Honoring a Mighty Marvel in Mining History

McCONNELSVILLE, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources honored the legacy of the coal industry with a ceremony that was held at Miners Memorial Park.

Many Twenty-First Century amenities, such as digital communications wouldn’t be what they are today without the advancements of Twentieth Century coal fired electricity.

“The event we’re here for today is the dedication of the Big Muskie Marker,” ODNR Historical Assets and Resources Manager Neil Humphrey said. “This historical marker dedicates the massive bucket you see behind you. This was the world’s largest dragline when it was built. It operated for some 30-years. But it was melted down and today, all that remains is the large bucket.” 

The bucket, which could hold two Greyhound buses, could rapidly scoop away blasted dirt and rocks to allow access to the coal seam that was buried beneath. 

“The sign’s made by Sewah, a local factory here in Marietta, Ohio. These are really made to kind of honor these legacies and histories that are found on ODNR properties. They often really are important to commemorate historic structures, historic things that once existed on our properties and things that happened here. And this one is really larger than life,” Humphrey said.

Miners Memorial Park is located inside the recently acquired Jesse Owens State Park, which was once an enormous strip mining operation. ODNR asked the former Central Ohio Coal Company employees that were on hand to pose for pictures inside the bucket to honor the human efforts that were made toward lighting a brighter future.