SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – The City of Sullivan will hold a somber ceremony next month to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Sullivan City Mine Explosion.
On February 20, 1925, an explosion occurred at the Sullivan City Mine. The lives of 51 coal miners were lost in the tragedy.
The city will hold a remembrance ceremony on February 20 at Sullivan County Park and Lake, which is the site of the former mine. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and a moment of silence will be at 10:30 a.m., which is the exact time the explosion occurred.
The community is invited to attend the ceremony. The city encourages family members of people lost in the explosion to contact the Sullivan Mayor’s Office to ensure their loved one is properly honored during the ceremony.
“We come together as a community to remember the lives lost in this tragedy and to honor their memory. It is important to reflect on the sacrifices made and the impact this event had on the families and our city,” said Mayor JD Wilson.
Sullivan County Historian Donna K. Adams explained the impact the tragedy had on Sullivan and surrounding communities.
“This disaster impacted a lot of lives. You think about 51 coal miners. You think about three father-son sets died in this disaster. 40 widows, 87 orphans were left. The youngest was 19 when he was killed and the oldest was 62,” said Adams. “This impacted a lot of the lives in our area. Some of these miners were from Terre Haute. They were from Clinton. They were from Greene County and then Sullivan County, so it impacted not only our area but other areas.”
Adams will give a presentation on February 20 at 6 p.m. at the Sullivan County History Museum. She will be sharing more about the miners whose lives were lost and the impact of the tragedy on the community.
