures on which these etchings are based were obtained from several sources. Nason Mine came from a Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce publication a century old. Freeman # 3 came from Robert Dycus and #6 was supplied, free of charge, by Vintage Aerial — thanks! Inland/Consol came right off of the computer. It took a little work to get all four views from the same angle and altitude. On the other side is a picture from the July 1967 National Geographic Magazine. In that magazine, a piece was done on Illinois and in the southern Illinois section a picture of miners emerging from Freeman #3 was used. The “vision” for the monument was mine, put to stone you might say by Pyramid. Step one of Phase One had been the pouring of the footing for it.
PHASE TWO AND THREE — Preparation for the next two phases has already begun. Travis Jones, his son and Kirby Laur have already begun the installation of a drainage system to get water away from the site. Wendell Norris & Norris Trucking supplied 10 tons of donated rock for that project and all other materials and labor are being donated for the drainage. Much to our surprise, we got no grant $. The federal all needed a “need” (their definition didn’t match mine), my state officials were looking but never found a match and the private and local one we thought we were sure to get something — well, as they say, “that is what you get for thinking” :). We were disappointed, but not bitter that our best grant opportunity chose not to join us. So the call became, “WE WILL JUST HAVE TO DO IT OURSELVES!” (we had already raised the grant required 50%). We have not totally rebounded from the setback but about everyone, our MV friends included, have stepped up. You see, by the time the mines began shutting down, a steady line of cars ran back and forth taking and bringing workers from MV. When Nason Mine was running, two trolleys a day ran back and forth daily carrying people and coal.
The next step will be footings for the back wall which will memorialize the 46 miners who lost their lives at the four mines. These will be on carved pavers grouped by mine. Also, a footing in front will be set to support a granite bench etched with “Prairie Historians Miner’s Memorial Project”and the dedication date. These will provide something to “work against” for the 800 or so pavers that will encircle the monument. Over 200 of those have been purchased already. Some are “IHO” pavers — meant to honor those who served in the mines. The area in front will be used for “donation” pavers — meant to note those who supported the effort. Individuals, civic groups, banks, businesses and governmental entities have stepped up to support the effort. Those pavers have been obtained from Burkdell’s at a discount and are being carved by Pyramid. Johnny Kiselewski and Mark Colgrave will be doing that work. NO WAY HERE AND NOW TO MENTION ALL WHO HAVE STEPPED UP BUT THAT WILL GET DONE LATER. THANKS!
OTHER ITEMS — Eventually landscaping will be done and a flagpole set, as well as some form of lighting and maybe even a sidewalk from the back parking lot to the site. The word however is methodical. We will not get in a hurry and, as Doc Holliday said, “Take your time and don’t miss!” If interested, email me or you can obtain brochures at the Waltonville Café or Spartanville Fueling Station.
The rain over the last few months has slowed us down. We still hope to hold a dedication sometime before the snow flies. Stay tuned! You can, of course, drop by and check out Phase One anytime you are in the area.
Questions, comments or answers?
robert_frakes@Yahoo.com or news@morningsentinel.com