RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Community members gathered Thursday evening to honor the lives lost in the Church Hill Tunnel collapse, a century after the tragedy.
On Oct. 2, 1925, hundreds of workers were repairing a section of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad tunnel when it collapsed during repairs. The train engine, 10 flat cars and 4 people were trapped inside.
Benjamin Mosby, who was a firefighter, escaped from the rubble but died later that day from his injuries. The body of train engineer, Thomas Mason was recovered.
Two laborers, Richard Lewis and H. Smith were never recovered and remain entombed beneath the tunnel. The west entrance of the Church Hill Tunnel now sits, sealed off.
Dozens of residents gathered at Jefferson Park for a memorial ceremony organized by the Friends of Jefferson Park and the Church Hill Association. The event included a guided tour along the tunnel path and remarks from community members dedicated to keeping the history alive…