Coal Mines on the Prairie: The Life of an American Community

by Harold Rauzi

Coal Mines on the Prairie: The Life of an American Community is the history of a central-Illinois coal-mining community, ten neighboring small towns in Macoupin County, all linked, for more than a century and a quarter, to coal mining. The coal mining boom of 1900-1940 brought a wave of immigrants from all corners of Europe to what had been three small farming villages of native born, primarily of English or German descent. This community was the center of the short-lived but fierce rivalry between the United Mine Workers and Progressive Mine Workers unions.But, coal mining is not the whole story. It includes the Indians who hunted this land, the French who explored it, and the early settlers who struggled against nature to break and farm the prairie. Today family farms, including century farms, surround the ten towns. From the Civil War to the Global War on Terror, residents of this community have answered the nation’s call; this is their story, too. Storied Route 66, the “Big Four” railroad (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis R.R.), and the Illinois Traction System interurban crossed paths here. So, too, did bootleggers and big bands. All these, and more, are the story of Coal Mines on the Prairie.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 22, 2019

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good history of mining in a specific Illinois community. A good follow up to October Sky which is about coal mining in West Virginia. A few typos throughout a last half are a bit distracting.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Not that useful for what I’m doing, but that was expected. If you want a survey of a coal community in Illinois, as well as a pretty decent local history, I’d recommend this.