When its coal deposits played out after 13 years, so did Cardiff, a small boom town east of Dwight in northeast Livingston County.

But local author Jim Ridings was able to mine the turn-of-the-century town's history for not one, but two books.

Saturday, Ridings will be among those honored by the Illinois State Historical Society at its annual awards luncheon in the governor's mansion in Springfield.

Ridings will be given a book award for his 2008 book "Cardiff 2: A Further History of The Ghost Town On The Prairie."

His first book on the town in 2006, "Cardiff: Ghost Town On The Prairie," also won an award from the state historical society, as well as a Studs Terkel Award from the Illinois Humanities Council.

Ridings, a former Ottawa resident and past reporter for The Daily Times, now lives in Herscher, east of Dwight in Kankakee County.

He has written and published 16 books of local history over the years, including "Greetings From Ottawa" a book of Ottawa postcards, and "Old Ottawa Scenes" with Bob Jordan of Ottawa.

"I'd always heard about Cardiff. It was a fascinating tale from what I'd heard. I thought I would like to do a book on Cardiff — if I could find enough material to make a book."

Initially, Ridings had his doubts. There didn't seem to be much to work with, but his research turned up more than he expected.

"Coal was discovered in 1899, and a mine and a town were built within months. A mine disaster in March 1903 killed nine men. Then a second mine was dug, and the town was bigger than ever.

"At one time it was a town of 2,500 people and it had a couple of banks, a big school and 16 saloons. But after the mine closed in 1912, the houses and stores were moved out or dismantled.

"In a few years, the population was a few dozen, and there was little evidence that a large town had been there.

"The house and all the downtown buildings — everything was made of wood — so it was either taken down for lumber or the houses were picked up and put on flatbed cars and moved."

Since around 1920 there's been about two dozen people living where Cardiff once stood, said Ridings.

Today, there's only one original house, a few little modern houses and a few mobile homes there, Ridings said.

"That's about it: You drive past and you would never know that anything had existed. There was like 30 acres which now are farm land."

The book awoke interest in Cardiff.

"The recent popularity of Cardiff has been amazing. Even people who do not have a direct family connection have become fascinated with Cardiff.

"It is a ghost town, not in empty buildings, but in the imagination. To some, it is sort of a mythical place. Maybe because it was a rip-roaring town that other towns wished they could be. Maybe because it sprung up so fast, was so alive, had such tragedy, and then vanished so quickly and so completely."

The descendants of Cardiff residents are all over the nation, Ridings said.

"Once the first book came out and all these people saw the book who had not been contacted, they said, 'Well, let me tell you my story.' They sent me tons of pictures and their family stories."

The first book was 300 pages, and the second book ended up being 312 pages.

"This book adds a lot more detail. This is all new material, not leftovers or repeats from volume one.

"I am happy with it, and I hope the reader is happy with the book they hold here."

The first Cardiff book sold out. Cardiff 2 is available for sale at Campus State Bank and at State Bank of Herscher, and from the author for $29, at P.O. Box 464, Herscher, IL 60941, or e-mail jridings@keynet.net.

Captions Photos provided

Jim Ridings

Local author Jim Ridings will receive a special award Saturday for his 2008 book, "Cardiff 2: A Further History of The Ghost Town On The Prairie."

The Livingston Supply Company was one of the businesses in Cardiff during its short-lived time or prosperity as a coal mining town.