A photo showing students of the Wiconisco School Building, Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, being helped by personnel on Friday January 24, 1969. The photo was published in the Lykens Standard, January 30, 1969.
A brief article followed:
COAL GAS CLOSES WICONISCO BUILDING OF WILLIAMS VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The presence of coal gas in the Wiconisco building of the Williams Valley School District caused the illness of a number of students on two occasions last week.
Students were first affected by the gas on Wednesday when workers, who were installing a new furnace, had the fires dampened more than usual. The second incident occurred on Friday.
Dr. Doe of Tower City, the doctors of Lykens, Liberty Hose Company of Lykens, and the Wiconisco Fire Company were on the scene and administered oxygen to those students who had symptoms of gas inhalation.
The entire student body of the Wiconisco building were dismissed Friday and this week classes for the Kindergarten, grades 1-2 and 3 are being held in Wesley United Methodist Church at Wiconisco. The 7th grade is being housed in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tower City.
In speaking with the Supervising Principal Richard Kuntzleman on Tuesday afternoon, it was learned that the installation of the new furnace should soon be completed and it is hoped the students can begin using the building next Monday.
Kuntzleman also stated that a team from the State Department of Health has visited the building and, thru the use of detecting equipment, has made a study of the situation. He is now awaiting a reply from this team.
It is hoped that a new high school building will be completed by September 1971 after which the present Wiconisco building will no longer be used.
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Photo and story from Newspapers.com.
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