A newspaper photograph of spectators surveying the damage at the Dormar Manufacturing Company’s Gratz shirt factory, Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1952. The early evening fire caused $75,000 to $100,000 damage to the newest of two buildings and put from 100 to 170 people out of work.
These are some of the stories of the fire as reported by local and area newspapers:
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From the Sunbury Daily Item, June 13, 1952:
LOSS $100,000 IN SHIRT FACTORY FIRE AT GRATZ
Firemen From 10 Towns Prevent flames From Spreading To Town’s Business District
106 Temporarily Idle
Damage may exceed $100,000 in a disastrous fire at the Dormar Manufacturing Company in Gratz early Thursday evening. Max Reishman, New York City, owner of the shirt factory who arrived in Gratz at 1 a. m. today, said that it is still impossible to assess the loss, but he felt certain it would soar above $100,000.
The blaze destroyed the entire cutting and pressing building, which was more than 300 feet long and 50 feet wide, and all its contents. Also destroyed was the private garage of Claude Buffington, Gratz.
The fire was discovered by a custodian, Leroy Zerfing, who saw a room filled with smoke when he opened the door to the building about 5:30 p. m. , an hour after employees had left. Brisk winds helped the blaze along and presented a danger of fire reaching the Gratz business district. The burned-out building backs on to the Penn Furniture store in Gratz. The adjoining sewing department building, which is separated from the cutting and pressing building by an alley, was scorched, but did not catch fire.
Gratz firemen were first on the scene, and firemen from nine surrounding towns were quickly summoned. Assisting in quelling the blaze were companies from Pillow, Elizabethville, Halifax, Valley View, Lykens, Berrysburg, Millersburg, Klingerstown and Wiconisco.
Mr. Reishman said insurance would only partly cover the damage. The building was three years old. Twenty-eight persons are normally employed in the burned-out department, with 106 employed in the plant as a whole. No work was being done at the plant today. Mr. Reishman said temporary arrangements will be made to compete work on hand, and that he hoped arrangement to resume full operation could be made by next week.
Origin of the blaze, which was brought under control in about a half hour, is still undetermined.
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From the Philadelphia Inquirer, June 13, 1952:
SHIRT FACTORY SWEPT BY FLAMES
Special to The Inquirer
HARRISBURG, June 12 [1952] — More than 150 employees were thrown out of work tonight when fire swept the one-story frame Dormar Manufacturing Company, shirt makers, in Gratz, Upper Dauphin County.
The fire, discovered at 7 o’clock, burned for nearly two hours before firemen from nine towns in Dauphin, Northumberland and Schuylkill Counties could bring it under control. Gratz fire officials estimated total loss at $100,000. They said the plant was built two years ago.
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From the Pottsville Republican, June 13, 1952:
$75,000 FIRE DESTROYS GRATZ FACTORY LEAVING 170 JOBLESS
ONE OF TWO BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED IN 1950 WAS RUINED
Approximately 170 employees of Dormar Manufacturing Company, Gratz, are out of work as a result of a $75,000 fire which swept the plant Thursday night.
The firm, owned by Max Richman, New York, is composed of two buildings, one housing the cutting and pressing departments destroyed. The buildings were constructed two years ago with the one destroyed measiring approximately 30 by 300 feet. The roof of this building was burned off.
Richman said about 25 workers were employed in the burned structure but the entire plant would have to shut down. The owner said a rebuilding program will get underway immediately.
The exact location where the blaze started and its cause were unknown. Firemen from Valley View, Gratz, Hegins, Elizabethville, Berrysburg, Pillow, Lykens, Millersburg and Klingerstown battled the flames for over two hours before bringing the fire under control.
The fire is said to have been discovered by a John S. Reed, Gratz, who noticed smoke pouring from the building about 6:30 p. m.
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From the Lebanon Daily News, June 13, 1952 (Wire Service Story):
FLASH FIRE DAMAGES GRATZ PENNSYLVANIA FACTORY
GRATZ, Pennsylvania (AP) — A fire of undetermined origin flashed through the one-story Dormar Manufacturing Company last night causing damage estimated at $75,000.
Firemen from Gratz and nine other Upper Dauphin County communities fought the blaze for several hours. The two-year old building was leveled. The Dormar firm employs some 150 persons in the manufacturing of shirts. No one was reported injured.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, June 20, 1952:
$75,000 BLAZE DESTROYED NEW GRATZ SHIRT FACTORY
A $75,000 blaze completely destroyed the cutting and pressing factory building of the Dormar Manufacturing Company in Gratz early Thursday evening of last week.
Cause of the fire is not known. It was discovered at 6:30 in the evening by John S. Reed who lives near the factory.
The fire spread rapidly in the long, single story building and efforts of the firemen were confined to preventing the spread of the blaze to the nearby main factory buildings and homes. They did a very effective job in this respect.
At the time of the fire, the building contained approximately 100 large rolls of shirt material in addition to the building equipment.
Seventy-five persons were employed in the destroyed building. However, the loss of stock will curtail operation of the main building which employed approximately 100 persons.
The destroyed building was constructed about two years ago. Max Reishman, New York City, is the owner of the firm.
In addition to the Gratz Fire Company, fireman from Millersburg, Lykens, Wiconisco, Hegins, Valley View, Klingerstown, Pillow, Berrysburg and Elizabethville answered the alarm.
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From the Lykens Standard, June 19, 1952:
GRATZ SHIRT PLANT DESTROYED BY FIRE
Fire of undetermined origin early last Thursday evening destroyed the one-story shirt factory building of the Dormar Manufacturing Company, in Gratz, with a loss estimated at $75,000. The blaze was discovered about 6:30 P. M.
The building, erected two years ago, housed the cutting and pressing departments of the firm, and was owned by Max Reichman, of New York.
The sewing department of the plant, located in another building nearby, was not damaged.
A private garage on the property of Claude Buffington was also destroyed.
In addition to Gratz firemen, companies from Klingerstown, Elizabethville, Pillow, Berrysburg, Millersburg, Lykens, Wiconisco, Valley View, and Hegins were summoned.
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From the Shamokin News-Dispatch, June 13, 1952:
GRATZ FIRE CAUSES $75,000 DAMAGE
Fire of undetermined origin last night badly damaged the one-story Darmer Manufacturing Company plant at Gratz. The fire caused damage estimated at $75,000.
Firemen from Gratz, Hegins, Valley View, Klingerstown, Pillow, Berrysburg, Millersburg, Elizabethville, Wiconisco and Lykens fought the flames. The building adjoined the main shirt factory of the company.
Officials of the firm, owned by Max Reishman, New York, said approximately 100 bolts of cloth used to make shirts, considerable quantities of stock and equipment, and nearly 100 finished shirts were destroyed in the pressing and cutting room. A large number of shirts were removed from the building yesterday.
Firemen devoted their efforts to preventing the flames from spreading to the main factory building. The fire was discovered by John S. Reed, who lives near the plant, an hour after employees left the building.
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From the Harrisburg Patriot, June 13, 1952:
$75,000 BLAZE PERILS GRATZ SHIRT FACTORY
FIREMEN KEEP FLAMES FROM MAIN BUILDING
Fire of undetermined origin flashed through the one-story Darmer Manufacturing Company building, adjoining the main shirt factory at Gratz last night, causing an estimated loss of $75,000. Firemen from Gratz and nine other companies fought the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control.
About 100 large rolls of cloth used to make shirts, considerable quantities of stock and equipment and about 100 finished shirts were destroyed in the pressing room. Officials of the firm, owned by Max Reishman of New York, said a large order of shirts had been shipped out at the close of yesterday’s business.
Efforts were confined by the firemen in preventing the spread of the flames to the main factory. The burned building was built just two years ago at a cost of approximately $40,000, while the equipment was valued at $20,000, and the stock of cloth, boxes and paper at an additional $15,000.
John S. Reed, who lives near the shirt factory, discovered smoke pouring from the windows of the pressing and cutting room about 6:30 p. m., an hour after the 75 employees quit work for the day. He notified Charles M. Wise, steward at the Gratz Firehouse, who also summoned firemen from Hegins, Valley View, Klingerstown, Pillow, Berrysburg, Millersburg, Elizabethville, Wiconisco and Lykens.
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Photo from Pottsville Republican, June 13, 1952, vis Newspapers.com. News articles from Newspapers.com. Harrisburg Patriot article from Readex, an on-line service of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.