Hotel Pathfinder through my grandparents' camera lens - 36 years ago

By Chad Kluck on

The Hotel Pathfinder explosion occurred 36 years ago, on January 10, 1976. Last year I added some information about that tragic day in Fremont, Nebraska history. This past year I acquired my grandparents' collection of photos taken that day which I had mentioned in the 2011 post. I have no more text to add from last year but I think the pictures speak for themselves. They certainly do to me.

I don't know which of my grandparents took these pictures, or why they were downtown that day. I believe I see my grandfather's green pick-up in the photo of glass on the sidewalk and people's feet. He worked at the lumberyard downtown so he might have been working that Saturday morning and drove over after the explosion, or he may have driven in from elsewhere as the event was felt almost all over Fremont.

The scene in downtown Fremont, Nebraska, the morning of January 10, 1976:

Photo of Sidewalk littered with glass at people's feet
Sidewalk littered with glass after Hotel Pathfinder explosion. I believe that is my grandfather's green pick-up truck in the background. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of Sidewalk littered with glass at people's feet
Photo of a large plume of smoke a block down the street
Pathfinder Explosion View from 6th and Main. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of a large plume of smoke a block down the street
Photo of hotel from across the street looking up. Smoke fills the frame, brick hotel barely visible.
Pathfinder engulfed in smoke - view from 6th and Broad. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of hotel from across the street looking up. Smoke fills the frame, brick hotel barely visible.
Photo of hotel from the street looking up. Smoke fills the frame, brick hotel barely visible.
Pathfinder engulfed in smoke - view from 6th and Broad. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of hotel from the street looking up. Smoke fills the frame, brick hotel barely visible.
Photo of firefighters spraying water on the hotel engulfed in flame. Bystanders are watching.
Pathfinder Explosion: Firefighers on Broad Street. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of firefighters spraying water on the hotel engulfed in flame. Bystanders are watching.
Photo of multiple firefighters battling the fire. Half a dozen hoses are spread across the street littered with brick and debris. Windows are blown out of neighboring buildings. Bystanders are watching.
Pathfinder Explosion from 6th and Broad Street. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of multiple firefighters battling the fire. Half a dozen hoses are spread across the street littered with brick and debris. Windows are blown out of neighboring buildings. Bystanders are watching.
Photo of two firefighters on top of a crushed car in front of hotel as they use a hose to dowse the flames. Smoke rises from the hotel. A flame can be seen coming up from the sidewalk. Windows blown out of the Pathfinder Antique shop next door.
Pathfinder Explosion Looking from 6th and Park. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of two firefighters on top of a crushed car in front of hotel as they use a hose to dowse the flames. Smoke rises from the hotel. A flame can be seen coming up from the sidewalk. Windows blown out of the Pathfinder Antique shop next door.
Photo of large, brick, multi-story hotel engulfed in smoke
Pathfinder Explosion Looking from 6th and Park. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of large, brick, multi-story hotel engulfed in smoke
Photo of large, brick, multi-story hotel engulfed in smoke. Dozens of bystanders watch.
Pathfinder Explosion Looking from 6th and Park. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of large, brick, multi-story hotel engulfed in smoke. Dozens of bystanders watch.
Photo of view looking between the back of a van and fire truck. Lots of smoke. Flames shooting from hole in sidewalk.
Corner of 6th and Broad. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of view looking between the back of a van and fire truck. Lots of smoke. Flames shooting from hole in sidewalk.
Photo of back of hotel in alley. Flames in windows, bystanders are helping firefighters pull hose from the truck.
Firefighters, and bystanders, pulling hose from truck behind hotel (alley near 5th and Broad). Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of back of hotel in alley. Flames in windows, bystanders are helping firefighters pull hose from the truck.
Photo of all 12 windows blown out of a 3 story building across from the hotel.
Department Store at 6th and Broad, across from the Pathfinder. At the time of the explosion, the building was housing the Air Force and Navy Recruiters in the front (facing 6th Street) and the Army Recruiter was around on the Broad St side. - info from comment by Will Stanley. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of all 12 windows blown out of a 3 story building across from the hotel.
Photo of Woolworth department store with windows blown out a block away from the hotel
Windows were blown out of Woolworths a block away on 6th Street. Photo by Edwin Parr.
Photo of Woolworth department store with windows blown out a block away from the hotel

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