History
(Bobby Deblieux, our town historian, once again gives us something to think about
in this gripping article about the flood of 1945 and poses the question whether it
could happen again., especially given the present high waters in this whole section
of the country)
THE GREAT EXPLOSION
March 4th, 1965 started off in Natchitoches with a rather chilly
morning. Some of the early Spring flowers were beginning to bloom. Paul
Richardson, a student at Northwestern State College started his day very early and
was on his way to the Natchitoches Country Club to get things set up for a golf
tournament that was to begin at 9AM. The sky was clear and a deep blue. He
brought along his jacket just in case the weather did not warm up.
I was in my kitchen on Loren Street in East Natchitoches several miles from the
Country Club. I had just poured my first cup of coffee, and my wife and two
children were still asleep
Paul arrived at the Club at 6AM and walked to the front door. He placed his key in
the door lock at 6:03 and turned the key. The next thing he remembered was lying
on the ground on his back. All of the glass windows were blown out of the building,
and the sky was no longer blue but red.
Across highway was a small lane bordered by several houses.
Most of the occupants were still at home at such a early hour.
The windows at my home miles away shook! I immediately ran to my front yard and
looked to the west. What I witnessed was a mushroom cloud just like an atomic
explosion. All of the neighbors were in the street in disbelief. Was it an atomic blast.
I ran back inside to console the family. We turned on the local radio station, but the
announcer kept repeating there was a terrific blast in far West Natchitoches, but its
origin was unknown. Quickly sirens of every kind were heard rushing to the site.
It was quickly established that the explosion occurred at 6:03 AM
from the rupture of a 24 inch pipeline owned by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company.
All valves were quickly shut, but it still took over 30 minutes for the gas to bum it
self out.. Investigation of the blast, the largest disaster in the history of the natural
gas transmission industry, began immediately. Five homes and there occupants were
completely obliterated.
Forty three years have passed since this tragedy, and and I hope this reminder will
serve as a memorial to the victims. Many of their relatives still live in Natchitoches.
Those killed were Mrs. Ola Dean Barbo, 19, Sonya Barbo, 4, Sandra Elaine Barbo,2,
Donald Barbo Jr. eight months: J.R. Rond, 42: Mrs J.R. Rond,40, Charles Rond14,
Danny Rond,9, Louis Gilcrease,44, Mrs Willie Ammons, 28, David Eugene Ammons,
three months, Mrs Lawson Antley, 47, Jack Van Meter 32, Mrs Jack Van Meter, 23,
Ruthie Michelle Van Meter, 2, Melody Van Meter, 3, and Renee Van Meter, 6. May
they rest in peace.
For many years the street sign entering this area was called "EXPLOSION
ROAD"
in this gripping article about the flood of 1945 and poses the question whether it
could happen again., especially given the present high waters in this whole section
of the country)
THE GREAT EXPLOSION
March 4th, 1965 started off in Natchitoches with a rather chilly
morning. Some of the early Spring flowers were beginning to bloom. Paul
Richardson, a student at Northwestern State College started his day very early and
was on his way to the Natchitoches Country Club to get things set up for a golf
tournament that was to begin at 9AM. The sky was clear and a deep blue. He
brought along his jacket just in case the weather did not warm up.
I was in my kitchen on Loren Street in East Natchitoches several miles from the
Country Club. I had just poured my first cup of coffee, and my wife and two
children were still asleep
Paul arrived at the Club at 6AM and walked to the front door. He placed his key in
the door lock at 6:03 and turned the key. The next thing he remembered was lying
on the ground on his back. All of the glass windows were blown out of the building,
and the sky was no longer blue but red.
Across highway was a small lane bordered by several houses.
Most of the occupants were still at home at such a early hour.
The windows at my home miles away shook! I immediately ran to my front yard and
looked to the west. What I witnessed was a mushroom cloud just like an atomic
explosion. All of the neighbors were in the street in disbelief. Was it an atomic blast.
I ran back inside to console the family. We turned on the local radio station, but the
announcer kept repeating there was a terrific blast in far West Natchitoches, but its
origin was unknown. Quickly sirens of every kind were heard rushing to the site.
It was quickly established that the explosion occurred at 6:03 AM
from the rupture of a 24 inch pipeline owned by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company.
All valves were quickly shut, but it still took over 30 minutes for the gas to bum it
self out.. Investigation of the blast, the largest disaster in the history of the natural
gas transmission industry, began immediately. Five homes and there occupants were
completely obliterated.
Forty three years have passed since this tragedy, and and I hope this reminder will
serve as a memorial to the victims. Many of their relatives still live in Natchitoches.
Those killed were Mrs. Ola Dean Barbo, 19, Sonya Barbo, 4, Sandra Elaine Barbo,2,
Donald Barbo Jr. eight months: J.R. Rond, 42: Mrs J.R. Rond,40, Charles Rond14,
Danny Rond,9, Louis Gilcrease,44, Mrs Willie Ammons, 28, David Eugene Ammons,
three months, Mrs Lawson Antley, 47, Jack Van Meter 32, Mrs Jack Van Meter, 23,
Ruthie Michelle Van Meter, 2, Melody Van Meter, 3, and Renee Van Meter, 6. May
they rest in peace.
For many years the street sign entering this area was called "EXPLOSION
ROAD"