1953 Gas Explosion
On January 27, 1953, an explosion caused
by a natural gas leak killed ten people
and destroyed five buildings on the
northern half of this block. The five
buildings destroyed were Platt's Drug Store,
the Jones Electric Company (the site of
the explosion), R.W. McCreary's, the
Diana Shop, and Liles Drug Company (the
former site of Hahn Grocery for many years).
The Holley Building and the others to the
south, sustained damage, but survived the
blast. The ten local citizens (nine from
Aiken and one from Graniteville) killed
in the accident are here remembered.
They are David O. Rutland, Emille C.
McCarter, John C. Watson, Charles
Nelson Long, Mrs. W.M. Duncan, John
Henry "Jack" Neibling, "Bubba" Mosley,
Jack Holley, Ruth Madry, and Mae Weeks.
Marker is on Laurens Street SW south of Richland Avenue W, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
