Cardiff, Illinois -
Cardiff Mine Disaster Monument

The [Herscher Area Historical Society] erected a monument of a mine disaster that happened just after the turn of the century [1903]. [A series of explosions] occurred within days, killing [9] men, some trying to get to the others. Not all of the bodies were recovered and still are entombed in the old mine. Details of the disasters are documented on the monument. Sidewalks are still visible along the road where dozens of houses stood. The village was deserted after the disaster (A few houses are in the area of the old town.). [Hava, 02/16/2009]

[RA: Dec. 2011: Jim Ridings, who wrote two books on Cardiff, provided some corrections to this tip. "The village was not deserted after the disaster; a new mine was sunk and the village thrived until the mine closed in 1912."]