Graham Manufacturing

 

New-Democrat                                             Thursday, January 28, 1971

 

 

55 Left Jobless at Plant

 

$100,000 Fire At Auburn Destroys Most Of Graham Manufacturing

 

Officials are investigating a fire that destroyed 75 per cent of Graham Manufacturing Company at Auburn early Wednesday morning.


According to reports, the blaze started sometime around 4:45 a.m. in the machine shop-cabinet shop area in one of two Quonset type buildings.

The fire completely destroyed that building and spread to the second structure, destroying about 25 per cent of the building.
Frank Weaver, owner and president of the company which employees 65 persons, estimated the loss of $100,000. With production shut down, 55 of his workers will have to be laid off, Weaver said.

 

Residents near the company located at the west edge of Auburn reported hearing an explosion.

 

Several cans of glue were in the cabinet shop but Weaver said these were not of the explosive type. Officials are trying to determine if there was an explosion or if the fire was the work of an arsonist.

 

Weaver reported the company has insurance but it will not cover the entire loss, since furniture was being stored in the building that was completely destroyed.

 

The other building contained rough lumber and saws. Graham manufacturing produces institutional and church furniture.

 

The blaze was brought under control at about 6:30 a.m. Firefighters from the Auburn Rural Fire Department and Franklin braved 15-degree weather to battle the blaze.

 

This is the second major fire in Logan County this month with some type of explosion involved.

 

Police are still trying to learn what caused the fire and explosion at the Logan Theater in Russellville earlier this month.