As part of Albia’s 150 celebration on being an incorporated town, on the first weekend of August the Monroe County Historical Museum will conduct free bus tours to five former coal mining towns located in Monroe County. Anyone interested in coal mining history will have the opportunity to go on the tours and hear speakers at the museum on coal mining.
Saturday, Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. John Jacobs of Rose Hill will display his collection of mining memorabilia. A long time collector, Jacobs will have pictures, postcards, news articles and mining items.
Saturday from 9 to 11 a. m. will be the first tour and will go to the mining town of Buxton, leaving from the Monroe County Museum (located at 114 A. Ave. East, Albia). Jim Keegel, Buxton landowner, will be the tour guide for the Buxton area. Rosalie Mullinix, museum volunteer, will conduct the tour to the Buxton cemetery.
After a lunch break, Carl Blomgren, former Albia resident and Hall of Fame member will give a talk at the museum: “Memories of a Coal Camp Kid.” Born in Buxton, Blomgren will tell of growing up in the mining towns of Haydock and Rex 5.
And from 2 to 4 p.m. (again leaving from the museum) a tour to Consol, Haydock and Bucknell will be guided by Gordon Peterson, grandson of David Peterson, storeowner in these former mining towns — Buxton, Consol and Bucknell.
Sunday, Aug. 2 activities will begin at 1 p.m. with a tour to the mining town of Hocking, just south of Albia. Ernie Corso, Hocking resident, will be the guide. Back at the museum after the tour, Ernie will give a talk on Hocking and show mining artifacts.
The museum will need to take reservations for the tours to ensure enough bus seats are available.
Anyone wishing a reservation, call Doris O’Brien at (641) 932-7346 or Rosalie Mullinix at (641) 932- 5085 or email rosaliem@iowatelecom.net. There is no charge for this weekend of activities but reservation need to be made.
