1973 — Feb 02, natural gas explosion, hardware store and cafe, Eagle Grove, IA — 14
–14 NFPA. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1972,” Fire Journal, Vol. 67, No. 3, May 1973, p. 71.
–14 National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. 1983, p. 139..
–14 Powers. “Deadly explosion in Eagle Grove remembered 40 years later.” Radio Iowa, 2-4-2013.
–12 Chatterbox Café
— 1 Apartment above Coast to Coast hardware store
— 1 Responding fireman heart attack
–13 National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996.
Narrative Information
NFPA Fire Journal May 1973: “Hardware store, Eagle Grove, Iowa. On February 2 a natural gas explosion that destroyed three buildings resulted in the death of 14 people. The explosion occurred in the basement of a two-story wood-joisted brick building housing a hardware store on the first floor and apartments above. It also leveled an adjoining two-story building with a restaurant on the first floor (the second floor was vacant). The third building destroyed by the explosion was a one-story structure beyond the restaurant building housing a jewelry shop. One of the fatalities was a firemen who died of a heart attack en route to the fire. Witnesses reported smelling an odor of gas in the buildings just before the explosion. The source of the gas could not be positively determined.” (National Fire Protection Association. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1972,” Fire Journal, Vol. 67, No. 3, May 1973, p. 71.)
Newspapers
Feb 3: “Eagle Grove, Ia. — Several persons were presumed dead after an explosion that leveled a downtown store and adjoining cafe here Friday evening. The explosion occurred at 6:18 p.m. and was followed by flames that engulfed the Coast to Coast store and the Chatterbox Cafe. Authorities said…an Eagle Grove fireman, died of an apparent heart attack as he arrived at the scene. Most reports said nine persons were in the cafe when the blast occurred. There were some reports of cries for help coming from the wreckage of the two buildings shortly after the explosion….Walters Martins, 62, of Eagle Grove said he and his wife were in the cafe 15 minutes before the explosion occurred. “We smell gas, and I told the cook…and she said it was just the oven, and not to worry about it.”
”The mayor said the Coast to Coast store had been completely blown away by the explosion and the cafe “looked like a pile of dirt.” Of the cafe, he said, “just the roof is laying on top — everything else is in the basement.”….Fire broke out about three minutes after the explosion…. No one came out of the buildings.”….Witnesses to the blast said the Cedar Falls High School wrestling team, in town for a meet with the Eagle Grove High School team, left the cafe moments before the blast occurred. They quoted the team’s bus driver, who was not identified, as saying he had smelled gas while in the cafe….Wilbur Johnson, state fire marshal, arrived here from Des Moines about 10:30 p.m. After surveying the blast scene he said he believed the explosion was caused by natural gas. “Natural gas explosions blow up a building from the top out, while LP gas blows a building from the bottom out,” Johnson said….
“All windows within a one-block radius and in most businesses along Broadway were shattered by the explosion which was felt as far as 30 blocks away at the junior high school here….The Coast to Coast store and the cafe occupied two separate two-story buildings covering about a half block at the corner of Commercial and Broadway streets.” (Des Moines Register. “Blast Rocks Eagle Grove,” February 3, 1973.)
Feb 4: “Eagle Grove, Iowa (AP) – The death count in a massive explosion and fire that leveled two buildings and damaged a third rose to 12 Saturday with the discovery of two more bodies, state officials said. One other person, a cook at the Chatterbox Café, was missing and presumed dead. Rescuers suspended their search at dusk Saturday, posted state troopers and National Guardsmen in the disaster area and said teams would probe the debris again Sunday. The blast leveled a café and a hardware store and heavily damaged a jewelry store. The fire from the blast was smouldering and there were still flickers of flame as of Saturday afternoon….
“Earl Lawson, operator of a service station just across the street, said he had been talking to the owner of the store next to the restaurant just before the explosion. ‘He was telling us abut the smell of gas over there for about three days now. They couldn’t find it,’ Lawson said. ‘Just about the time he got through telling it, it just blew.’
“The explosion was followed by a fierce fire, apparently fed by gas which authorities said they were unable to shut off immediately.
“The entire north central Iowa farm town of 4,489 was shaken by the blast. It was heard at farms far out into the countryside….
“Authorities said Woodrow Loux, 60, an Eagle Grove standby fireman, died of a heart attack when he reached the scene.
“James McDermott said the only thing he’s got left is ‘what I’ve got on my body.’ His apartment was one of three above the café and hardware store. But McDermott was more fortunate than his neighbor – Mrs. Viola Helgevold. She was the first victims identified Saturday….Mrs. Helgevold lived above the café.
“Kenneth Rieke, 58, believes a friend of his must have returned to the café for a pack of cigarettes and was caught in the blast….Rieke was speaking of Louis Wampler of Clarion. The two had gone into the Chatter Box for their weekly fish supper.
“A ‘Back Soon’ sign remained visible in Glen McCauley’s barber shop. He was identified as one of those who perished in the café….
“Victims positively identified were Blue; Mrs. Helgevold; Hermit Johnson, 58, Menominee, Wis.; Mrs. Kermit Johnson, 54, Menominee; Betty Johnson, 46, Eagle Grove; Lynne Boyington, 21, Eagle Grove, a waitress at the café; MacCauley, 52; Moine Yanney, 76, a retired farmer from near Eagle Grove; Mrs. Elvera Mickelson, 52, Thor, a farm house-wife, and Clifford Ulstand, 68, Eagle Grove.
“Missing and unaccounted for were Mrs. Lucille Anderson, 63, Eagle, a cook at the café; Mrs. June Kallensrud, 73, Eagle Grove, and Mrs. Emma Johnston, 47, Eagle Grove, also a cook at the café.
“Two others remained missing and presumed dead, but no identifications were available.” (AP. “12 dead in Iowa blast.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 2-4-1973, p. 30.)
Feb 5: “Eagle Grove (UPI) – Authorities today renewed their search for the body of a woman still believed to be trapped in the ruins of two buildings that were leveled by a gas explosion. Twelve bodies were recovered earlier from the tones of debris that was once the Chatterbox Café and Coast to Coast Store, but the body of Mrs. Lucille Anderson, 55, a cook at the café, was still missing. All the victims were killed by the force of the Friday night explosion.
“Authorities at first indicated that a gas leak in the Coast to Coast store triggered the blast, but officials of the Iowa Public Service Co., which supplies natural gas to the store said tests have shown that there was no leak in the company’s gas system. IPA engineers and specialists worked with state officials at the scene of the blast Sunday, and company spokesman E. R. McCann said ‘all tests indicate no leaks in the Iowa Public Service Co. gas system.’ Residents had reported smelling gas for several days prior to the blast and on the day of the explosion, and Eagle Grove Mayor Kenneth Brauman has called for a state investigation to determine if a faulty IPS main was the cause…..
“All schools in the Eagle Grove system were closed today for the funeral of Mrs. Alvina Mickelson, a first grade teacher and one of the victims of the blast.” (UPI. “Continue search for woman’s body in ruins.” Ames Daily Tribune, IA. 2-5-2973, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “12 dead in Iowa blast.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 2-4-1973, p. 30. Accessed 1-13-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dubuque-telegraph-herald-feb-04-1973-p-29/
Des Moines Register. “Blast Rocks Eagle Grove,” February 3, 1973. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=118521262&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=0
National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996. Accessed 2010 at: http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1352&itemID=30955&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20statistics/Key%20dates%20in%20fire%20history&cookie%5Ftest=1
National Fire Protection Association. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1972,” Fire Journal, Vol. 67, No. 3, May 1973, pp. 71-74 & 102.
National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 1983.
Powers, Pat. “Deadly explosion in Eagle Grove remembered 40 years later.” Radio Iowa, 2-4-2013. Accessed 1-14-2022 at: https://www.radioiowa.com/2013/02/04/deadly-explosion-in-eage-grove-remembered-40-years-later/
United Press International. “Continue search for woman’s body in ruins.” Ames Daily Tribune, IA. 2-5-2973, p. 1. Accessed 1-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ames-daily-tribune-feb-05-1973-p-1/