Cherry, Illinois 61317

Cherry, Illinois

A beautiful memorial stone to the 259 men and boys who died by fire and smoke and far underground, can be found in Holy Trinity Miners Cemetery at Cherry, Illinois, approximately 100 miles west of Chicago. It is well worth the trip. This impressive monument to the victims was erected by the United Mine Workers of America. Cherry is easily reached on IL89 for Interstate 80. Take Exit 70 north on IL89 through the town of Ladd to Cherry (4 miles). The cemetery is on the southern edge of Cherry alongside IL89. The Cherry Library contains many photographs and artifacts from the disaster. The Library and Town Hall is in the business district on the west side of IL89. The library hours are quite limited, however. It is open on Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, and on Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 am. The telephone number is (815)894-2919. Perhaps a phone call could arrange an appointment to accomodate your needs. There is a plaque commemorating the Disaster located in the village park north of the business district at the intersection of Main St. and North Ave. It was erected in 1986 by the Illinois State Historical Society and the Illinois Department of Transportation.



North of Cherry are the remains of one of the worst mine disasters in the U.S. When 259 miners were killed here on November 13, 1909, the State Legislature was prompted to pass the Worker's Compensation Act. In 1911 the United Mine Workers dedicated the memorial, with a tragic figure of a mourning woman.