BAD FIRE NARROWLY AVERTED AT G. F. PLANT (1926)

CHASE, GODWIN

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 11/29/2010 at 21:42:35

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Mar. 18, 1926, pg. 1
BAD FIRE NARROWLY
AVERTED AT G. F. PLANT

---------

A fire which threatened to totally
destroy the G. F. Manufacturing Co.'s
plant was narrowly averted yesterday
by the prompt action of workmen.

An employee started to light a cig-
aret when the head of the match flew
into a bucket of oil which is used in
the paint department. In an instant
the flames were started. Roy Chase (1896-1948)
carried the pail from the building and
threw it over the fence, a short dis-
tance to the south and as it left his
hand the liquid scattered over a large
territory, the whole ground being
ablaze. This was near a large num-
ber of barrels filled with creosote and
for a time it looked like the whole
plant would be wiped out as the entire
yard at the plant is covered with fin-
ished houses and materials. Luckily
however, the united efforts of work-
men, using their clothing as beaters,
and a plentiful supply of sawdust ex-
tinguished the blaze before any dam-
age was done. Now smoking is taboo
at the G. F. plant, which is a wise pre-
caution.

Note: In 1926, the G. F. Manufacturing Co. was owned by Tom Godwin. The plant began manufacturing "Kozy" brooder houses in 1923 in Exira. In 1925, due to the volume of business, a new factory was built in Exira, employing 25 builders and 5 office staff.