Collections Item Detail - Hoboken Historical Museum

B+W photos, 2, of ruins from fire at Condenser Service & Engineering Corporation, Hoboken, Dec.14, 1940.

Photograph

DescriptionBlack-and-white photos, two, of burned-out factory of Condenser Service & Engineering Corporation (12th or 13th & Adams or Grand Streets?), Hoboken, December 14, 1940. 7" x 9" wide prints. Photographs taken by Acme Newspictures ( New York, N.Y. Reverse dated file inkstamp: Ref.[Reference] Dept. 12-20 '40, N.E.A. [Newspaper Editors Association] Also applied mimeographed caption. Address of the company has not been established. A published article (see notes) refers to Public Service Gas & Electric gas tanks across the street - they occupied the full block between Twelfth and Thirteen Streets from Clinton to Grand Streets. A press photo. Photo 1: a wide view; note ladder leaning on the building at the upper right Photo 2: note firemen on the ladder seen in photo 1 Text of caption on photo 1 (which is the same on photo 2): 585543 (OH) PLANT WORKING ON DEFENSE ORDERS SWEPT BY FIRE HOBOKEN, N.J. -- The block-long Condenser and Engineering Company plant here, after a fire had swept the building early today, destroying intricate equipment, causing damage estimed at $1,000,000 and killing the night watchman. The plant, which turns out marine turbines and condensers, was filling contracts for the U.S. and British governments. One hundred skilled works will be unemployed for some time as a result of the blaze, which was caused by a short circuit. CREDIT LINE (ACME) 12/14/40 ==== ==== Note: company remained in Hoboken for a number of years after the fire with known addresses of 95 River Street (Steneck Building offices) and another for a facility at 150 Observer Highway (that would have been Ferry Street before 1942.)

Entry/Object ID

2014.001.0056

Acquisition

Accession

2014.001

Source or Donor

Purchase

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Credit Line

Museum Collections.

Made/Created

Artist

Acme Newspictures

Date made

1940

Place

Location

Hoboken

Dimensions

Height

7 in

Width

9 in

General Notes

Note

Notes: Text of a typical published article based on Associated Press copy. The Daily Mail, Hagerstown, Md., Saturday, December 14, 1940. Vol. CXII. No. 296. Page 1 headline and article with continuation on page 12. ==== Fire Destroys Big Hoboken Plant Active in Defense Work Flash Near Ceiling Seen Before Blaze Factory Made Turbines, Condensers, Etc. for Ships Hoboken, N.J. Dec. 14 (AP) - Fire early today destroyed the plant of the Condenser Service and Engineering corporation, active in National defense orders, with a loss estimated at $100,000 to $1,000,000. One man was killed. The dead man was tentatively identified as George Jacobs, of Jersey City, night watchman, was[sic - who] discovered the fire with four other workmen, comprising the night shift at the plant. The other men said Jacobs had apparently been going back in to that part of the office to obtain papers and was trapped by the flames. His body was found near the office. Olaf Anderson, of North Bergen, plant executive, estimated the loss at $1,000,000, including valuable wood patterns and specially built machines being constructed to fill defense orders. H.C. Evans, company treasurer, said the million-dollar estimate was "much to high - about one-tenth of that." The company built turbines, condensers and other equipment for steamships. The plant was a one and two-story building spreading over half a city square. The men working the time said that they saw a flash near the ceiling shortly after 2 a.m. and the ceiling became a blaze. With Jacobs, they fought the fire but when it got beyond their control they turned in the alarm. The flames spread rapidly thru the building, destroying the wooden patterns and a wood and tarpaper roof. Fire Chief John J. Gilday said his men were hampered by the presence of oxygen and aceytelene[sic] tanks, but no injuries were reported. He sounded a second alarm. The fire was brought under control at about 6:15 a.m. Streams of water had to be played on a large public service gas and electric company gas tanks across the street from the plant to prevent overheating. The plant, located in Hoboken about nine years, employed approximately 300 men. Working with Jacobs on the night shift were Paul Graetz and Maurice Straube of Jersey City, August Morris of West New York and Harry Hill of New York. ==== ==== Original or Copy: Original Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2014-01-30