Glen Carbon in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Coal Mining in Glen

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 22, 2021

1. Coal Mining in Glen Marker

Inscription.

Coal Mining in Glen. . , The coal company owned and platted much of the land in Glen Carbon. It encouraged village leaders to make material improvements within the newly-formed community by making cash donations toward such purposes. The company awarded prizes in the summer for the most attractive yards. It has been said that the company did not demand rental money from the miners when they became involved in nation-wide strikes.

The coal miners brought their supplies at a company store, they rented company houses, they worshipped in churches and were educated in schools that were built on lots donated by the company. The miners were tied to the economic ups and downs of the company that owned the mines. The coal miners of Glen Carbon felt fortunate to be working for the Madison Coal Corporation and had respect for the company. The Madison Coal Corporation enjoyed good job performance from its employees.

1. Madison Coal Corporation Office , The building in the background of this photo is the office of the Madison Coal Corporation that ran Mine No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 in Glen Carbon. At the time the photo was taken, the Illinois Central Railroad was still in operation, now it is the bike trail. The building is located at the intersection of Collinsville Street and the bike trail. It is a private residence and has been altered somewhat from the original. On the side facing the railroad tracks was a scale where people picking up coal for use around the village was weighed and payed for at the office. The boy in the picture is a relation of Carl and Cecilia Groeteka.

2. Slack Pile , This photo is of the coal mine slack pile made up of unmarketable shattered coal and fines. These spoils from coal mining were often heaped close to the mine. The slack pile for the Mine No. 2 was quite large and located where the Edwardsville Township Maintenance office is presently located. During the 1940s, the pile was reduced considerable during a coal mine strike. Large trucks took the coal spoil to hospitals and schools in the area for running their furnaces. It was finally destroyed by the reclamation project that wiped out all aspects of the coal mining in the Village.

Two Views of Mine No. 2 , One showing brick buildings used as machine shop and blacksmith shop looking from the north to south toward ICC railroad tracks. One showing stacks of wooden props used to support the roof of the coal mine underground. View looking north from the ICC railroad tracks in the foreground.

4. Coal Washer , Mine No. 2 was expanding operations during the 1890's and early 1900's. A new coal washer of "immense size" was completed and ready for operation in 1906. Coal ranging from the size of eggs to small particles would be processed through the washer. The process removed foreign materials and then sorted the coal into five different sizes. The Madison Coal Corporation did not find the venture profitable and abandoned the coal washing operation in 1914.

5. Coal Washer Dam Remnants , These pieces of concrete and several piles of "fines" or small pieces of coal are all that are left of the large coal washer operation. The remnants are located in the Judy Creek just south of the second trestle on the bike trail (just east of the Collinsville Street entrance). The water in the creek was held back by the dam and used to wash the coal so that it would bring a better price when sold on the market. Picture taken in 1990.

The coal company owned and platted much of the land in Glen Carbon. It encouraged village leaders to make material improvements within the newly-formed community by making cash donations toward such purposes. The company awarded prizes in the summer for the most attractive yards. It has been said that the company did not demand rental money from the miners when they became involved in nation-wide strikes.

1. Madison Coal Corporation Office
The building in the background of this photo is the office of the Madison Coal Corporation that ran Mine No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 in Glen Carbon. At the time the photo was taken, the Illinois Central Railroad was still in operation, now it is the bike trail. The building is located at the intersection of Collinsville Street and the bike trail. It is a private residence and has been altered somewhat from the original. On the side facing the railroad tracks was a scale where people picking up coal for use around the village was weighed and payed for at the office. The boy in the picture is a relation of Carl and Cecilia Groeteka.

2. Slack Pile
This photo is of the coal mine slack pile made up of unmarketable shattered coal and fines. These spoils from coal mining were often heaped close to the mine. The slack pile for the Mine No. 2 was quite large and located where the Edwardsville Township Maintenance office is presently located. During the 1940s, the pile was reduced considerable during a coal mine strike. Large trucks took the coal spoil to hospitals and schools in the area for running their furnaces. It was finally destroyed by the reclamation project that wiped out all aspects of the coal mining in the Village.

Two Views of Mine No. 2
One showing brick buildings used as machine shop and blacksmith shop looking from the north to south toward ICC railroad tracks. One showing stacks of wooden props used to support the roof of the coal mine underground. View looking north from the ICC railroad tracks in the foreground.

4. Coal Washer
Mine No. 2 was expanding operations during the 1890's and early 1900's. A new coal washer of "immense size" was completed and ready for operation in 1906. Coal ranging from the size of eggs to small particles would be processed through the washer. The process removed foreign materials and then sorted the coal into five different sizes. The Madison Coal Corporation did not find the venture profitable and abandoned the coal washing operation in 1914.

5. Coal Washer Dam Remnants
These pieces of concrete and several piles of "fines" or small pieces of coal are all that are left of the large coal washer operation. The remnants are located in the Judy Creek just south of the second trestle on the bike trail (just east of the Collinsville Street entrance). The water in the creek was held back by the dam and used to wash the coal so that it would bring a better price when sold on the market. Picture taken in 1990.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 38° 44.922′ N, 89° 58.983′ W. Marker is in Glen Carbon, Illinois, in Madison County. It is at the intersection of Collinsville Street and South Main Street, on the right when traveling north on Collinsville Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 192 S Main St, Glen Carbon IL 62034, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: People (here, next to this marker); Industry (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named People

Historic Glen Carbon Photo Displays image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 22, 2021

2. Historic Glen Carbon Photo Displays

(here, next to this marker); Industry and Notable Buildings (here, next to this marker); Glen Carbon Volunteer Fire Department (here, next to this marker); Schools (here, next to this marker); Baseball (here, next to this marker); Village Government 1912 (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glen Carbon.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 610 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on March 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.