The worst mining disaster in American History occurred in the community of Monongah, West Virginia on December 6, 1907. Around 10 o'clock in the morning after a full force of 380 men and boys had begun their shift, mines number 6 and 8 of the Consolidated Coal Company shook from the impact of an underground explosion. A total of 362 men and boys lost there lives leaving 250 widows and over 1000 children without support. As the centennial continues throughout the year, the town dedicated a monument to honor the widows of the miners on Friday, August 17, 2007. In a strange occurrence, a cross appeared directly behind the monument as a priest said a prayer. They also had a memorial service at the cemetery where nearly all of the victims of the disaster where buried. As part of the service 362 candelabras where placed on the tombstones and the rest made a giant cross in the middle of the cemetery.