Remembering the Explosion That Rocked Richmond

It was an ordinary Saturday in Richmond, Indiana on April 6, 1968. The town was bustling with weekend excitement, parents were going about their Saturday to-do’s, and the children wandered about Richmond with their friends. Nothing alluded to what was to come.
At 1:47 p.m. a pair of violent explosions ripped through the heart of downtown Richmond leaving many people injured, 41 dead, and the entire county devastated.

downtown explosion

 
During this time in 1968, there was widespread racial tension across America. There was an initial belief that the explosion was caused out of racial hate.
These beliefs were wrong.
The explosion started in the basement of a sporting goods store named Marting Arms when a spark (from an unknown source) ignited a natural gas leak. Ammunition and stock in Marting Arms erupted, deepening the explosion and creating fires.

downtown explosion 2

 
Despite the nationwide tensions, the citizens of Richmond united together to diminish the fires, rescue trapped adults and children, and locate the injured/deceased for emergency personnel.

downtown explosion 3

 
The story remained on the front page of newspapers for days to come, a constant and painful reminder.
The blast was heard more than two miles away and window glass was blown out more than three blocks. As a result of the 1968 explosion, 15 buildings were destroyed; 125 buildings were damaged; and 20 buildings were condemned. Yet the damage went beyond buildings and structures. The violent explosions took 41 lives and injured over 120 people.

memorial stone

 
Now there is an honorary monument in remembrance of those who lost their lives located at the corner of Fifth St. and Main St.
Today, downtown Richmond is flourishing with many boutiques, a tea room, bakeries, and many other locally owned businesses.
 
Downtown Explosion photos taken by Ralph Pyle.