Cardiff, Illinois
A series of mine explosions from March 12-16, 1903, killed nine mine workers. Three men remain entombed in the mine. A second mine was sunk to the west, and mining operations resumed. More than 2,000 people lived in Cardiff at its peak. Cardiff had a church, a school, two banks, two grain elevators, a semi-pro baseball team, a bottling plant, railroad passenger service, a hotel, numerous saloons, and other businesses. Prosperity continued for Cardiff until the high quality coal ran out and the Wabash Railroad, the mine's biggest customer, refused to buy Cardiff coal. The mine closed in 1912.
A total of 18 men died in mine accidents in Cardiff.
Almost as fast as the town developed, it disappeared. Houses and other buildings were
dismantled or moved whole. Today the town of Cardiff is gone, yet remains a legally
incorporated village. Two large hills of waste from the mine are monuments to the
people who lived, worked, and died here. Dozens of acres that had been homes, stores,
yards, and streets have now gone back to farmland.
Erected
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1885.
Location. 41° 3.161′ N, 88° 17.271′ W. Marker is near Dwight, Illinois, in Livingston County. Marker is at the intersection of North 3400 East Road (County Road N 3400E) and County Road E 2900N, on the left when traveling north on North 3400 East Road. Plaque is just beyond a small gravel area on the west side of the road, just north of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 29087 N 3400 E Rd, Dwight IL 60420, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Windmill (approx. 7.8 miles away); Pioneer Gothic Church (approx. 7.8 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 7.8 miles away); 1879-1979 (approx. 7.8 miles away); A Well Connected Village (approx. 7.8 miles away); Mom and Pop Motels (approx. 8.3 miles away); Shifting Roadways (approx. 8.4 miles away); Welcome to Dwight (approx. 8.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dwight.
Additional keywords.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2011, by Cindi Knox of Joliet, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,891 times since then and 121 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 2, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
