The Kneeling Miner
1976 and 2006
This statue dedicated in honor of the hardrock miner, his family and those who served the Webb City District mining industry during the past century.
The Kneeling Miner, circa 1976
Jack E. Dawson [sculptor]
Originally sculpted in concrete
as a part of Webb City's Bicentennial celebration.
The Miner stood as a sentinel reminder of the mining
era and the work of the founding families.
Four early day miners served as models
for the original statue.
The Kneeling Miner in Bronze, circa 2006
Constance A. Ernatt [sculptor]
Created in bronze to permanently memorialize
the hard work of the miner. The integrity of
the original work was achieved by using common
background materials in the research of the original statue.
The statue was sculpted in clay and cast into
bronze in Wichita, Kansas.
The Kneeling Miner in Bronze was commissioned in
May 2005 by the Dawson Heritage Foundation and
dedicated during Mining Days Celebration in
Webb City, September 2006
This Land is Blessed
Bonnie Linebaugh
I stood at eve, the sun was low
deep-cradled in the west.
My world all tinged with sunset glow
and thought "This land is blessed."
This land where miners old and young
labored hard each day -
Trudged off to toil in lightless deep,
to earn the meager pay.
Down into blackness cold and damp
on each man's cap a carbide lamp.
The mine work many a stranger drew -
and infant town Webb City grew.
I stood one morn and faced the east.
twas yet a little dark -
Dim silhouette of tailing piles,
the far notes of a lark -
The sleeping town of Carterville.
also in silhouette -
These lovely scenes engrave themselves
on hearts that won't forget.
Though mining days are in the past,
today they live in memory -
Of those strong-hearted ones who toiled
to carve Webb City's history.
I stood at noon the day sun-bright
Webb City growing 'neath its light
much labor, laughter, prayer and rest
and thought,
"Indeed this land is blessed."
May 1976
Marker is at the intersection of Tracy Street and Main Street, on the right when traveling east on Tracy Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
