Old #1

Описание: Old #1
Written by Keith Cearlock

“Old #1” tells the story of the first great coal mine that helped build the town of Pana, Illinois.

In 1884, the Pana Coal & Mining Company opened Mine No. 1, sinking a deep shaft beneath the Illinois prairie to reach rich coal seams hundreds of feet underground. From that mine—known locally as Old Number One—thousands of tons of coal were hauled to the surface, loaded onto waiting railcars, and shipped across the Midwest to heat homes and power industry.

This song remembers the miners who worked in darkness with lanterns on their caps, the mules that pulled coal cars through narrow tunnels, and the families who waited and prayed each day for the cage to rise safely back to the surface.

“Old #1” is part of the musical storytelling project connected to the book
Becks Creek Road: Songs, Stories, and Secrets of the Pana Prairie.
Each song in the series brings to life another chapter in the history of the prairie town of Pana—from the early settlers and railroads to the coal mines, labor struggles, and industries that shaped the community.

👍 If you enjoy songs that tell real stories from American history, please Like, Share, and Subscribe.

🎵 Brought to you by Beck’s Creek Soundscape Studio

#OldNumberOne #CoalMiningHistory #PanaIllinois #IllinoisHistory #AmericanaMusic #StorySongs #BecksCreekRoad