Our Past Is Present August 8, 2018

August 8, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Thanks to Scott Brown, who listens to this program for sharing an article, which was published in the “Junction City Union” in 1919.  The title of the article was “Four Burned In Explosion”.  This is some of what was written in the article:

            ”Pat” Fogelstrom, 5 years of age and Donald Stephens, 11, were accidentally burned last evening when the gasoline tank on a Studebaker touring car belonging to C.A. Fogelstrom exploded.  The accident occurred in the storage yard just west of the Fogelstrom Blacksmith Shop on Seventh and Adams Streets.  According to the stories the boys, Donald Stephens, “Pat” Fogelstrom and “Billy” Brown, 6 years old,  were in the rear seat of the car.  The cap of the gasoline tank had been off ever since Mr. Fogelstrom purchased the car some months ago.  One of the boys either held a lighted match to the opening or threw the match into the tank.

            The force of the explosion threw the top of the car, which was down , over onto the Stephens, Fogelstrom and Brown boys, imprisoning them in the blazing car.  Louis Volkman, who lives on Eighth Street just across from the Blacksmith Storage Yard, was one of the first to reach the burning car and pulled out Billy Brown and Donald Stephens through a hole in the top.  The Brown boy was slightly burned about the face and ears.  The hair on the back of his neck was singed off.

            Pat Fogelstrom was pulled from the car by Howard Montgomery.  Pat was terribly burned about his face and hands and his condition was serious.  Mr. Fogelstrom was burned about his legs when his clothing caught fire as he attempted to pull his son from the car.”

            There was speculation as to how this explosion happened, however, there was no evidence included in the article to that resolve.  Well…. Thanks for reading today and if you have stories to share, please drop them by our Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets. Because as we say… “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.