Beckemeyer in Clinton County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Centralia Coal Company Mine No. 5 Disaster
Photographed by Thomas Smith, November 6, 2021
1. Centralia Coal Company Marker
On March 25, 1947, a violent explosion struck Centralia Coal Company Mine No. 5, located in Wamac, Illinois. By March 29, it was confirmed that the explosion, combined with the subsequent release of poisonous gas had taken the lives of 111 of the 142 men working in the mine ay the time of the accident.
This statue is dedicated to the memory of Joseph Kock Sr. and the other Beckemeyer miners who lost their lives in the explosion.
Rodrigo Alvarez Luther Frazier Joseph Peiler Anton Skrobul Andrew Farley John Mazeka John Placek Alfred Stevens
Erected by Benedict J. Koch and Kathryn M. (Frerker) Koch.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1947.
Location. 38° 36.212′ N, 89° 26.128′ W. Marker is in Beckemeyer, Illinois, in Clinton County. It is at the intersection of Louis Street and East 3rd Street, on the left when traveling south on Louis Street. This marker lies in Beckemeyer Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 721 Louis St, Beckemeyer IL 62219, United
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois Little Egypt and in Greater St. Louis. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: In Honor and Remembrance (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); It is the soldier (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Buxton - Beckemeyer Mural (approx. Ό mile away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); In Memory of The Deceased Veterans of the Community (approx. one mile away); Eternal Memory (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beckemeyer.
Photographed by Thomas Smith, November 6, 2021
2. Centralia Coal Company Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 721 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
