In the heart of Missouri, the small town of West Plains carries a history marked by a catastrophic event that not only claimed lives but also left an indelible scar on the community. This article delves into the tragic explosion that occurred on April 13, 1928, decimating the Bond Dance Hall and altering the course of West Plains' history forever. Through detailed examination, this piece explores the events leading up to the disaster, its immediate aftermath, the community's response, and the lingering mysteries that remain unsolved to this day.
On the evening of April 13, 1928, the Bond Dance Hall, a popular local venue, was alive with anticipation and the youthful energy of around fifty attendees. The hall, located on the second floor of a brick building on East Main Street, was a central hub for social gatherings, offering a space for dance, music, and the joyous camaraderie of the town's younger population.
The Bond Dance Hall's significance extended beyond a mere entertainment venue; it was a symbol of the communal spirit of West Plains. With its spacious interior and lively atmosphere, it provided a perfect backdrop for the social life of the town's youth. The hall was situated above the Wiser Motor Co. garage, which housed used cars and possibly hazardous materials, unknowingly setting the stage for disaster.
April 13, a date now synonymous with bad luck, lived up to its reputation in the most tragic manner. The evening began like any other, with the dance band playing popular tunes of the era, and couples swaying on the dance floor, lost in the music and each other. The band, deciding to extend their set, chose "At Sundown" for their final number before the scheduled intermission. This decision, seemingly innocuous, would later be remembered as the last moment of normalcy before chaos ensued.
As the band played and the dancers moved in rhythm, there was no indication of the impending disaster. The air was filled with the sounds of music, laughter, and the shuffling of feet on the wooden floor. The hall, lit by the soft glow of early electric lights, offered a warm refuge from the dark night outside. The attendees, mostly young people, were immersed in the joy of the moment, unaware that their lives and their community were about to be changed forever.
Below the dance hall, the Wiser Motor Co. garage harbored conditions ripe for catastrophe. Used cars, possibly leaking gasoline, and other flammable materials were stored within its walls. The exact trigger for the explosion remains a mystery, but it is believed that something within this garage ignited, leading to the devastating blast that would tear through the dance hall above, leaving destruction in its wake.
The prelude to the tragedy of the Bond Dance Hall explosion was a confluence of ordinary moments and routine decisions that culminated in an extraordinary disaster. The night began with the promise of enjoyment and ended in unimaginable horror. This section of history serves as a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the unforeseen dangers that can lurk within the most benign settings. As we delve deeper into the events of that night and its aftermath, the memory of those lost and the resilience of those who survived continue to shape the narrative of West Plains and its community.
At approximately 11:05 p.m., the Bond Dance Hall and the small town of West Plains, Missouri, were forever changed. An explosion of immense force erupted from the Wiser Motor Co. garage located directly beneath the dance hall. This devastating event occurred without warning, transforming a scene of youthful exuberance and communal joy into one of chaos and tragedy in mere moments.
The explosion's impact was catastrophic, with the force powerful enough to obliterate three brick buildings, including the dance hall itself, reducing them to rubble. The shockwave shattered windows across Court Square, sending shards of glass flying into the night, adding to the pandemonium and danger for those nearby. The blast was so intense that it was felt miles away from the epicenter, with reports of residents in surrounding areas hearing the explosion and mistaking it for an earthquake or a distant thunderstorm.
In the immediate aftermath, the dance hall, once a place of laughter and music, was engulfed in flames and smoke, casting an eerie glow over the disaster scene. Survivors, dazed and injured, emerged from the ruins, while others were trapped under debris, calling out for help in the darkness. The community was thrust into emergency mode, with rescuers, including townsfolk and emergency personnel, rushing to the scene to assist the victims.
The human cost of the explosion was staggering. Thirty-seven people were initially reported dead, most of whom were young attendees of the dance, their lives cut short in an instant. The death toll would later rise to 39, as one more victim succumbed to their injuries in the days following the tragedy. The severity of the explosion meant that half of those who perished were beyond recognition, their identities obscured by the flames and the force of the blast.
The search for survivors was frantic and fraught with danger. The collapsed structure posed a significant risk to rescuers, who navigated through unstable rubble and intense heat to reach those trapped. Amidst the confusion, the community came together in a desperate effort to save as many lives as possible, showcasing remarkable bravery and solidarity in the face of unimaginable adversity.
What caused the explosion remained a mystery, compounded by the complexity of the scene and the extent of the destruction. Initial speculations centered around the garage's contents, including stored gasoline and used cars, which could have created a volatile environment prone to ignition. Despite extensive investigations and numerous theories, a definitive cause was never determined, leaving the tragedy shrouded in mystery and speculation.
The magnitude of the tragedy prompted a communal outpouring of grief and solidarity. Services held in every church town-wide mourned the victims, both known and unknown, culminating in a massive funeral attended by an estimated 7,000 people. This event, reflective of the tight-knit nature of the community, saw the unidentified dead laid to rest in Oak Lawn Cemetery, under a monument that serves as a somber reminder of the lives lost.
Despite extensive investigations and the formulation of numerous theories, the cause of the explosion remains a mystery. Speculation has ranged from gasoline stored in the garage to deliberate acts of sabotage, yet no conclusive evidence has ever been presented. This unresolved aspect of the tragedy adds a layer of intrigue and sorrow, as the lack of closure continues to haunt West Plains.
The explosion claimed the lives of individuals from various walks of life, each with their own story. Among the identified were business owners, students, veterans, and musicians, painting a picture of a community diverse in its composition but united in tragedy. The unidentified victims, represented by a collective monument, remind us of the personal stories lost to history.
The explosion left a physical and emotional scar on West Plains, prompting changes to the town's infrastructure and communal psyche. Buildings were destroyed, the courthouse was condemned, and the townspeople were left to rebuild not just their town but their sense of security. The incident also propelled West Plains into the national consciousness, forever altering the town's identity.
Today, the Bond Dance Hall explosion is a poignant part of West Plains' heritage. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength of community in the face of tragedy. The town has worked to preserve the memory of those lost, ensuring that this chapter of history, though painful, is not forgotten.
The Bond Dance Hall explosion of 1928 is a tragic event that encapsulates the unpredictability of life and the resilience of the human spirit. As West Plains continues to remember and honor those affected by the tragedy, the mystery of what happened on that fateful night remains, a somber reminder of our search for understanding in the face of inexplicable loss. Though the years have passed, the impact of the explosion on the community of West Plains is indelible, a testament to the town's capacity for remembrance and renewal in the aftermath of tragedy.
The Identified Deceased:
• Mary Katherine “Kitty” McFarland – 31, proprietor or McFarland Undertaking Company, widow of Ray McFarland, mother of 12-year-old Jack.
• Robert G. Martin – 54, Ford dealer, Masonic leader, West Plains, husband of Soula Gaines Martin, cosponsor of the dance.
• Mrs. R.G. Martin – head of McFarland Undertaking Co.
• Elbert White – 19, a singer, at the Presbyterian Church in Doniphan, member of the National Guard, died one week after explosion, son of Mrs. E.N. White of Doniphan.
• Paul Evans, Jr. – 23, single, University of Missouri graduate, dairy farmer, son of Dr. Paul Evans (state horticulturist), West Plains.
• Charles Fisher – 20, single, student at Kirksville Teachers College, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Fisher of Ava, Mo.
• Major Bob Mullins – 34, overseas veteran of World War I, officer in 140th NGM, commission and storage man.
• J.W. Wiser – 46, West Plains, owner of Wiser Motors Company, husband of Carla Wiser.
• John Bates – 20, single, studied civil engineering, at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, son of Reverend J.F.E. Bates, Methodist minister, West Plains.
• Naomi Reeves Mullins – 19, pregnant wife of Carl Mullins.
• Charles Merk – 17, high school student, son of Arnold Merk, contractor, West Plains.
• Jullius C. Jeffrey – single, Mammoth Spring, Ark.
• Carl Jackson – 19, single, high school senior, Mtn. Grove, artistically gifted, buried in double funeral with friend Charles Fisher.
• Soula “Dimple” Martin – 21, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Martin, crushed by the piano she had been playing.
• Lev Reed – 26, head of legal department of Reed-Harlin Grocer Company, owned by his father John R. Reed.
• Hazel Slusser – 23, single schoolteacher from Willow Springs, daughter of H.T. Slusser, retired newspaper editor.
• Ben Jolly – 68, painter and employee of McFarland Undertaking Company.
• Clinton Clemmons – 23, single, worked at Davis Grocery, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.D. Clemmons, secondhand dealers, West Plains.
• Mabel Daum Riley – 25, wife of Esco Riley, Blythesville, Ark.
The Unidentified Deceased:
• Miss Mary Adair – 17, single, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Adair, West Plains.
• Miss Frances Drago – 22, single, manager of Western Union, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Drago.
• Susan Rogers – 19, wife of Wallace Rogers, Emporia, Kan., mother of 1-year-old, daughter Patricia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Drago, West Plains.
• Robert Murphy – 30, Springfield, owner of Murphy Tire Company, son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Murphy, husband of Nellie Murphy.
• Nellie Murphy – 24, wife of Robert Murphy. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pleas “Dutch” James, West Plains.
• Miss Ruth Fisher – 18, single, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Fisher, West Plains. Ruth was attending her first public dance.
• Marvin Hill – 19, member of National Guard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hill, West Plains.
• Evelyn Conkin – 20, single, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Houston Conkin of Kansas City, sweetheart of Mo Ashley, cousin of Lev Reed, niece of Mayor Jim Harlin.
• Esco Riley – 27, head of sales at Allen Grocery, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Riley of West Plains, husband of Mabel Daum Riley.
• Newton Riley – 20, single, member of the National Guard, worked at Allen Grocery, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Riley of West Plains.
• Miss Icy Risner – 23, single, elementary school teacher in Thayer, daughter of J. Willard Risner of Thayer.
• Boyd Garner – 21, Mammoth Spring, Ark.
• Carson McLelland – 25, single, state highway department employee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wellington McLelland, Chapin.
• Chester Holstein – 22, son of J.F. Holstein, Ava. Chester was playing the saxophone at the time of the explosion.
• Miss Beatrice Barker – 17, single, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I.B. Barker of Mtn. Grove.
• Miss Juanita Laws – 27, single, Kansas City, visiting her parents in Cabool.
• Miss Ruby Hodkinson – 22, Kansas City, married to Clifford Hodkinson, mother of a 3-year-old son, visiting her cousin in Cabool.
• James Loven – 22, single, Mammoth Spring, Ark.
• Hugh Sams – 19, member of National Guard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sid J. Sams, West Plains.
The Injured:
• H.C. (Lum) Allen – grocery merchant; severe burns on face, hands, and back; leg crushed from ankle to knee.
• Dail Allen – son of H.C. Allen, musician; internal injuries; broken collarbone; severe cuts and bruises on back.
• Garrett McBride – of McBride Drug Co.
• Mrs. Garnett McBride – wife of Garrett McBride, three fractured vertebrae; ankle fracture.
• Carl Mullins – son of local produce dealer, musician; eye and hip injury; fractured ribs.
• Boyd Gray – from Moody, brother of Mrs. Fitchett; sprained ankle; burns on face and hands.
• Mo Ashley – son of J.D. Ashley, local wholesale grocery dealer; burns, cuts, and bruises.
• William Fitchett – West Plains Glass Company; severe hip injury.
• Mrs. William Fitchett – hip, knee, and ankle injuries; head wound; no burns.
• Glenn Moore – local baseball player, employee of Reed-Harlin mercantile; crushed left arm; burns on hands and face.
• E.D. White – 17, from Doniphan, employee of Laird Plumbing Company; burns on hand and face.
• David S. White – from Doniphan. Brother of E.D. white, they ran a bus line between West Plains and Poplar Bluff.
• Fred Archer – from Mtn. Grove; burns on right hand, arm, and foot; crushed ankle.
• Charles Unger – from Cabool; crushed left leg; burns on right foot, hand, and face.
• Charles Stockdall – high school senior from Mtn. Grove; burns on hands, face, and feet; both ankles sprained.
• Ralph Langston, Jr. – local high school athlete and grandson of T.J. Langston of the Langston-Pease Mercantile Co; severe burns on hands and face; only victim treated at Cottage Hospital.
• Ernestine Cunningham – from Willow Springs; severe burns, rescued from fire by Glen Moore.
• Lewis Acuff – employee of Hull Grocery and Market; severe burns on face, hands, and arm; left ankle broken and dislocated.
• Guy Wilson – high school athlete and son of Joe Wilson, West Plains; suffered cuts, bruises and burns.
• John Riley – son of Con Riley, West Plains; burns on face and hands.
• Elton White – employee of Laird Plumbing Co.
• Roy Crain – employee of Bohrer Drug Store; bruises on face, hand, and legs; severe cuts over entire body.
Deceased after fire:
• Elbert White – 19, a singer, at the Presbyterian Church in Doniphan, member of the National Guard, died one week after explosion, son of Mrs. E.N. White of Doniphan.
