This Week in Canton History

Jan. 26, 1961-A butane truck, owned by Butane Supplies Inc, of Tyler, got loose on the highway in the center of Canton early Monday morning about 5 o’clock and jack-knifed into Ben Brown’s Mobil Station in Canton with considerable impact.  The driver, Moss William Parker of Chandler, got out of his truck and was working on another of the company’s truck nearby on Highway 64 in the middle of Canton.
According to reports received by the Herald, the truck started rolling down the hill on Highway 64 E. and rammed into the station. The damage to the station was estimated at $4,500 while the damage to the butane truck was approximately only $50. Guy Highnote, dealer butane in Canton, told the Herald Wednesday morning that it was almost impossible for the truck to have blown up because of a safety valve. “But,” he said, “had it failed as a result of the wreck, it would have blown up half of Canton.” The truck was empty at the time of the accident. Work is expected to start immediately on the station. Owner Ben Brown had to close his doors Monday because such damage was done to the pumps and the canopy fell to the ground. The station is expected to back out of operation for at least two weeks.

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