The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Berlin

The Berlin Disaster From Fifty Years Ago Is Still Vividly Remembered

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This story was written by Sharon Klein, Berlin Town Historian and is posted on the Town of Berlin website (http://berlin-ny.us/).
From the time Berlin was established as a town in 1806, we have had our share of disasters and tragedies. From epidemics, blizzards, fires and floods to tornadoes, accidents and draughts, nothing in modern times has equaled the propane truck disaster, which occurred 50 years ago on July 25, 1962.
Nine people died of burns, one of whom was Robert J. McLucas of Pennsylvania, driver of the 7,000 gallon tanker loaded with propane that left the Plank Road at a sharp turn, hit a tree and exploded leaving the area looking like a war zone.
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Berlin Library Summer Reading

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Summer Reading has begun!  Join us at the Library to enroll in the reading program. Stop in or call to register for these programs:
• Tuesday, July 31 – 10 to 11 am; Story Time, led by Martha von Schilgen, “How does your garden grow?” stories and crafts for ages pre-school to 7.
• Wednesday, August 1 – 1 to 2 pm; Create A Lollipop Posy, led by Charlotte Neaton, for ages 6 and up.
• Thursday, August 9 – 6:30 pm; Children, family and friends – join us for Reading Certificate Night.

Berlin Town Board Action – Commemorating The Propane Truck Explosion

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by Kieron Kramer
The fiftieth anniversary of the propane gas truck explosion that decimated the center of Berlin, destroying a number of houses and the First Baptist Church and killing 9 residents and injuring many more on July 25, 1962, will be commemorated later this month. Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger announced at the Town Board meeting on July 12 that Town Historian Sharon Klein has posted a three page article and a couple of pictures of the event on the Town website (http://berlin-ny.us/). He also announced that the First Baptist Church will hold a memorial service on July 25 and that former Town Supervisor Sandi Slattery is organizing a memorial event which will take place at the Berlin Fire House on July 28. The Taconic Valley Historical Society addressed the topic at their monthly meeting on July 16. According to Jaeger, “The Times-Union is doing an extensive article on the explosion.”
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Taconic Valley Soccer Wins Capital District U-19 League Title

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by David Flint
The 2012 Taconic Valley Boys U-19 team has accomplished something that had never been accomplished before. They have won the Capital District Youth Soccer League U-19 Boys Division with six wins and only one loss. The team is composed of players from the Berlin, New Lebanon and Brunswick school districts, and many of the athletes had waited a long time for this successful season.
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Commemorative Open House In Berlin

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Please come on Saturday, July 28, to the Berlin Fire Hall from 1 to 4 pm for a commemorative observance of the 50th Anniversary of the Berlin Fire Disaster.
There will be memorabilia on display from local media sources, and we will show the DVD program from the 30th year observance.
Our featured speaker will be Ivan Wager, Past Chief of the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. and one of the three last surviving firefighters from the 1962 disaster. We anticipate participation from several local residents with recollections of this event.
The public is invited to help us honor those who perished and those who served and to pay tribute to the community who rebuilt after the fire.
Space in the display will be available for anyone willing to share memorabilia. They are encouraged to call 658-2571.

Berlin Library News

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Summer Reading has begun!  Join us at the Library to enroll in the reading program. Stop in or call to register for these programs:
• Friday, July 20 – 1 to 2 pm; Draw And Dream led by Simon Carr for ages 9 and up.
• Tuesday, July 24 – 10 to 11 am; Story Time, presented by the Bennington Museum; The Oxcart Man for ages pre-school to 7.
• Wednesday, July 25 – 1 to 2 pm; Mystery Artifacts presented by the Bennington Museum for ages 8 and up.
• Thursday, July 26 – 6:30 to 7:30 pm; Make A Chinese Lantern led by Lisa Flynn for ages 6 and up.
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Irene B. Greene

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Berlin – Irene Brownell Greene, 91, of Greene’s Brook Road, Berlin, NY, passed away on Friday, July 13, 2012, at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls, NY.
Born March 29, 1921, in Groveside, NY, she was the daughter of the late Elmer E. and Sadie Lebarron Brownell. She was the loving wife of Arlie L. Greene, whom she married on March 2, 1946, in Groveside, NY.
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