Thanks Tim, We have those booklets and maps at the museum. I really should order a new set. Mine are from Jan. 1979. New mines are added as new "cave ins" occur. But, the list of mines in the Streator area really brings home why we can't find the particular mine a fellow worked in. Some of those mines only existed for a year or two, depending on the contract they had with the company that owned the mining rights to the coal. "Buddys" would get together and start a "company", work an area, then go back and work for a larger mining operation. A large company had a large overhead, they needed high productivity. A small (20 men+/-) company, where two or three of the miners were the owners could still make a profit from a narrow seam of coal. I used the figure 20, because later on a mine manager could get a certifice for either a large or small operation, however, they still had to take/pass the same test. In 1919, when my 55 year old grandfather took the test it was given in Springfield and took two days. I was told fire safety was an important part of the exam. A family member and two of his "buddys" did started their own company twice, the third time, there was an accident and one of them died. They would dig the coal during the day, when they were ready to leave, they would set off new charges, the next morning, the dust would have cleared and any loose coal should have fallen. That morning there was a cave in and one man got free to go for help. Even the large mine working in the area sent help, but one of the men died the next day. Joanie -- Streatorland Historical Society 306 South Vermillion Street Streator, Illinois 61364 Monday - Friday 9:30 - 2:30 Sunday 1 - 4 p.m.