GOING UNDERGROUND: OLD BEN NO. 5 ONLY `SHAFT' COAL MINE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Visitors to the National Coal Museum watched a demonstration of underground coal mining equipment.

A group of visitors prepared to go 600 feet underground at National Coal Museum.

A few days before Christmas, a familiar red-and-white clad figure appeared at Old Ben Mine No. 25 near West Frankfort.

With a coal bucket in hand, Santa Claus made the 600-foot ride down one of the largest chimneys in the world, which placed him into the bowels of a coal mine that produced more 10 millions tons of coal over the past five years.

Santa Claus was looking for small coal chunks to place in a select few stockings.

Santa, in some areas, leaves "whipping rods (sticks)" in stockings of little boys and girls who have been less than good. In some coal areas, he leaves coal instead of the candy, fruit and gifts that good children receive.

Santa, once he reached the bottom of the mind, found that no more coal was being mined from Old Ben 25.

But the trip was an experience, anyway.

Old Ben 25 is now part of a coal museum.

"There is still about 15 years of coal in the mine," said Christeen Lewis, director of public relations for the National Coal Museum. But the museum represents the only mine life in Franklin County in Southern Illinois.

Old Ben Mines 21, 24, 25 and 26 were operated in Franklin County by Zeigler Coal. As late as early 1996, mines 24 and 26 were operating, with more than 425 workers. In 1995, the two mines produced more than 2 million tons each but were closed the following year.

Mine 25 produced 1.4 million tons of coal in 1994 before closing October 14, 1994, and remained idle more than 1 1/2 years before it was donated as a coal museum in May.

The National Coal Museum, the world's only shaft coal mine open to the public, has been a big hit, attracting visitors from 39 states and 12 foreign countries.

During the first six months the museum was open more than 4,000 visitors had seen how underground coal is minded.

"No coal is mined here," said Lewis. "But experienced miners take visitors 600 feet below the ground to the actual mine."

"At 600 feet you're aboaut as far below ground as a modern sky scraper is high," he said. "Visitors don't get dirty, and the only equipment needed is a hard hat, which is provided."

Actually people shouldn't feel hemmed in, as the mine is spacious and lighted.

Visitors will see demonstrations of coal mine machinery working.

The mine museum is open seven days a week, with tours every hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"The mine presents a comfortable underground environment," said Lewis. "It's cool in the summer and warm in the winter."

Before opening, museum officials projected 30,000 visitors the first year.

Museum officials expect to pass that figure, and although winter visitations are light, they expect between 200 and 600 visitors a day in the spring.

The Old Ben Mine 25 main building and warehouse have undergone a complete face-lift inside and out.

The museum also has a "company store" with coal-related gifts.

One of the unusual items at the museum is a vintage 1920 hoist house, which is being restored.

The coal industry has been a vital part of America and Illinois. Sixty percent of the nation's electric power comes from coal.

"The coal museum is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of coal mining," said Lewis.

The production and sale of Illinois coal has declined in recent years, due to increased competition with western, low-sulfur coal. Many Southern Illinois coal mines have closed.

Coal production fell to 49.5 million tons in 1995, down 4.5 million tons from 1994 production levels, and down more than 10 million tons from the average of 60 million tons a year between 1970-1992.

The general population knows nothing, or little about coal mining, says Dr. Christopher Ledvina, a professor in the mining department at Northeastern Illinois University.

The museum, he said, will take coal out of the 19th century and bring it into the public's eye as a fuel that can drive the energy needs of the future.

Ledvina is one of the prime movers in establishing the coal museum. He worked in the coal mining industry for 18 years before returning to school for his doctorate in mining. He has written a book, "The Pictorial History of Coal Mining in Illinois."

Researching his book resulted in the idea of establishing the coal museum.

A number of things happened to make the mine museum a reality.

Ledvina, the museum's board chairman, formed a non-profit corporation in May 1993. He enlisted the help of Mark Ballard, the museum's president; Heinz Damberger and John Nelson, employees in the coal section of the Illinois Geological Survey; Steve Frattini, with the Southern Illinois Tourism Council; John Simmons, mayor of West Frankfort, and Janet Howe, an NEIU graduate student conducting mining research.

The group, and 25 other industry professionals, make up the National Coal Museum board.

Along with collecting people to spearhead the mine museum, a site for a museum became available.

Freeman United Coal Mining Co. moved its headquarters from West Frankfort, donating much of its land at the old Orient Mine No. 2 to the city. Mayor Simmons requested the city donate a 50-acre site and the mine's old hoist house for use by the museum.

Orient Mine 2, which held the world single-shift hoist record (15,174 tons in seven hours), was the first in the world to be completely mechanized, and was the world's largest mine for nearly 20 years. At one time it mined 4 millions tons of coal a year and employed more than 1,200 people.

Orient Mine 2, which features a dragline as part of its equipment, now serves as the museum's headquarters.

Since that initial donation by the city, another 40 acres and other buildings have been given to the museum, including Old Ben No. 25, donated to the museum by Zeigler Coal Holding Co.

The museum site includes 90 acres, a wash house, warehouse, engineering building, administration building, two hoist houses and the underground Old Ben 25 mine.

Additional information is available by calling 618-YES-COAL.