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On Wednesday, November 5, 1930, Sunday Creek Coal Company Mine #6 at Millfield became the unenviable site of Ohio's worst coal mining disaster. Negligence caused an electrical spark to ignite accumulated methane and detonated untreated explosive dust. Within minutes 82 men were dead, 56 women became widows and 137 dependents found themselves fatherless. Approximately 120 men not in the direct line of blast and flame escaped. Miraculously, 19 others were found barely alive many hours after all were presumed dead. The tragedy could have been prevented if proper procedures had been followed and profit not put before worker safety. Author Ron Luce brings all of the facts together for the first time to tell the story of the Millfield Mine Disaster in full detail.
About the author
Ron Luce has a BA degree from SUNY Brockport and an MA degree and PhD from Ohio University. He taught at Ohio University, Virginia Tech and Hocking College. After retirement, he served as director of the Athens County Historical Society and Museum. He is author of
Athens County, Ohio and has been active in efforts to preserve local history sites. He is an accomplished author, actor and artist residing in Athens, Ohio.
