1942 – Nov 6, gunpowder explosion, Rochester Fire Works Co., East Rochester, NY – 11
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-30-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–12 Moran. Explosive Accident Summary: [WW] II. DoD Explosives…Board, 1992, 130.[1]
–11 East Rochester Fire Department. History of ERFD (website). 2012.
–11 Moran. Explosive Accident Summary: [WW] II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, 1992, 130.
–11 Perinton.org.[2] “Workers at the Rochester Fireworks Company on Baird Road.”
Narrative Information
East Rochester Fire Department: “In November 1942 one of the greatest disasters that ever took place in the village occurred. The former fireworks plant just across the creek from Eyer Park exploded shortly after 4:30 pm with the loss of 11 lives. The plant was engaged in making munitions for the war effort when a small spark ignited the loose powder and the building was instantly engulfed in flames. A woman who had reported for her first day of work had died a half hour later.” (East Rochester Fire Department. History of ERFD (website). 2012.)
Moran: “Ordnance Plant…East Rochester, NY…09/06/42 [Nov 6]…Mfg…Flare Comp & Black Powder…Flare Assembly Line…11 [dead]…13 [injured].” (Moran, Edward P. Jr. Explosive Accident Summary: World War II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, Aug 1992, p. 130.)
“Rochester Fireworks Plant…Rochester, NY…11/06/42…Signals, MKII, Red Star…Operating Building…12 [dead]…11 [injured].” (Moran)
Perinton.org: “The Rochester Fireworks Company was started around 1836 by Peter Palmer and was first located on the site currently occupied by the Blue Cross Arena. In 1927, the George H. Robinson Importing Company bought out the Palmers’ interests and merged with the growing company. The new firm imported many types of fireworks displays and “other sundries” from the Far East. In 1930, looking for more space, the company moved to a rather isolated area of Perinton at the corner of Baird and West Whitney Roads….
“The factory subsequently comprised about 40 buildings, well spaced to avoid fire, and employed about 40 men and 15 women, all local. Until 1939 and the rising need for munitions, the factory produced Roman candles, rockets, wheels and many other types of fireworks displays. Once World War II was underway, the factory expanded its work force and ran three shifts per day producing ammunition for the Army and Navy, work they continued until the end of the war.
“On the afternoon of November 6, 1942, Mrs. John Hanson, who lived on West Whitney, saw “just a puff” from the Rochester Fireworks Company across the street, and then saw fire engulf one of the fourteen buildings on the site. Samuel Kirkpatrick and Arthur Salmon, who were driving along Whitney Road, at first heard a muffled explosion and saw black smoke. Calling in the alarm, they subsequently saw fire and people, mostly women, running and screaming. Anna Morreale, who had just that week started work at the factory, managed to escape with minor burns on her hands, and helped others smother their flaming clothing. She remembered seeing one boy coming out terribly burned. “He just rolled on the ground screaming,” she recalled.
“An explosion had caused the fire. The fire developed so fast that the women who were working inside the building had no chance to get out. Eight people died instantly in the explosion, three more would die in the ensuing days, and many were treated in area hospitals for burns. All but one of the victims were women who had gone to work in the factory feeling that they were contributing to the war effort. The victims, all residents of Fairport and East Rochester, had been so severely burned that survivors had to rely on jewelry, dental fillings, and miscellaneous items of clothing for identification….” (Perinton.org. “Workers at the Rochester Fireworks Company on Baird Road.” )
Newspaper Account:
Nov 7, United Press: “Rochester, Nov. 7 00 (UP) – Army and FBI officials investigated today an explosion and subsequent devastating fire which cost the lives of nine persons, eight of them women, and injured 10 others at the Rochester Fire Works company plant at East Rochester.
“A friction spark caused when a tray of gunpowder was either dropped or set down too hard, was
blamed unofficially for the minor explosion late yesterday which was followed by a fire that swiftly enveloped the structure in which it originated. Officials said the tray was handled by Fred Steeley, 26, a night watchman, who died a few hours after the mishap. Five fire companies fought the stubborn blaze for an hour and a half.
“A company spokesman identified the victims as:
Evelyn M. Bigelow, 27;
Angeline Mandell, 31;
Viola Close, 60;
Mary Parsons, 43;
Bertha Archambo, 53;
Mrs. Rose Costanzo, 42;
Mrs. Angeline Morabito, 33, and
Steeley, all of East Rochester; and
Evelyn Ellis, 48, of Fairport.
“Several of the injured persons were reported in critical condition, with only slim chances of recovery.
“‘It was terrible,’’ said Mrs. Anna Morreale, 48-year-old mother of six children, as she described the scene from a hospital cot. ‘All I ‘heard was just a puff, but the building started to fill with smoke and fire. I ran outside . . . inside the women were screaming terribly. It was terrible! I won’t go to work there again!’ Mrs. Morreale escaped virtually unscathed from the structure, but was burned as she attempted to douse flames in the clothing of other workers.
“The blast, heard over a mile radius, occurred in one of the long, low plant buildings, containing 14 escape doors through which many of the 18 employes and the watchman attempted to flee.
“Four mobile Red Cross rescue units responded with four city ambulances to assist in caring for the victims, but officials reported that arrival of rescuers was delayed somewhat by traffic delays when the units were unable to use their sirens. Use of sirens has been banned on emergency vehicles to prevent confusion with air-raid alarms.” (Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. “Nine Dead When Fireworks Plant is Swept by Blaze.” 11-7-1942, p. 1.)
Nov 8, Associated Press: “Rochester, N.Y., November 8. – (AP) – Two more deaths Saturday night raised to 11 the number of fatalities in the explosion and fire Friday at the Rochester Fireworks plant at East Rochester. The explosion, which authorities said resulted when a workman set down or dropped a pan containing powder, was officially termed ‘accidental’.” (Montreal Gazette, Canada. “11 Explosion Fatalities.” 11-9-1942, p. 7.)
Sources
Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. “Nine Dead When Fireworks Plant is Swept by Blaze.” 11-7-1942, p. 1. http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=36020055&sterm=explosion
East Rochester Fire Department. History of ERFD (website). 2012. Accessed 4-1-2017 at: http://www.erfd.org/?page_id=15
Montreal Gazette, Canada. “11 Explosion Fatalities.” 11-9-1942, p. 7. Accessed 4-1-2017 at:
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19421109&id=tL4tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=05gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3728,1443654
Moran, Edward P. Jr. Explosive Accident Summary: World War II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, Aug 1992. Accessed 4-19-2013: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA507027
Perinton.org. “Workers at the Rochester Fireworks Company on Baird Road.” Accessed 4-27-2013 at: http://www.perinton.org/Data/Documents/Historian/columns/Fireworks%20Fire%20memories.pdf
[1] We are assuming that the first item with the Sep 6, 1942 date is a mistaken reference to the Nov 6, 1942 explosion which we have corroborated. We have found no corroboration for a September 6 explosion.
[2] Perinton is a neighborhood to the southeast of East Rochester