Location: Oak Grove, MI (Bay County)

Oak Grove was located on the shore of Saginaw Bay, five miles north of Bay City. It was the location of a nitroglycerine factory in 1883.

Notes

Time Line

1883. May 25. The Roberts Torpedo Company was totally destroyed by a terrific explosion at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Joseph Shamburg, of Bay City, was in the works, and was "blown to pieces", only fragments being found. He was the only person in the factory and the particulars are not known. He was getting a supply of glycerine to fill torpedoing salt wells. There was 500 pounds of glycerine in the factory, made a few days ago. He was 24 years old, married with an infant child. The splinters of the works were scattered over several areas, the explosion being felt half a mile away. [DFP-1883-0526]

Industry

• Roberts Torpedo Company - exploded in 1883