Coal Mine

March 25, 1947 will long be remembered in Centralia. 111 coal miners perished in a disaster of such magnitude it stunned the nation as well as Centralians. The No. 5 Mine in Wamac will live in this community’s history. Nearly every family was affected either with the loss of a member of the family or a friend. A coal dust explosion shattered the underground tunnels nearly 600 feet below the surface. It happened moments before the scheduled quitting time for the day shift and minutes before the night shift was to go down the squeaking shaft cage from daylight to the perpetual darkness below. For the next 7 days Centralia was a different city.