On This Day 'Mountainville Inn' Blew Up

On Sunday, December 14, 1958 spectators began gathering at the corners of 5th & Emmaus Avenue just past midnight after an explosion rocked the 'Mountainville Inn' 15 minutes earlier on a Saturday night. About 30 employees and patrons escaped the building and started to gather with neighbors across the street who were awakened and came outside to watch despite the 10 degree temperatures.



Photo Credit: B Smith (Posted on June 12 2009)

About 15 minutes after the first came a second explosion. More destructive then then the one prior. It killed 6 and injured 24 in the crowd of approximately 50 who had gathered. Spectators estimated the roof was blown 20 feet into the air while a couple of bystanders were tossed over a 4 foot high hedge where they'd been standing. One of the dead was a 29 year old newspaper photographer for the Morning Call.

This second explosion was then followed by several small fires ignited by splintered gas lines beneath the streets.

The building was rebuilt shortly after. More recently it was known to many as 'Jelly Beans Musical Jam' and now as 'Strange Brew Tavern'

SOURCE: GenDisasters.com

On November 29, 1998 Frank Whelan wrote a piece for The Morning Call which goes into greater detail.