Morton Connelly was tending to his used car business on Union Street, Luzerne, while two brothers with a similar last name, Timothy and John Connolly, were exiting Fanny’s Diner nearby.
The three men would become heroes.
At about 3:40 p.m. on March 13, 1961, two explosions leveled the Schuyler Manufacturing Company, a toy factory, at Marian and Union streets in Luzerne. Two people were killed and 12 seriously injured.
“The blast blew out windows and smashed numerous others in buildings and homes in the surrounding area, particularly on Union and Main streets,” the Wilkes-Barre Record reported March 14, 1961.
The toy factory was in a one-story cinder block building measuring 60 feet wide by 150 feet long.
Killed in the explosions were Jack White, 46, of Miller Lane, Fullerton, a salesman for a paper products company in New Jersey, and Daniel Zimmerman, 26, of Dallas Township. Those injured were transported to Nesbitt Memorial Hospital in Kingston.
“The workers would have completed their shift at 4:30 p.m.,” the Record reported.
George Vitali, owner of Fanny’s Diner said the explosions shook the diner and sent dishes and pots and pans flying inside the restaurant. Vitali initially believed his diner exploded but when he looked out a window, he saw smoke and flames coming from the toy factory.
Vitali told a Record reporter a second explosion occurred about two to three minutes after the first.
Timothy Connolly, 24, and John Connolly, 25, finished an early supper at the diner when the explosion happened.
“Both brothers said they ran toward and helped to pull out four women and a man. While assisting two of the persons, the Connollys said the second explosion occurred. Both fell to the ground and shielded the two persons’ bodies with their own,” the Record reported.
As the two brothers were exiting the diner when the first explosion happened, Morton Connelly was inside his office at his used car business across the street from the toy factory.
“I ran over to the building and carried two women out of the building. Both were unconscious and covered with blood. I placed one woman onto he ground and then went into the building and picked up another woman and carried her out of the building,” Connelly is quoted in the Record story.
“As I brought out the second woman, another explosion rocked the building and the entire structure was destroyed,” Connelly is quoted.
Three windows at Connelly’s office building smashed due to the shock.
Luzerne firemen, headed by fire chief Ted Heidel, were assisted by firemen from Kingston, Courtdale, Edwardsville, Swoyersville and Pringle in fighting the flames and later sifting the ruins for victims.
It was believed gun powder, used for loading caps in toy guns, ignited he explosions.
“Hundreds of persons were attracted to the scene and policemen were compelled to use rope barricades to keep the onlookers from interfering with the firefighters and rescue operations,” the Record reported.
As nightfall came, large floodlights were used by firefighters to search the ruins.
A priest from St. John Nepomucene Slovak Church was at the scene to give last rites to a deceased victim.
While Connelly was considered a hero, the Connolly brothers received more attention for their heroic efforts.
The brothers were awarded the Carnegie Medal of Honor that were presented to them by Pa. Gov. David Lawrence at a testimonial dinner held at the Mayfair Supper Club hosted by the Luzerne Lions Club on March 18, 1962.
More than 300 people attended the dinner, the Evening News reported March 19, 1962.
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Look Back: Explosions at Luzerne toy factory kills two, injures 12 in 1961 - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader
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