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Taylorville Kiwanis Hears About Coal Miner History, Museum at Weekly Luncheon

 

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard about Christian County coal mining over the past 100 years, and the Coal Mining Museum on the east side of the Taylorville square, during their Tuesday luncheon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.

Chuck Martin is executive director of the Christian County Coal Miner's Museum, a non-profit entity that began due to the efforts of the late Will Stone.  After Stone's passing, Martin has overseen the continued operation and growth of the museum, which documents the long tradition of coal mining in Christian County dating back to 1884 when the first mine was sunk near Pana.

Martin told the Kiwanis members that at its peak, coal mining employed some 3400 people in Christian County.  The largest single mine that operated in the county was Peabody Mine # 10, which was open from 1951 to 1994 and employed as many as 1,000 persons.

Martin added that coal mining was not without its dangers.  He described the harsh conditions miners had to endure to provide for their families.



The Christian County Coal Miner's Museum on the east side of the Taylorville square, is open to the public on Thursdays of each week.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club reminds the public, that members will be on the streets of Taylorville this Friday and Saturday asking for donations, and in exchange giving a package of peanuts, during its annual Peanut Days fund-raiser.  Proceeds benefit local Kiwanis programs for children and youth such as Coats for Kids, Kiwanis Park, YMCA and high school scholarships.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.

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