Accident at South Fayette chemical plant shook region in 1918

There were no World War I battles in Western Pennsylvania, yet about 200 people lost their lives in South Fayette nearly 90 years ago during a wartime effort.

Several explosions destroyed the Aetna Chemical Co.'s manufacturing plant near Oakdale on May 18, 1918, killing employees and damaging homes, land and businesses.

The plant was making the explosive, TNT, for the war effort. The plant was located about a quarter of a mile from Oakdale.

"We had a lot of damage here," Oakdale Mayor Ross Rohbeck said. "The explosion came down the valley, broke windows out and everything."

Thousands of people rushed to the scene, clogging roads and causing additional mayhem, newspaper accounts reported. As bodies filled a temporary morgue, thousands funneled through to view the victims and check for relatives.

The explosions damaged property for miles, searing the ground and vegetation, blasting windows from homes and damaging businesses. Chimneys were knocked off roofs. Plaster was jolted from walls. Storefronts were shattered.

New glass was shipped from Pittsburgh by the truckload, according to the accounts.

A four-sided monument was erected by the company at the Oakdale Cemetery that reads: "Their lives were devoted to the manufacture of materials necessary to the United States in the prosecution of the war against Germany. Like soldiers they died in their country's service. The identified repose in this place."

Some victims could not be identified ,and the monument is in their honor, Rohbeck said.

Oakdale celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1992 and created a history book. Rohbeck and his wife helped write the book, which included an account of the accident.

Additional Information:

Pitt Fact

Who was the county coroner in 1918 who handled the 200 victims of the Aetna Chemical Company explosion?

A) John Kane

B) Samuel Jamison

C) William S. Haddock

D) Edward V. Babcock

Answer: B.