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Centennial Souvenir Program, 1954
Under three-fourths of the surface of St. Clair County, especially in the central and eastern parts, coal is found. Several seams have been developed, the thickest of which measures 11 feet. The coal around O'Fallon was usually found from 150 to 200 feet below the surface with a vein about 7 feet thick on the average. The first mines sunk around the O'Fallon area were shaft mines. The first shaft was sunk at Alma (Carbon) by the Gartside Coal Company about 1851. This company sank a number of mines in this same area: Alma No. 1 and No. 2, Cross Roads, Henry Taylor, Great Western Taylor, and Carbon. The Carbon Mine was sunk in 1856 and abandoned in the late 1930s. At the time of its abandonment it was the oldest operating mine in the state. In August 1935, the Carbon Mine had a record of operating 24 years without a single fatal accident during which time it had hoisted 2,304,172 tons of coal. B. J. Van Court, who owned the property now occupied by the Independent Engineering Company, and erected the large home there, sunk a mine north of the O & M tracks and east of the present overhead bridge in 1863. The mine was operated by Sharp and Thompson for many years and later by the Savitz Brothers. About 1870 the Nichols or Morriss Mine was sunk further east of O'Fallon along the O & M Railroad. This mine operated for a short period of time. Bennett's Coal Mine located about three miles east of O'Fallon on the old Lebanon road was sunk in 1871 by Jeremiah Bennett. He came to St. Clair County in 1835 and settled in the Silver Creek area. He very early became one of the largest wheat growers in the county. Mr. Bennett struck coal at a depth of 180 feet. The vein was about 51/2 feet thick and of excellent quality. The mine operated for about 30 years. The Darrow Mine about 21/2 miles east of O'Fallon on the O & M Railroad was sunk about 1892. The mine operated about 20 years. Joshua Bond, a descendant of Shadrock Bond, the first governor of Illinois, owned land north of the O & M Railroad and east of Lincoln Avenue. In December 1868, Mr. Bond granted a 16 year lease to Cyrus O. Godfrey, Edward Price, and Martin W. Willis to sink a coal mine. The mine called "Bond Mine" was sunk in 1869 at the then eastern edge of the village (present southwest corner of East State and Orange streets on the property commonly known as the Herman Gross property). The air shaft for this mine was located directly north in the 300 block of East Adams street. The mine was operated by the Bartlett Coal and Mining Company. The mine was in operation for only a comparative[ly] short period of time. The Consolidated Coal Company sank two mines west of Carbon in the 1890s, namely: the "Menter" and "Ridge Prairie" mines. The Taylor Mine, located about 1/2 mile north of the Carbon Mine, was sunk in 1883. This mine operated for over 50 years. In 1902 the "Prairie" or "Angel" Mine was sunk west of O'Fallon along the old interurban car line. H. Angell, J. Siddall, J. Daniels, C. G. Brechnitz, and J. Herzler were intrumental in the development of the mine. In prosperous days the mine hoisted between 2,200 and 2,400 tons of coal daily and employed between 200 and 300 men. Prairie Mine was never mechanized, being operated as a "hand" mine until it closed. The mine was abandoned and dismantling operations begun in October 1942. On July 15, 1903, James F. Thomas, Isabella T. and Moses Stafford granted a 25 year lease to Joseph Taylor to sink a coal mine. The shaft was sunk and St. Ellen Mine was in operation before the end of the year. The mine is still in operation and has been one of the better producing mines in this area. On November 13, 1916, St. Ellen Mine was sold at auction to Henderson and Fischer of St. Louis for a sum of $46,100.00. On April 13, 1931, the tipple was destroyed by fire at a loss of $100,000.00. On June 19, 1931, work was resumed, a new tipple having replaced the wooden structure destroyed by fire. Again on February 27, 1939, fire destroyed the engine room with a resulting loss of $75,000.00. On March 4, 1938, work was completed on a $200,000.00 coal washer. During the last six years the St. Ellen Mine has been modernized so that today it is producing coal at efficiencies comparable to the best underground mines in the State. The improvement program includes a new slope in which coal is brought to the surface by a 42" conveyor belt instead of being hoisted up the shaft in small mine cars. A new wash house has been constructed, the shop has been enlarged and modernized, and all underground equipment has been put in first class condition. Timbering has been largely discontinued with the installation of four roof bolting machines. Ventilation is improved by the elimination of timbers and the mine is a safer place for men to work. During the present year prepar[a]tion facilities on the surface are being modernized by the installation of a Roberts and Schaefer air cleaning plant to handle 3/8" minus coal. This unit, which is nearing completion at the present time, will enable the St. Ellen Mine to produce the best quality coal possible. The whole program has been designed to improve coal quality and to reduce production costs. At present the mine employs 300 Progressive Mine Workers and 26 supervisory and clerical personnel. It operates two shifts per day, producing on the average of 2,600 tons per shift. ---28-29---
On to Pages 29-30, Coal Mines of the Area, Part 2 |
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Governor Reynolds, one of the early governors of Illinois, in a sketch written in 1857, says coal was discovered in St. Clair County in the following manner: "A citizen of the American Bottoms discovered smoke issuing from the ground for weeks together, which attracted his attention. He saw the coal in the bluff outcroppings on fire, and supposed it had caught from the dry roots of a tree ignited by a prairie fire. The fire had communicated to the coal from the burning." It is of interest ot note that in early times coal was always referred to as "stone-coal."
