1957 — Dec 5, natural gas explosion and fire, five downtown businesses, Villa Rica, GA– 12

lornajarrettblanchard December 5, 1957

–17 Thomasville Times Enterprise, GA. “Gas Blast…Villa Rica Claims…17 Lives.” 12-6-57.
–12 Cooper, Lisa. “Our History: The Villa Rica Explosion.” DouglasvillePatch.com. 3-11-2013
–12 Douglas County Sentinel, Douglasville, GA. [On 1957 Villa Rica Explosion.] 12-5-1997.
–12 Findagrave.com. “1957 Berry’s Pharmacy Explosion, Villa Rica, Georgia.”
–12 GA Historical Society. “Villa Rica Explosion.” Historical Marker Index. Accessed 2013.
–12 Jones, Clark F. “Gas Explosion at Villa Rica.” NFPA Fire News, Jan 1958, pp. 6-7.
–12 NFPA. “Gas Explosion at Villa Rica, Georgia.” Quarterly, V51, N3, Jan 1958 front piece.
–12 Thomasville Times Enterprise, GA. “Rites for 12 in Villa Rica.” 12-7-1957, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Cooper: “The fateful day was Thursday, December 5, 1957. People were going about their normal business on a weekday…going to the store, keeping appointments, seeing to some early Christmas shopping. Some folks were simply out to cast their ballot in municipal elections going on at the time, but shortly after 11 a.m., a natural gas explosion took the lives of 12 people and injured at least 20 others…changing the lives of so many in an instant….

“Eyewitnesses who were downtown when the blast occurred told reporters who swarmed the area from as far away as Atlanta, that the air was filled with clothing, papers, wood, bricks, and other falling debris….

“Newspaper accounts from the day reported that Berry’s Pharmacy was believed to have been ground zero for the blast. For several days prior to the explosion, employees at several downtown buildings had complained of smelling gas, especially at the drugstore….

“In 2010, author Elaine Bailey published a book titled “Explosion in Villa Rica” in an effort to make sure the history regarding the tragedy would not be forgotten.

“Mrs. Bailey recounts in her book how members of Douglasville’s National Guard were among the first rescuers on the scene. In an interview with the “Times Georgian” Mrs. Bailey recalls, “One of my most interesting interviews was with an 85-year-old man, who was head of the National Guard in Douglasville at the time. He was on the scene 30 minutes after the explosion and stayed for three days. After the story hit the news, National Guardsmen put on their uniforms and took off for Villa Rica.”

“Bailey further advised the guardsmen provided security to prevent looters from stealing from the damaged stores, including a jewelry store whose merchandise was scattered al over the street. She said, “Many years later, people were bringing back jewelry, because they felt guilty about taking it.”

“While downtown Villa Rica is actually in Carroll County, the explosion remains one of the most catastrophic events in area history in terms of injury and loss of life.” (Cooper, Lisa. “Our History: The Villa Rica Explosion.” DouglasvillePatch.com. 3-11-2013.)

Douglas County Sentinel, 1997: “….Buildings several hundred yards away were damaged. Four cars were completely smashed. Fortunately, rescuers found them to be empty.

“The Civil Defense from Cedartown was called in to help maintain order, as was the State Militia. Prisoners from the county jail were even brought in to help.

“Volunteers, however, did much of the work of sifting through the rubble until rescuers arrived. Longtime pharmacist James Harrison, the father of Suzanne Watson, was one of them. Harrison was downtown when the blast occurred. He had been out making house calls with a doctor friend, and had returned to town just before 11 a.m. His friend had dropped him off in front of Berry’s Pharmacy, and Harrison had started inside to have a soft drink and relax.
‘As I opened the door and began to walk inside, I remembered that it was Election Day, so I decided to go vote….Just as I reached it, the explosion took place.’ He recalled one woman in particular who was buried under the debris of a building near the corner of Montgomery and Candler. ‘There were prisoners drilling the best they could through the concrete and we could hear her crying, ‘Help me! Help me, I’m burning up!’….

“The following are the persons who perished in the December 5, 1957 natural gas blast in downtown Villa Rica:

Mrs. Ann Pope Smith, age 23
Mrs. Margaret Berry
Bobby Roberts, age 13
Miss Carolyn Davis, age 22
Oscar Hixon, age 34
O.T. Dyer, age 60
Johnny Dyer, age 30
Rob Broom, age 54
Dr. Jack Burnham, a dentist
Kenneth Hendrix
Carl Vinter
Rozella Johnson….”

(Douglas County Sentinel, Douglasville, GA. [On 1957 Villa Rica Explosion.] 12-5-1997.)

GA Historical Society Historical Marker Index:

“Villa Rica Explosion
Erected by Georgia Historical Society

Dedicated December 05, 2007

Region: Piedmont
County: Carroll
GPS: N33 43.8951|W084 55.17768
Location: 130 Montgomery Street/GA Hwy. 78

Around 11:00 a.m. on December 5, 1957, a natural gas leak under Berry’s Pharmacy caused an explosion that destroyed four buildings and damaged several others in Villa Rica’s downtown. The explosion killed twelve and injured twenty. The tragedy highlighted the need for both an organized local emergency response unit and the use of odor in the natural gas supply. The civil defense unit that resulted became a model for west Georgia. Ensuing litigation placed a considerable financial burden on the city, suppressing economic development for years. In terms of injury and loss of life, the explosion remains the most catastrophic event in Carroll County history.

“Erected by the Georgia Historical Society, City of Villa Rica, and Villa Rica Downtown Development Authority.” (Georgia Historical Society. “Villa Rica Explosion.” Historical Marker Index. Accessed 7-5-2013.)

Jones: “Twelve persons lose their lives and more than 20 were injured in a severe explosion that occurred about 10:45 A.M., Thursday, December 5, 1957, in Villa Rica, Georgia, a small town of about two thousand population, located 36 miles west of Atlanta. The explosion, thought to be caused by ignition of natural gas escaping from building piping or from a faulty appliance, completely destroyed three adjoining mercantile buildings in the business district and damaged windows within a two-block area. Rescue operations were hampered by fires that broke out in various sections of the wrecked buildings, which were of ordinary brick and masonry construction, 1 and 2 stories in height. The natural gas supply to the town’s entire distribution system was shut off about 11:30 A.M., as workmen were unable to locate the sectional control valve for the 2 ¼-inch main supplying the damaged area. Following the gas shutoff, small fires were promptly extinguished, thereby permitting more extensive rescue operations.

Events Prior to Explosion

The owner of the drug store and persons in an adjoining jewelry-florist shop, dress shop, and 5 and 10 cent store had complained of an odor of gas during several days before December 5th, the day of the explosion. An employee of the Gas Department had checked gas piping in the building of the drug store and adjacent store for leaks with an open flame on December 4th. On December 5th, a few hours before the explosion, the local fire chief, by means of open flames, checked for leaks in gas piping that went to the second floor dental offices above the drug store. A minor leak was found in a vented gas-fixed suspended unit heater on the second floor. The heater was shut off.

“The explosion is reported to have occurred about 10:45 A.M. shortly following the arrival of two plumbers, who were called to the scene by the owner of the drug store. The plumbers had apparently been checking gas piping and appliances for leaks in the various buildings. Following the explosion, their bodies, as well as the body of the superintendent of the municipally owned gas system, were found near a gas-fired storage type water heater in the rear of the drug store. Survivors report the plumbers had been working around the water heater and had just been joined by the gas superintendent, who had also been summoned to aid in the search for gas leakage. Just what these workmen had done to the gas piping or appliances probably cannot be determined, as all lost their lives in this incident.

“It is interesting to note that the water heater, on the first floor rear of the drug store, appeared to be in about the center of the scene of the explosion. (See sketch [omitted here].) Gas meters were installed outside of the buildings in the area, and following the explosion, several above ground gas service lines were broken at the meters due to falling debris. Gas from broken service lines continued to burn until the gas distribution system was shut off…

Fire Fighting and Rescue Operations

“Following the explosion, the Villa Rica Volunteer fire department responded within a few moments. The fire chief, who operates a small mercantile several stores away from the scene of the explosion, stated that a telephone call was made to surrounding communities for assistance, while the Villa Rica volunteer firemen put hose streams into operation and began rescue operations. A number of nearby fire departments promptly responded to this call for assistance. Likewise, the local police officials transmitted the alarm to the area civil defense headquarters in Atlanta. This appeal for assistance quickly mobilized additional help. The Atlanta Gas Light Company dispatched help to the stricken area from Carrollton. State police and National Guard units were called to maintain order and regulate traffic. Injured persons were promptly rescued and removed by ambulance to the local or nearby hospitals.

“Great difficulty was encountered in rescue operations because of building destruction. Heavy wrecking equipment was dis¬patched to the scene and debris was carefully removed in an effort to recover victims of this disaster. Unfortunately, the sectional control valve on the gas distribution main serving the area could not be located promptly. Therefore, the entire gas distribution system was shut off approximately 45 minutes following the explosion. The fires were brought under control approximately two hours after the initial explosion. Local gas employees were assisted by workmen from the Atlanta Gas Light Company.

Gas Distribution System

“The gas distribution system in this town was installed late in 1954 and is a natural gas system supplied from a transmission line of the Southern Natural Gas Company. Gas is delivered at the city regulator station from a Southern Natural Gas transmission line, operating at about 400 pounds pressure. Pressure is reduced at this point through two stages of regulation. The first stage reduces it to 100 pounds and the second stage to 15 pounds for distribution throughout the system. The town distribution system consists of approximately 50 miles of 2 1/4-inch to 6-inch cast iron mains with mechanical joints supplying bout 1000 gas meters. Each service line is provided with a pressure regulator ahead of the meter that reduces the pressure from 15 pounds to 4 ounces for domestic consumption.

“It is interesting to note that the City Council adopted an ordinance establishing minimum requirements for the installation of house gas Piping that conforms to the requirements of NFPA Standard No. 54 in August, 1954. Unfortunately, the general precautions, especially with regard to testing for leaks, were not followed.

“The day following the explosion gas service was restored to the town system after the damaged 2 1/4-inch cast iron distribution main was shut off. A very large crew of Atlanta Gas Light Company employees rendered valuable assistance to the local gas employees in restoring gas service to all the town’s customers. All services and appliances had to be purged before gas service was returned to normal. The 2 1/4-inch cast iron distribution main, located behind the destroyed buildings, was a short dead-end main. Before service was restored to other customers on this line, this main was cut and capped and pressure tested, then the section beyond the destroyed area was uncovered and examined. At the rear of the drug store, a fracture of this main was found… The fracture occurred in this cast iron 2 1/4-inch main where a large stone was resting on the side of the pipe. The ground in the vicinity of the break showed no characteristics of leaking gas. It is believed that this main may have fractured due to the movement of heavy equipment used in cleaning up the wreckage. This theory is substantiated by fire fighters and the municipal workers, who stated that during the fire no flames were evident in this area, and previous testing in the area with open flames had not indicated leakage prior to the time of the explosion.
Lessons to be Learned.

“It is evident that the exact cause of this explosion may not be determined; however, there are several precautions that continue to need additional emphasis. The use of open flames in attempting to detect gas leakage should be prohibited. The gas lines in any sus¬pected area should be shut off before attempting to find leaks. Persons assigned to maintenance of gas facilities should be thoroughly trained in the safe practices of installing and servicing gas appliances. All distribution system sectional control valves should be identified and accessible for use in an emergency. When gas codes are adopted, they should be rigidly adhered to and enforced.” (Jones, Clark F. “Gas Explosion at Villa Rica.” NFPA Fire News, Jan 1958, pp. 6-7.)

National Fire Protection Association: “A natural gas explosion at Villa Rica, Georgia on Dec. 5, 1957 killed 12 persons and injured more than 20. For several days gas odor was reported by occupants of the 2-story building. Subsequent tests by the fire chief and an employee of the Villa Rica Gas Department using open flames did n. locate the source. At the time of the explosion, two plumbers were in the rear of the first floor drug store working at a gas-fired storage water heater Survivors’ reports suggest the possibility of the escape of a large volume of gas at the water heater just prior to the explosion.” (National Fire Protection Association. “Gas Explosion at Villa Rica, Georgia.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 51, No. 3, Jan 1958, front piece.)

Newspapers At-The-Time:

Dec 5: “Villa Rica, Ga. (AP) — Twenty persons were burned, some believed seriously, in a fire following an explosion in the business district here today. The Villa Rica hospital reported 20 persons who suffered varying degrees of burns were brought in shortly after flames swept four stores at 11 a.m. The hospital said it was not known whether all persons in the stores had been removed.” (Thomasville Times Enterprise, GA. “20 Persons Burned in Villa Rica Blast.” 12-5-1957, p. 1.)

Dec 6: “Villa Rica, Ga. (AP) — Wreckage from a terrific gas explosion that blasted the business section yesterday had given up 17 bodies today. The explosion which demolished four stores injured from 2 to 30 persons.

“Lt. Col. H. T. Clary, National Guard commander, said apparently all bodies in the wreckage have been found. The 17th body was removed last night some 10 hours after the blast that destroyed a two-story structure housing the stores.

“Workmen suspended clearing operations late last night when a brick wall on an adjoining building threatened to fall.

“Demolished were a drugstore, a dime store, a dress shop and a jewelry store. The explosion apparently originated in the drug-store. Horace O. Luther, city engineer, said the explosion was caused by natural gas.

“Police Chief H. G. Black blamed a faulty gas line in the basement of the drugstore. Luther said no one knew exactly what the trouble was. Two plumbers and a gas company superintendent were in the store checking on facilities when the explosion shattered the building. The plumbers and the superintendent were among the dead.

“The town was without gas service, and people were warned not to turn on appliances.

“The tragedy was the whole town’s. There was a boy who broke a tooth in school and went to the dentist’s office and died; a nurse who kept on working after the bodies of her brother and father were brought in; the people who visited a dime store to buy Christmas ornaments and were carried out later on stretchers.

“Oscar Hixon, superintendent of the municipally owned gas system, was working on the line at the time and was killed. Also killed were O. T. Dyer and his son Johnny, who were working with Hixon.

“Ray Tyson, 39, a clerk in the drugstore, said he was behind the soda fountain when the explosion came about 11 a.m. “I thought a bomb had hit the place,” he said. “But I knew it was gas. We had been smelling gas for a day or two.”

“Hundreds of rescue workers from other communities rushed to the scene. Volunteers, police and firemen came from as far away as Atlanta, 37 miles east of Villa Rica.

“At the little Villa Rica Hospital, Mrs. Lewis Harrison, chief surgical nurse, learned that her father and brother, O. T. Dyer and Johnny Dyer, had been killed. She bowed her head and fingered her handkerchief for a moment. Friends suggested she go home. “You all go on home,” she said. “I’ve got work to do here.”

“Bobby Roberts, 13, broke his tooth at school. Authorities called Carolyn Davis, 22, of nearby Bremen, to take Bobby to the dentist. They were with the dentist, Dr. Jack Burnham Jr., when the blast occurred. All three were killed. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Davis, Carolyn’s parents, heard about the blast and finally located their daughter’s body in a funeral home at Carrollton about 20 miles southwest of Villa Rica where it had been taken in an ambulance….

“Jack Williams, whose clothing store adjoins the demolished buildings, said he helped pull a badly burned victim from the rubble of the dime store by knocking two holes, through the wall with a sledge hammer. The victim was Miss Rozelie Johnson, manager of the dime store. She died later at Carrollton Hospital….‘We knocked two holes in the wall, but the fire got to her before we could reach her.’….

“Others killed in the blast included Kenneth Hendrix of College Park, Ga., an employe of the Atlanta Linen Service who was in the drugstore; Carl I. Vitner, 20, of Atlanta, a customer in the drugstore; Mrs. Ann Smith, 23, an employe in the drugstore, Mrs. Margaret Berry, whose husband owned the drugstore; and Robert Broome.

“The four stores fronted on U.S. 78, the Atlanta-Birmingham highway. State patrolmen quickly blocked off the area to keep bystanders from interfering with rescuers efforts. Telephone lines into the town were jammed with emergency calls.

“Miss Melinda Doris Hembree, 18, of Carrollton, said she was trapped for a time in the dime store… ‘I was standing there when all of a sudden a big noise came…When everything quit falling down around me I heard Rozelle crying, ‘Oh, my legs. Can’t you help me?’ I tried to get her out but I couldn’t move the counter that hemmed her in’….” (Thomasville Times Enterprise, GA. “Gas Blast in Villa Rica Claims Total of 17 Lives.” 12-6-1957, 1.)

Dec 7: “Villa Rica, Ga. (AP) – Today was a day of funeral processions and cleanup operations in this northwest Georgia town where 12 persons were killed and more than 20 injured in a thunderous natural gas explosion Thursday.

“Funeral services were scheduled for four victims here today and for another victim in Atlanta. Six other blast victims were buried yesterday. The twelfth victim will be buried tomorrow.

“Workers meanwhile were completing the job of cleaning up the remains of four stores and a dentist’s office shattered in the explosion and charred by the fire that raced through the ruins.

“There was no accurate estimate of the damage but the destroyed buildings were reported insured
for more than $200,000. The cause of the blast remained a mystery. “We know it was caused by escaping gas,” said Mayor C. M. Griffin. “But I don’t think we will ever know for certain the exact details.”

“….Authorities explained that the count of bodies taken from the debris varied for a considerable
period because the victims were carried to several different places.” (Thomasville Times Enterprise, GA. “Rites for 12 in Villa Rica.” 12-7-1957, p. 1.)

Findagrave.com: The names of the twelve fatalities, birth dates and place of burial are provided at: Findagrave.com. “1957 Berry’s Pharmacy Explosion, Villa Rica, Georgia.” Accessed 7-5-2013 at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=vcsr&GSvcid=272219

Sources

Cooper, Lisa. “Our History: The Villa Rica Explosion.” DouglasvillePatch.com. 3-11-2013. Accessed 7-5-2013: http://douglasville.patch.com/groups/editors-picks/p/our-history-the-villa-rica-explosion

Douglas County Sentinel, Douglasville, GA. [On 1957 Villa Rica Explosion.] 12-5-1997. Accessed 7-5-2013 at: Georgia On MY Mind website, “The Villa Rica Explosion, 12-28-2008: http://mymindisongeorgia.blogspot.com/2008/12/villa-rica-explosion.html

Find A Grave. “1957 Berry’s Pharmacy Explosion, Villa Rica, Georgia.” Accessed 7-5-2013 at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=vcsr&GSvcid=272219

Georgia Historical Society. “Villa Rica Explosion.” Historical Marker Index. Accessed 7-5-2013 at: http://www.georgiahistory.com/markers/141

Jones, Clark F. “Gas Explosion at Villa Rica.” NFPA Fire News, Jan 1958, pp. 6-7.

National Fire Protection Association. “Gas Explosion at Villa Rica, Georgia.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 51, No. 3, Jan 1958, front piece.

Thomasville Times Enterprise, GA. “Gas Blast in Villa Rica Claims Total of 17 Lives.” 12-6-1957, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=189453177&sterm=

Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. “Rites for 12 in Villa Rica.” 12-7-1957, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=189453185&sterm=explosion+villa+rica