The Associated Press story here is from the Jim Thorpe Times, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, 15 November 1966:
Pottsville Area Clothing Company Fire Routs 140
POTTSVILLE (AP) – About 140 women were routed today by a fire which wrecked a clothing company plant in the Schuylkill County community of Valley View, near Pottsville. There were no serious injuries, but several women were treated for shock and smoke inhalation. The fire swept through two connected concrete block buildings of Valley View Enterprises Incorporation [sic].
Police officials set the damage at $100,000 to the plant where women’s dresses are manufactured.
Officials said the cause of the fire was not determined immediately. But one plant employee said there was a sudden flash of flame near the boiler room in one of the buildings.
_______________________________
For other blog posts related to this industry, see Valley View Enterprises.
Special thanks to Jerry Umholtz of Valley View for a collection of news articles and pictures related to the fire, rebuilding, and re-opening of this plant. His grandmother was one of those who worked at the plant and his father was across the street waiting for the school bus when the fire broke out. The image and the article are from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.