BIG CREEK –– Purveyors of the Sunshine Miners Memorial are banking on the generosity of their community to ensure that memorial endures beyond its coming benchmark anniversary.

In May of 2022, the memorial will host the 50th anniversary of the mine fire that claimed the lives of 91 men.

Peggy White, who serves on the board that preserves the memorial site and puts together the annual memorial ceremony, told the News-Press that the group plans on upgrading and updating the memorial.

“We are trying to hand over to the next generation the completion of repairs to the statue so that it is in good condition for the next 50 years,” White said. “The statue cement work on the walkway is cracking and coming up and the bid (for repair) was for $11,450.00. We also are trying to complete an area for the headstones for other miners killed in underground mining accidents in the Cda Mining District.”

As it stands right now, that would include 46 new headstones to honor those who have perished since the 1972 disaster as well as 64 of them that still need to be placed from the fire.

“There were many families not contacted for headstones for the Sunshine Mine Disaster in 1972 and we need to put 64 headstones to complete the Sunshine site,” White recalled. “We would like the seal coating done to maintain the black top at the site. We also had another rock side hit last year and a section of the fence needs to be replaced.”

Right now, White is looking for community support to raise $8,000 in order to get the project finished.

Part of the project will also include a plaque at the memorial naming any business or individual who donates $500 or more to the project.

White hopes to have the project mostly done in time for the 50 year anniversary, where both Idaho Gov. Brad Little, as well as all mining executives have been invited to attend.

“We are hoping to complete the projects and dedicate the completion of the Miner’s Memorial to the next generation,” White said.

Any donations can be made to Shoshone County, 700 Bank Street, Wallace, ID. Fund #9106.

For more information please contact Peggy White at pwhite@outlook.com.