50 years ago: Two injured, food wasted when explosion rocks O’Fallon ham company

Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 100, 75, and 50 years ago.

100 years ago, March 12, 1925

A unique event, something new in the line of sales offerings, will be introduced in this city by Allen’s Store next Friday and Saturday.

The event will be known as a 95 cent sale, being on the order of a dollar sale, with the exception that instead of unusual dollar offerings they have made an additional cut of 5 cents to bring the items down to 95 cents.

A feature of the sale will be a “grab sale” in which visitors to the store pay 25 cents and receive a package in return, the contents of the parcel not being known to the purchaser. They assure that every package is worth far more than the price paid, in some instances being valued at $1.

Allen’s Store are staunch believers in printer’s ink and are advertising the event with a page ad on the back page of the Progress. Read it as they are offering unusual values on seasonable merchandise.

(Allen’s Store was located in a building next door to the east of present-day Wood Bakery on West First Street in O’Fallon. It was destroyed by fire in 1953.)

75 years ago, March 9, 1950

Fire Chief Elton Dressel, in the interests of life and property, issued a warning Monday which provides for more stringent observance of state laws by auto drivers when the department answers an alarm.

Although Chief Dressel in the past reminded motorists repeatedly that cars chasing the fire apparatus, excepting at a safe distance, is prohibited by state laws and he has been rather lenient in enforcement, it now becomes necessary to take a more stringent action by arrest and penalty.

The latest edict is the result of Sunday’s episode when the department was hampered twice in as many hours to get to a fire. In one case, the department was followed for a blaze west of the city in which “chasers” formed a line several miles long, one fellow being so close to the apparatus that the lives of firemen on the rear of the truck were endangered.

Added to this the department had difficulty in conveniently placing the apparatus when they reached the scene, caused by a traffic jam of “chasing” motorists. Chief Dressel pointed out that hampering the department in going to or at a fire is strictly prohibited by state law. “Chasing” after the apparatus is one of the most flagrant violations as it not only endangers the lives of the firemen but also delays the department in getting to the blaze, he added.

“Most of those racing to a fire don’t do it to be of assistance but merely from curiosity. Our firemen are capable in fighting a blaze. In case a fire is of such proportions that they need assistance they will call on another department of skilled firemen,” he said.

Another violation he directed attention to is that when the siren is sounded autoists or truckers are required to give the department the right-of-way by driving to the curb and stopping. Intersections should never be crossed until the apparatus has passed. In order that there will be no recurrence of Sunday’s incident, Chief Dressel warned that in future alarms, auto drivers, except those attached to the department, will be subject to arrest and penalties.

Under the law the chief of the department is empowered to make arrests and the filing of a complaint.

“Much as I dislike to take this step, it has become imperative in order to protect the lives of members of the O’Fallon volunteer fire department, as well as to get to the scene of a blaze in the shortest possible time,” he said.

“The department hopes that the public will govern themselves accordingly,” he concluded.

50 years ago, March 13, 1975

A powerful explosion ripped through the Nesbit Ham Company facilities at 318 W. Second St., Friday evening destroying the building and spoiling approximately $15,000 worth of prepared hams.

In the building when the explosion occurred at 9:30 p.m. were Ed Nesbit Jr., 35, and his son, Michael, 10. Michael was thrown out of the building while his father was trapped beneath an 800-pound compressor. Both were taken to Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor cuts and scratches and released that same evening.

Details as to what exactly happened were sketchy at first but a recent statement by Nesbit said he was doing some routine cleanup of the equipment in the rear of the building when the explosion occurred. Nesbit said all safety valves were on during the work.

O’Fallon Police Detective Dennis Sheldon said that Nesbit remembers cleaning around the smoking unit when a spark flew which could have ignited the explosion. Propane gas is used in the smoking units which Sheldon feels may have caused the explosion.

Illinois State Fire Marshal Bill Buxton was called to the scene Friday evening to inspect the damage and search for possible clues into the cause of the explosion which was felt many city blocks away. Damage estimates to the building are as high as $100,000 but O’Fallon Volunteer Fire Department Lt. Brad Carthy said estimates will take some time to get.

“We are not sure on what equipment is still usable,” Carthy said.

The Federal Food and Drug Administration was called in to inspect the hams which were damaged in the explosion. Most of the hams were declared spoiled and had to be disposed.

Nesbit said that operation will be resumed at the plant as soon as the insurance claim can be settled, the rubble cleared away and new equipment brought in.

The explosion ripped out the north wall where the smoker is located. The east wall crumbled and was blown out into a nearby parking lot and the roof collapsed over the rest of the wreckage. Parts of the roof and wall were found as far as 50 feet away from its origin. Concrete bricks had been strewn around the area like marshmallows and broken glass was thrown in every direction. The freezer unit in the middle of the building helped support a dividing wall and the west wall from also collapsing from the power of the explosion. There was little fire in the explosion.

The fire department said a minimum amount of water was used in putting out small fires. The 400-pound doors to the smokehouse were blown off their hinges and thrown through the building.

Firemen and police stayed on the scene through the night Friday and into Saturday waiting the arrival of federal alcohol, tobacco and firearms officials who inspected the rubble.

Sheldon said the inspection by the government officials is routine in explosion cases.

The explosion attracted many sightseers Friday and throughout the weekend even though the weather was very cold. Police had the immediate area roped off from close inspection by the public.

No damages were reported to the nearby Bi-State buses which park in a lot immediately east of the ham company. No home owners reported any damage to their homes from the explosion which rocked the area for blocks.