50th Anniversary of the Fire on the Roger Blough: History at Home Presentation

This program is given in commemoration of the 1971 fire on the Roger Blough freighter which caught fire while under construction in Lorain, Ohio and caused the death of four ship workers. The first part of the program touches on the history of the Roger Blough and reports on the cause of the tragic fire. The second half is an interview with retired Lorain Fire Department Firefighter Andy Drwal who shares his memories of being one of the first responders there that day.

[@limesstones]

Thank you so much for producing this video and sharing all of this history. I was working at Household Finance on Broadway on that day. It was upstairs on the second floor above the Huddle Bar. I didn't know anything until my mother called me and told me not to come home for lunch because the Roger Blough was on fire and she thought that she might be evacuated. My parents and I were living at 208 Arizona Avenue and the shipyards was literally at the end of our street. So after I heard from my mother I walked to a window overlooking Broadway and I could see the smoke coming from across the river so I knew it had to be really bad. It was such a sad day and one I won't forget. I feel the burning of the Roger Blough was Lorain's worst tragedy since the great Sandusky/Lorain Tornado of 1924.

[@northstarstatepolitics1652]

"50 years later of the fire on the roger blough"
The Roger Blough in 2021: Wanna see me do it again?

[@TeamDaenzer]

and 50 years later, it catches fire again :/

[@papabits5721]

Heavy damage, 20 million

[@robertjohston2301]

I remember blough fire. I also know that only one amship upper management vice-president at the time William Meldrum helped getting men off ship...He was hospitalized after all living workers were safe...In 1980 Bill was brought out of retirement as Amship General manager of great Lakes yards after the big strike...Workers new & trusted Bill ...most of the old timers were gone...Toledo & Lorain workers had a open relationship with bill...The man new everyone by name..Spent lots of time out in the yard...Steinbrenner brought him back TRYING to repair poor management & union slow downs & mistrust.. Union hated George...Bill spent 1 DAY every week with union stewards in toledo/Chicago & Lorain just talked walked the yard had lunch each yard had 9 unions ...I was a fitter I also could not change a light bulb in my work area ..could not use a torch , touch a chainfall. Could not tack weld...Every morning we may not work due to a wildcat strike.. Every worker in toledo yard just slowed down production if a boss said something .Everyone walked out on wildcat strike they thought it was funny...The ring LEADERS were new guys union stewards.
Most were Latin american..After a 2 year strike most didn't come back , The older guys that did were outnumbered.. Amship had management employees foreman,superintendent.
Office. Then 9 different Union workers...

[@ricksadler797]

Sounds like the boat wanted to celebrate 🎉