Macoupin County IL NO. 7 MINE WILL
CEASE TO OPERATE FRIDAY ©2003 Contributed by Joan
Miley
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STAUNTON STAR-TIMES, Staunton, Macoupin Co, IL, Thurs 23 Aug 1951 page 1
NO. 7 MINE WILL CEASE TO OPERATE FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 1951
NOTICE "TO ABANDON" POSTED AT MINE LAST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
The following notice was posted at No. 7 mine of the Bell & Zoller Coal & Mining Company, located northeast of Staunton: "Effective August 31, 1951, Bell & Zoller Coal & Mining Company is permanently abandoning Mine No. 7, Staunton. All employees take notice. Wm. P. Young, president."
Mine No. 7 is one of the oldest shafts in central Illinois and employed over 200 men, most of them from Staunton. It had been operated by the Consolidated Coal Co. of St. Louis until March 1, when the mine and other properties were sold to the Ziegler Coal Co. and operated by the Bell & Zoller firm. Another mine, No. 15, at White City was closed down in May of this year.
The company claimed increased production costs forced closing of mine No. 15. It is presumed this will also be advanced for the closing of No. 7.
Naturally the closing of No. 7 is quite a blow to the economic welfare of this community. It is hoped, however, that many of the employees may be able to find employment elsewhere, and those who are at the retiring age can draw their pension allotments.
The closing of No. 7 is the 3rd shutdown in Macoupin County within the past several months. No. 1 mine of the Superior Coal Company ceased operation in May.