LADD — The skyline in Ladd has been changed forever.

As the Illinois Department of Natural Resources continues to level out the old slag pile as part of a mine reclamation project, members of the community feel they are losing a bit of their heritage.

The slag pile, which once stood as high as 252 feet, has always been a reminder of the booming industry that once drew people from all over the country and from overseas to establish the mining town.

Work on the Ladd mine began in 1888, and it produced 6,198,714 tons of coal. Before the mine was abandoned in 1924, it was once considered the largest in northern Illinois, and at one time was worth at least $100,000.

After the mine was abandoned, the slag pile remained and was made up of the shale and slate rock that was dug up from underground.

According to Ladd village clerk Diana Chandler, the mine reclamation project includes taking approximately 80 feet off the top of the slag pile that will be spread out. Afterward, 2 to 3 feet of topsoil will added and seeded by Sept. 1. The three mine shafts will also be refilled.

Local historian Jim Piacenti of Ladd said as the reclamation project continues, many in Ladd feel a piece of their heritage is being taken down along with the shale and slate.

“We understand why they are doing it,” Piacenti said. “But the slag pile has been a big part of the town history.”

Aside from mining, the slag pile was once a favorite hangout place for the children in town. It served as a place to sled, climb, meet other people or just be with friends.

“That’s just where everyone went to play,” Piacenti said.

While the rock wasn’t pleasant to fall on, it didn’t stop kids from climbing to the top of the pile.

“It was the bird’s-eye view of the town,” Piacenti said.

According to Piacenti’s research on the mining history in Ladd, the abandoned mine was sold by the Illinois Third Vein Coal Co. to Peter Bergandi, a former miner, for $5,000 in 1925.

Years later, Ladd Construction Co. bought the property.

According to Piacenti, there were once big plans for the slag pile. Dom Palmeri of Ladd Construction Co. wanted to build a revolving night club at the top of the pile in 1972.

He had sketched plans and had the top of the dump leveled off. However, when the slate and shale rock proved to be too loose to support weight, the idea of the revolving club was abandoned.

Later on, in the ‘70s, school children planted black locust trees, which were the only tree able to grow on the tough shale and slate. The children planted the trees as part of a school project to keep the soil from eroding.

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