Fire Hits Coshocton Plant; Loss Figured at $250,000

(Special to The Signal).

COSHOCTON, O. - The James W. Clow and Sons Foundry, major Coshocton industry, was swept by fire this morning, throwing 450 men out of work.

Manager Thomas Ripley estimated damage at "more than a quarter million dollars." He explained that one latne, valued at $30,000, was badly damaged, if not destroyed.

The fire was discovered by a workman in the storekeeper's office at 2 o'clock. It spread rapidly and engulfed the machine shop, where it was fed by oil and grease.

The foundry is located just south of the city. The firm makes cast iron pipe.

Although the fire was confined mainly to the store room and machine shop of the 40-acre plant, smoke continued to pour from the debris late this morning.

Ripley estimated it would be a month before the plant would be put back into operation.

It was the city's second quarter-million dollar fire within two months. The Park hotel was hit by the other costly blaze.

The Clow firm has headquarters in Chicago and plants in Newcomerstown, Birmingham, Ala., Waterford, N. Y., and Oskaloosa, Ia.

The Zanesville Signal, Zanesville, OH 4 Apr 1947
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Transcribed by Tim Taugher. Thanks, Tim!