Beckemeyer in Clinton County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Centralia Coal Company Mine No. 5 Disaster

Centralia Coal Company Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Smith, November 6, 2021

1. Centralia Coal Company Marker

Inscription.
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 year for this entry is 1947.

Location. 38° 36.212′ N, 89° 26.128′ W. Marker is in Beckemeyer, Illinois, in Clinton County. Marker 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 States of America. Touch for directions.

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

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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. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Eternal Memory (approx. 3.3 miles away); Clinton County American Pisoners of War (approx. 3.7 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 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 259 times since then and 44 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.