Eldorado's library will pay homage to Vachel Davis

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[On Sunday, the Eldorado Memorial Library plans to commemorate the life of one of Eldorado's favorite sons -- Vachel Davis.

Vachel Davis appreciation day is 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Coal miners past and present and the general public are invited to the library for the program, a news release from the library said. The library will display some safety posters, a poem he wrote, a song book cover he designed and some mine safety equipment.

"We also have a statue that Mr. Davis gave us. It is a replica of the statue in front of the Capitol building in Springfield," Librarian Brenda Funkhouser said.

Davis, who was born Aug. 15, 1898 in Eldorado, became a champion of mine safety and coal miners in general. His famous painting, "The Coal Miner," was purchased by the state in 1947 as a memorial to miners who were killed in the Centralia mining disaster the same year. The painting was the basis of a sculpture that stands on the state Capitol grounds. At Davis' urging, former state Rep. Paul Powell introduced a bill appropriating $15,000 for the statue honoroing the Illinois coal miner, according to a state of Illinois Web site. Davis worked with Tinley Park sculptor John Szaton to develp the statue, which was dedicated Oct. 16, 1964.

The seven-foot statue is just off Second Street on the Capitol grounds.

Davis also worked for the Federal Art Project during the Depression and the early stages of World War II, where he continued to promote mine safety.

Davis came naturally by his passion for better mining conditions. As a young man, Davis worked in the coal mines for about 14 years, a time when conditions in mines were appalling by modern standards.

Davis had great compassion for miners who died in the dangerous mines of the first half of the 20th Century, "And he wanted them not to have died in vain," Funkhouser said.

Davis spent 14 years in the mines and eventualy became a journalist with the UMWA. He promoted mine safety in a column, "Miner Jim Sez," according to Funkhouser.

His safety campaign resulted in the first-ever year with no fatal accidents at O'Gara Coal Company mines in 1929.

The painting, "The Coal Miner" hung in UMWA headquarters until it was purchased by the state. The location of the painting is now a mystery.

Funkhouser recalled the neighborhood around Eldorado Memorial Library used to be called The Grove and Davis lived nearby on Weber Street.

"He had a studio right near the library," Funkhouser said.

Davis' son, Paul Davis, is still living in Eldorado. He may come to the event at the library on Sunday if his health permits, Funkhouser said.

Davis died June 6, 1966, but his legacy of promoting mine safety lives on in the safety programs prevalent in modern coal mines.

"I think he is worth honoring today," Funkhouser said.