Old Town Coal Mine Memorial

Old Town Coal Mine Memorial. . Of the many coal mines in the area, one of the largest was the Bolen Mine. Once called "Little Bolen" it was changed to "Bolen" when management was assumed by the Milby Dow division of Old Town Mining Corp. The Bolen mine had a normal production rate of 200 railcars of coal a day., On Tuesday, December 17, 1929, at 10:30 a.m., two workers were entering the mine area when clouds of dust started coming up the 3,500 foot shaft. This was an indication that there had been an explosion in the mine and the two men ran to warn others. Seventy men were scheduled for that day's shift, but only sixty-four had signed in for work. Two of the seventy had not yet entered the mine, three were found alive, sixty-one bodies were recovered over the next three days and four men were missing., It was later determined that the blast had been caused by a reaction between coal dust kicked up by an electrical cutting tool and sparks flying from the tool. The initial explosion created more coal dust which was then ignited by static electricity., The U.S. Bureau of Mines sent rescue equipment from McAlester and rescue personnel from other mines in the area assisted in recovering the bodies. Members of the American Legion saw to relief efforts for the miner's families, and McAlester Police and Fire Departments kept order., Local funeral chapels were used as morgues, and coffins had to be rushed in from other areas. Inmates from the State Prison acted as gravediggers in order for the deceased to be buried in, as one newspaper reported, 'a timely fashion'., There were no death benefits and many families did not have enough money to pay for the funerals. There were thirty-two Mexican citizens among the dead and the Government of Mexico furnished $10,000 to their families to assist in expenses. A public subscription was opened, and fellow Oklahoman Will Rogers appealed for donations. Rogers' appeal raised $70,000 (adjusted for inflation in 2013 = $1,024,000.00)., Twenty-five of the Mexican miners, which included five sets of brothers, were buried in one section of Mount Calvary Cemetery in McAlester, and in 1980 the Mass Grave of the Mexican Miners was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.