Building Collapses, 1908

PENNIWELL, PICKERING

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/4/2017 at 13:17:00

The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, August 20, 1908, Page 1

Building Collapsed.

Last Friday, just before noon, the frame building standing in the street just south of the Exchange National Bank, which was moved there to make room for Penniwell's new brick block, collapsed in a heap, and Frank Pickering, who was working with J. F. Penniwell in demolishing the building, was caught when the building fell, being buried under the debris and for a few minutes it was thought he had been killed, but he miraculously escaped with some severe bruises.

Mr. Penniwell had taken out the glass front and torn the roof off and as the building was pertty old, it was weak and a gust of wind made it topple over. Mr. Pickering was working inside the building, being up on a ladder taking off ceiling when he noticed the building shaking and although he jumped from the ladder and tried to reach the door he could not escape. He had presence of mind to throw himself between the joists as the building fell and the lath broke some of the force of the timbers. He was knocked flat on the floor and the roof and part of one side was on top of him.

Mr. Penniwell was just outside the building and he rushed to his assitance being joined by others and the injured man was pulled out of the wreckage. All the wind had been knocked out of him and he was stunned, but was able to walk home and returned to work in the afternoon but his body is black and blue in large spots.

All the glass taken from the front had been placed inside the building so it would not be broken and this was all crushed. The damage aside from the broken glass was merely nominal.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2016