NEFFS — The 80th anniversary of the Willow Grove Mine explosion will include the dedication of a new stone memorial and statue at the site of the mine in Neffs.

The event is slated for 11 a.m. Saturday at the mine site on Willow Grove Road. Ray Wright, United Mine Workers of America Local 1785, said the memorial will honor the lives of the 72 men who perished in the explosion on March 16, 1940, at the Hanna Coal Co. No. 10 Mine.

Wright said the UWMA had the opportunity to install the memorial stone and statue and did so in anticipation of the anniversary.

“This is the first time it’s been set up like this,” he said. “There has never been a stone there before. There’s never been a flag pole there before.”

Wright noted ownership of the property now is in the hands of the Ohio Department of Forestry, which gave the UMWA permission to make a permanent memorial there. He said it is long overdue.

“There’s been so much interest in this it’s unbelievable,” Wright said. “When we were working at the site someone would always stop and say, ‘My uncle died there,’ or ‘My dad worked there. We’re so glad someone is doing something.’ There is a lot of local interest in it.”

Wright said he did not have any relatives who died in the disaster, but there are usually some relatives of victims who attend the annual memorial services.

“The disaster happened 13 years before I was born. I’m a third-generation coal miner. When I was growing up, I always heard about the Willow Grove Mine disaster. It was a modern mine for its time. It was a showpiece — Eleanor Roosevelt toured that mine,” Wright said.

Wright said the UMWA District 31 Subdistrict 6 organized the Saturday event and purchased the stone memorial. An individual donated the statue. He noted that about 10 years ago an Eagle Scout installed a memorial stone in Bellaire’s Village Park honoring the coal miners who died in the blast.

Driving directions:

∫ To reach the mine site from Ohio 7 south, take the Bellaire 26th Street exit. At the foot of the ramp turn right. Go straight through the traffic light onto Ohio 149 north. Continue driving on Ohio 149, passing Bellaire Middle School on your right. Take the first right past Dollar General onto Belmont County Road 4, aka Willow Grove Road. Drive about 2 miles. The site will be on your left. Parking in a mowed area will be on the right side of the road.

∫ To reach the mine from St. Clairsville, travel on Ohio 9 south through St. Clairsville. You will pass the fire station on the right. Veer left onto High Street and travel over Interstate 70. Turn left onto County Road 4, Willow Grove Road. Continue driving east. When you see Victory Church, you are about 4 miles from the mine site. The site will be on your right.