Sesser is located in southern Illinois and, like so many other towns of this region, it owed its origin and growth to the discovery (in 1904) and exploitation of coal. The first mine was sunk in 1905-1906. Coal mines operated here until 1991. But the heyday was in the first two decades of the twentieth century. Sesser today is a smaller town (est. 2,000 inhabitants) than in the previous coal decades.
In 2009 Franklin County miners of the United Mine Workers of America undertook to erect a fine memorial in Sesser with the goal of honoring the miners who worked – and died – in the many mines that operated around Sesser. These mines were: Freeman 3 and 6; Inland Steel/Consol; Old Ben 14, 21, 22, 24, 26; Keller; North, Mason, Rend City, and Southern Gem. The essence of the memorial is clearly stated on one of the hexagonal panels: “LEST WE FORGET. DEDICATED TO THE AREA MINERS IN MEMORY OF THOSE LIVES LOST WHILE MINING”.
The memorial consists of a towering black granite shaft set on a hexagonal base. The black granite shaft features a coal miner, below whom is the emblem of the United Mine Workers of America.
The hexagonal base features Old Ben 21, Old Ben 24, Old Ben 26, Inland/Consol, and Freeman 6 in addition to the UMWA panel.
The memorial is surrounded by a small plaza formed by a red brick pavement. Purchase of the red bricks contributed toward the cost of the memorial. They are engraved with the names or association of their donors (see image above).
Major donors were Rend Lake College, AFGE Local 2461 (American Federation of Government Employees)-MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration), State of Illinois-DECA and the City of Sesser, and, as noted, the UMWA.
Around the plaza are black granite benches inscribed with the names of their sponsors.
City of Sesser
UMWA Local 1487
UMWA Local 1515
UMWA Local 9111
Peoples National Bank
. State Bank of Whittington
Sesser Monument Co.
The Bonan Family
The Coal Miners Memorial is located in the City Park also called Miners Memorial Park.
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