Collection on the Millfield Mine Explosion

The Millfield Mine Explosion was the deadliest mine disaster ever to occur in Ohio. It transpired at the Sunday Creek Coal Company's Poston No. 6 Mine at approximately 11:45 A.M. on November 5, 1930. The Sunday Creek Coal Company (SCCC) ran mines all over the Hocking Hills region, and the Millfield site, in Athens County, was the hub of hundreds of shafts. An accumulation of methane gas ignited by a short circuit between the broken trolley wire and rail caused the explosion. Of the 191 men working at Millfield that day, 82 lost their lives, including the SCCC's top executives who were there to inspect the new safety equipment. Officials concluded that, with the exception of two men killed buy burns sustained from the explosion, all those killed died of poisoning from carbon monoxide gas. However, inspectors of the Ohio State Mining Department (OSMD) concluded that the disaster had not resulted because of any inadequacy on the part of the SCCC to comply with current orders and recommendations issues by the OSMD.