Dwight, Illinois: Cardiff Memorial: Mine Explosions
A small memorial recalls a series of mine disasters that reduced the population of Cardiff, a town that now no longer exists.
- Address:
- E. 2900 N. Rd, Dwight, IL
- Directions:
- From Dwight, drive east six miles on Hwy 17. Turn right onto N. 3300 Rd E. Drive south three miles. Turn left onto E. 2900 N. Rd. Drive east one mile. The memorial is at the intersection of E. 2900 N. Rd and N. 3400 E. Rd.
- Admission:
- Free
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In a small, quiet location in northern Illinois is a memorial: to the miners who died in a tragic series of mine explosions in 1903, and to the town that was once there. Founded in 1900, Cardiff had a population of more than 2,000 and included all the businesses that one would expect in a town: a church, school, bank, railroad depot, hotel, saloons, etc. All those are gone now, and only a small plaque and peaceful garden remain. Below the plaque are four bricks from the original town, memorial plaques with the names of those who died in the disaster, and commemorative bricks from those who donated to the memorial.
One brick has a moving sentiment, "May the voices of Cardiff be heard again." I believe this has happened, to a small degree.
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