1976 — Jan 10, Pathfinder (residential) Hotel Natural Gas Explosion/Fire, Fremont, NE–20

–20  Fremont Tribune. “Fremont residents recall Hotel Pathfinder explosion 35 years later.” 1-10-2011.

–20  Lincoln Journal Star. “12 of the deadliest disasters in Nebraska history.” 6-15-2017.

–20  National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Key Dates in Fire History.  1996.

–20  NFPA. U.S. Unintentional Fire Death Rates by State.  December 2008, p. 22.

–20  National Fire Sprinkler Association.  F.Y.I.  1999, 7.

–20  Omaha World-Herald. “Forty years ago, a hotel explosion killed 20…Fremont’.” 2-1-2016.

 

Narrative Information

 

2016, Omaha World Herald, NE: “Fremont, Neb. — …. natural gas that had been leaking into the basement of Fremont’s tallest building, the six-story Pathfinder Hotel, exploded with atomic fury. Chunks of sidewalk the size of compact cars were hurled into the air. The bottom two floors of the hotel collapsed into the basement. Windows were broken on buildings blocks away. Twenty died; 40 were injured….

 

“The hotel and eight other buildings had to be demolished, hastening the migration of businesses from the city’s downtown to its outskirts….‘It changed the history of Fremont,” said retired businessman Marv Welstead. “The city’s skyline was never the same.’….

 

“It took more than a year, and a federal grant, before demolition began on the 115-room Pathfinder. Welstead said it took 2½ years to get all of the damaged buildings torn down and lots cleaned up. It was more than a decade before new construction began on the rubbled lot along busy U.S. Highway 77 where the hotel stood….

 

“Built in 1917, the Pathfinder was still a hub of the community in 1976, even though many of its rooms had been converted to apartments for the elderly.

 

“The hotel had a cafe, a lounge, the Chamber of Commerce office, a drugstore, barber shop and the “Top of the Hotel Ballroom,” the site of holiday parties and other large gatherings. In its heyday, the hotel’s famous guests included evangelist Billy Sunday and Helen Keller….

 

“People started smelling gas about 6 a.m. on the day of the explosion, which occurred at 9:33 a.m. on a chilly Saturday.

 

“Extremely cold weather played into the tragedy. Workers had retrofitted 4-inch gas mains in the area by inserting 2-inch plastic pipes within them. Low temperatures, which fell to 25 below zero that winter, caused a new fitting to contract. It began leaking gas beneath the hotel… gas filled the basement of the hotel, which extended under the sidewalks surrounding the building. The blast not only blew out windows and collapsed the interior of the hotel but sent huge concrete chunks skyward.

 

“One crashed through the roof and into the basement of the Vienna Bakery across the four lanes of Broad Street (or U.S. 77) from the hotel. Another flattened a car. Besides the eight buildings that were torn down, the top stories of two other buildings, including Rump’s Furnace, had to be removed….” (Omaha World-Herald (Paul Hammell) NE. “Forty years ago, a hotel explosion killed 20 and ‘changed the history of Fremont’.” 2-1-2016.)

 

2017, Lincoln Journal Star, NE: “The Hotel Pathfinder explosion on Jan. 10, 1976, in Fremont killed 20 people and injured more than 40. It also changed the face of downtown….The blast was blamed on an underground gas coupling that pulled apart, and Northern Natural Gas Co. was found liable, the Fremont Tribune report said.” (Lincoln Journal Star. “12 of the deadliest disasters in Nebraska history.” 6-15-2017.)

 

Newspapers at the Time

 

Jan 10: “Fremont — At least four persons are dead and 50 to 100 are believed still trapped in the Pathfinder Hotel in Fremont following a mid-morning explosion and fire. At noon, rescue workers were unable to reach persons thought to be trapped on the lower of floors of the five-story hotel because the fire was still burning out of control three hours after the explosion. Gov. J. J. Exon has declared a state of emergency for the area. ‘It’s terrible. There are people screaming and crying outside the hotel. I’m afraid there are people inside there,’ said Alvin Jenson, the owner of a café across the street from the hotel. He said the blast knocked out all the windows and part of the ceiling of his business.

 

“At noon authorities cleared a two-block area around the hotel because of the strong smell of natural gas. Early reports speculated the hotel’s boiler had exploded.

 

“Mike Miller, administrator at th Dodge County Hospital, said 81 persons were brought in for treatment….Miller said about 10 of the 81 were hospitalized with a few in ‘fairly critical condition’ and others described as ‘walking wounded.’ In addition, others were treated and released.

 

“Authorities said occupants of the resident hotel were evacuated from the fourth and fifth floors immediately….Many of the hotel’s residents were elderly persons….

 

“One of the victims was identified as Mayne C. Spence, an elderly woman….

 

“The structure, built in 1920, was totally gutted. Cars parked in front of the building were blown in half.

 

“The blast shook the downtown area and shattered windows within a nine-block radius. It was heard by persons more than two miles from the scene….[A] witness said a window was blown out of a supermarket about 20 blocks away….

 

“Police and rescue units from Fremont and six other communities were called to the scene, as well as the National Guard and Army Reserve.” (Lincoln Evening Journal, Linda Ulrich, NE. “4 Die, 50-100 Are Trapped in Fremont Pathfinder Blast.” 1-10-1976, p. 1.)

 

Jan 11: “Fremont — At least 12 persons ere reported dead when firemen abandoned their search inside the Pathfinder Hotel about 10:30 Saturday [Jan 10] night…Fire Chief Howard Schneider said it will be resumed early this morning. Eight bodies were found Saturday night, Schneider said….National Guardsmen who were called in after Gov. J. James Exon declared a state of emergency, cordoned off the downtown area to keep out sightseers….

 

“Vera Scoville, 82, was on the fourth floor in the northwest corner of the building when the explosion occurred. She gave this account of her escape: ‘First there was a terrible shock and smoke was everywhere. I met some other ladies in the hall. We attempted to go to the elevator. The door was broken down. We tried the fire escape but we couldn’t get any doors open. Then we tried the baggage elevator, but it was broken down too. Then I found a little place where there wasn’t any smoke. I found a window that was intact and called for help….” (Sunday Journal and Star, Lincoln, NE. “12 Dead in Fremont Hotel Blast.” 1-11-1976, p. 1.)

 

Jan 12: “Authorities have released the identities of twelve victims of the explosion Saturday at the Pathfinder Hotel in Fremont. The dead are: [We put in alphabetical order and add from other sources. We have located identities for seventeen of the fatalities.]

 

  1. [Arthur Chambers, hotel resident (it was believed).][1]
  2. Chi-Ceung Chan, 29,[2] and his wife,
  3. Kit Yeefu. Chan, 25, both of Lincoln, who were temporary employees of Brown Drug located in the hotel.
  4. John Delashmutt, 83, hotel resident (husband of Ruth).
  5. Ruth Delashmutt, 83,[3] hotel resident.
  6. [Delores Fritz, 46, hotel worker.][4]
  7. James Hanson, 89,[5] hotel resident.
  8. [Susan K. Hokamp, 23. Rootsweb.ancestry.com. “Freemont Memorial Cemetery.” 2000.]
  9. Louis T. Hruska, 59,[6] Fremont barber.”
  10. [William D. Van Meter of Fremont, a district manager of the gas company.][7]
  11. Carson Rebbe, 75, rural Hooper farmer.
  12. Eunice M. Sexton, 83,[8] wife of Fremont superintendent of schools.
  13. Mayme Spence, 82,[9] hotel resident.
  14. Carl Strong, 44, Fremont gas company worker. [At the scene due to reports of gas smell.]
  15. Mildred Sweringen, 52,[10] wife of Fremont Presbyterian minister.
  16. [Mrs. Mary K. Toy, 35, real estate employee.][11]
  17. James G. Walline,[12] 47, Fremont gas company worker. [There due to gas smell reports.]

 

(Lincoln Star, NE. “12 Victims Identified.” 1-12-1976, p. 1.)

 

Jan 14: “Freemont, Neb (UPI) — The 17th and 18th bodies were taken from the shattered Pathfinder Hotel today, bringing an end to a grim five-day search for victims of Saturday’s explosion, the worst disaster of its kind in Nebraska history.

 

“Dodge County Attorney F. A Gossett III said one of the bodies found today was that of William Van Meter of Fremont, a district manager of the gas company. Identification of the 18th body was not definite but it was believed to be that of Arthur Chambers, a hotel resident….

 

“Fourteen persons remained hospitalized….” (Columbus Telegram, NE. “Locate 17th, 18th bodies in Fremont.” 1-14-1976, p. 10.)

 

Jan 15: “One of the victims found Wednesday was William Van Meter, district manager of the Nebraska Natural Gas Co. Van Meter had reportedly gone to the hotel in response to reports there was a smell of natural gas in the area. Two of the victims found earlier were also gas company employes. Gas company officials have maintained silence on reports that natural gas was leaking in the area of the hotel before the explosion

 

“Federal, state and local authorities are investigating the explosion, but no cause had been established. All debris pulled from the hotel was being taken to a special dump site. The hotel and the dump site ‘will be guarded and no unauthorized persons will be allowed in the area,’ Fremont Fire Chief Howard Schneider said….” (Columbus Telegram, NE. “Sunday day of mourning for 18 victims of Fremont hotel blast.” 1-15-1975, p. 3.)

 

Jan 20: “Fremont (AP) — Fremont Fire Chief Howard Schneider says a preliminary investigation into the Jan. 10 Pathfinder Hotel explosion and fire which killed 18 persons and injured over 40 others was caused by the ignition of a gas leak outside the building.  Several days of sub zero weather before the explosion could also have been a major causal factor of the blast, Schneider said. Schneider said his department, the U.S. Transportation Dept., the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office and Nebraska Natural Gas Co., which services Fremont, are continuing their investigation of the blast. ‘On consideration of the preliminary reports from the agencies conducting the investigation…it would appear the cause of the explosion was escaping gas from a gas line located about 15 feet from the northwest corner of the building allowing gas to infiltrate the building. Ignition was from an unknown source,’ Schneider said….

 

“According to Schneider, Transportation Dept. investigators are now testing materials taken from the explosion site, among them a piece of plastic distribution line coupling from under the street directly north of the hotel. Schneider said he believes that the coupling on the two-inch line, which was broken, was the source of the natural gas leak. The pipe in the area was installed a year and a half ago, Schneider said. The fire chief also added some credence to earlier theories there was not one but a rapid chain reaction of several explosions. ‘Most of those in the hotel and nearby have said there was one sharp blast followed by some small thumps,’ Schneider said….” (Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Pathfinder Tragedy. Gas Leak Outside Hotel Might Have Caused Blast.” 1-20-1976, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Columbus Telegram, NE. “Locate 17th, 18th bodies in Fremont.” 1-14-1976, p. 10. Accessed 7-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/columbus-telegram-jan-14-1976-p-9/?tag

 

Columbus Telegram, NE. “Sunday day of mourning for 18 victims of Fremont hotel blast.” 1-15-1975, p. 3. Accessed 7-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/columbus-telegram-jan-15-1976-p-3/?tag

 

Fremont Tribune (Chris Zavadil), NE. “Fremont residents recall Hotel Pathfinder explosion 35 years later.” 1-10-2011. Accessed 7-17-2017 at: http://fremonttribune.com/news/local/fremont-residents-recall-hotel-pathfinder-explosion/article_3f168106-1cd9-11e0-98e0-001cc4c002e0.html

 

Justia US Law. “Strong v. Nebraska Natural Gas Co., 476 F. Supp. 1170 (D. Neb. 1979).” 7-26-1979. Accessed 7-17-2017 at: http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/476/1170/1379006/

 

Lincoln Evening Journal, Linda Ulrich, NE. “4 Die, 50-100 Are Trapped in Fremont Pathfinder Blast.” 1-10-1976, p. 1. Accessed 7-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-evening-journal-jan-10-1976-p-1/?tag

 

Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8. Accessed 7-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-evening-journal-jan-13-1976-p-8/?tag

 

Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Pathfinder Tragedy. Gas Leak Outside Hotel Might Have Caused Blast.” 1-20-1976, p. 1. Accessed 7-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-evening-journal-jan-20-1976-p-1/?tag

 

Lincoln Journal Star. “12 of the deadliest disasters in Nebraska history.” 6-15-2017. Accessed 7-3-2017 at: http://journalstar.com/blogs/photofiles/of-the-deadliest-disasters-in-nebraska-history/collection_6ae50d55-7d8a-5b6f-b1c3-b0b54cfe84f0.html#8

 

Lincoln Star, NE. “12 Victims Identified.” 1-12-1976, p. 1. Accessed 7-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-star-jan-12-1976-p-1/?tag

 

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 (John Hall, Jr.). U.S. Unintentional Fire Death Rates by State. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 31 pages, December 2008.

 

National Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc. F.Y.I. – Fire Sprinkler Facts. Patterson, NY: NFSA, November 1999, 8 pages. Accessed at: http://www.firemarshals.org/data/File/docs/College%20Dorm/Administrators/F1%20-%20FIRE%20SPRINKLER%20FACTS.pdf

 

Omaha World-Herald (Paul Hammell) NE. “Forty years ago, a hotel explosion killed 20 and ‘changed the history of Fremont’.” 2-1-2016. Accessed 7-17-2017 at: http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/forty-years-ago-a-hotel-explosion-killed-and-changed-the/article_b6e5568e-c641-51ec-a965-f29b01241746.html

 

Rootsweb.ancestry.com. “Freemont Memorial Cemetery.” 2000. Accessed 7-17-2017 at: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nedodge/cemetery/memorial.txt

 

Sunday Journal and Star, Lincoln, NE. “12 Dead in Fremont Hotel Blast.” 1-11-1976, p. 1. Accessed 7-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-star-jan-11-1976-p-1/?tag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Columbus Telegram, NE. “Locate 17th, 18th bodies in Fremont.” 1-14-1976, p. 10.

[2] Was 28 according to: Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8. Article notes he was a dentistry graduate of the University of Nebraska.

[3] Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8.

[4] Fremont Tribune (Chris Zavadil). “Fremont residents recall Hotel Pathfinder explosion 35 years later.” 1-10-2011.

[5] Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8.

[6] Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8.

[7] Columbus Telegram, NE. “Locate 17th, 18th bodies in Fremont.” 1-14-1976, p. 10. Subsequent report notes he “had reportedly gone to the hotel in response to reports there was a small of natural gas in the area.”

[8] Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8.

[9] Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8.

[10] Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8.

[11] Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8; Justia US Law. “Strong v. Nebraska Natural Gas Co., 476 F. Supp. 1170 (D. Neb. 1979).”

[12] Middle initial from: Lincoln Evening Journal, NE. “Funerals Continue for Victims.” 1-13-1976, p. 8.