From the archives: the Maple propane explosion
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Learn more about the
city’s history from the Vaughan Archives
From the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle
Island, to a farmland community, to a bustling city centre and everything in
between – Vaughan’s transformation is a story worth telling. As part of a
monthly series, the City of Vaughan is releasing historical content from the Vaughan
Archives, Office of the City Clerk. Citizens are encouraged to scroll through
memory lane, learn about the city’s past and explore the places, people and
events that were pivotal to the development of the city of Vaughan we know today.
This month, the City is highlighting the history of the Maple propane explosion.
On Aug. 4, 1962, a massive explosion at Superior Propane Ltd. rocked the
village of Maple, killing one man and injuring others. Herbert Joslin, who
worked for the company as a stock clerk, had made a heroic attempt to stop gas
from escaping from a tank truck in the storage yard, but was unable to do so
before the explosion occurred. Sadly, he
lost his life in the process.
The three remaining tanks left standing in the yard could have blown at any
time, and, as a result, were left to burn out as a precaution. Maple Fire and
Police Chief James Davidson said, “There is still a lot of danger and all we
can do is sit and wait for them to burn out or blow up.” Officials feared that
if another tank exploded, the damage would be even greater because the already
devastated houses in the area would not be able to provide a cushion from
another shock wave.
Following the explosion, police blocked off all entrances in the danger
zone and no one was allowed in except fire officials. The investigators
determined that the first blast originated in the north-east section of the
plant where a railway car had been unloaded, and another was waiting to be
off-loaded.
The original blast destroyed the $250,000 Superior Propane plant, as
well as six neighbouring homes and additional homes were deemed unfit to live
in. The explosion also forced the evacuation of approximately 25 more homes due
to the fires, with the total cost of the damages exceeding $500,000.
Following the explosion, Vaughan Township Council sent a committee to
every home that had been damaged by the explosion. Reeve (Mayor) Albert
Rutherford said that once the extent of the damage had been determined, they
would decide what was needed to help those who had been left homeless. During
the Council meeting following the blast, Council decided that they would allow
Superior Propane to rebuild in Maple. They also requested a moment of silence
for Herbert Joslin who was “a good friend and member of the community who gave
his life for the municipality.”
ABOUT VAUGHAN ARCHIVES
Established in 1988,
the City of Vaughan
Archives
is home to more than 600 collections, consisting of both City records and cultural
records about Vaughan from 1860 to present day. Records include, but are not
limited to, the following:
- City business records with long-term legal and administrative value, such as Council meeting minutes, by-laws, assessment rolls, financial records, reports and official correspondence
- church, community and school records
- census records
- historical photographs
- land records
- historical maps, plans and aerial photographs
- newspapers
- personal papers of past residents and founding families, such as diaries, family histories, journals and letters
- records of local organizations both past and present
VIEW VAUGHAN’S ARCHIVES
ONLINE!
As part of the City's
COVID-19 response, Vaughan City Hall remains closed to the public – but the
City’s Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below
galleries are now available in the City’s online gallery on Flickr:
- Featured Artists of Vaughan
- Historical Families of Vaughan
- Historical Figures: Lord Beaverbrook
- Historical Photography
- Recollections of Rural Vaughan
- The Mary Wood Collection
- The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan’s Past
- Vaughan Working Environments
- Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine
- Vaughan Through the Ages: Music
- Vaughan Through the Ages: Sports and Recreation
- Stories of Remembrance
- Vaughan’s Forgotten Heroes
- Early Churches of Vaughan
- Historical Schools of Vaughan
A
personal Flickr account is not required to access the City’s online gallery,
which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you
are looking for a certain image, original file, primary source record or more, contact
the Vaughan Archives by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca.
By managing and
preserving both City and community records, the Enterprise Information
Management Services team ensures that Vaughan’s rich and varied history will
continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.
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