BARIUM OFFICIAL DIES FROM BURNS
R. H. Chapin Was Injured At Plant Jan. 16
Robert H. Chapin, 57, of East blvd, Lake Cable, chief engineer at the Barium Steel Corp., died Wednesday at
5:30 pm in Aultman hospital from extensive third degree burns suffered in an explosion and fire at the plant
Jan. 16
Mr. Chapin, the most seriously burned among the officials and employees given hospital treatment after the
accident, was named chief engineer at the barium plant two years ago soon after Glenn W. Shetler, vice
president in charge of production, became associated with the company.
On the day of the explosion, Mr. Chapin with other officials, including Mr. Shetler, were watching a foundry
crew pour steel into a huge sand mold. Officials said at the time that the sand had been heated with gas for
several days to remove moisture in preparation for the casting, but the sand apparently still held some
moisture.
The molten steel, showered 20 feet in the air burning the workers and officials and setting fire to the roof of
the open hearth building.
Mr. Chapin was born in Toledo, coming to canton with his parents at the age of two years. Following his
graduation from old central high school in 1907, he attended the engineering school at the University of
Michigan where he was a member of the Trigon club.
In 1915 he was names construction engineer at the old United Alloy Steel Corp., where he was associated
with Mr. Shetler, and remained there until 1925. From 1925-1943 he was head of the Chapin Construction co.
He was a member of the Construction Council of Stark County and formerly was an active member of
Congress lake club.
Mr. Chapin is survived by his widow Mrs. Katherine Frank Chapin, two daughters Katherine Ann, a former
model at Quinn Maahs in Cleveland, and two sisters, Mrs. George H. Thomas of Canton and Mrs. Richard
Greer of Magnolia.
Mrs. Chapin suffered a fractured ankle in December and is at the home of her sister, Mrs. M.T. Lothrop of Fox
Hill dr., Hills and Dales.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the Lothrop home in charge of Rev. E. T. Horn. Burial will
be in Westlawn cemetery. The body is at the Seesholtz memorial where friends may call Friday from 2 to
5:30 p.m.
R. H. Chapin Was Injured At Plant Jan. 16
Robert H. Chapin, 57, of East blvd, Lake Cable, chief engineer at the Barium Steel Corp., died Wednesday at
5:30 pm in Aultman hospital from extensive third degree burns suffered in an explosion and fire at the plant
Jan. 16
Mr. Chapin, the most seriously burned among the officials and employees given hospital treatment after the
accident, was named chief engineer at the barium plant two years ago soon after Glenn W. Shetler, vice
president in charge of production, became associated with the company.
On the day of the explosion, Mr. Chapin with other officials, including Mr. Shetler, were watching a foundry
crew pour steel into a huge sand mold. Officials said at the time that the sand had been heated with gas for
several days to remove moisture in preparation for the casting, but the sand apparently still held some
moisture.
The molten steel, showered 20 feet in the air burning the workers and officials and setting fire to the roof of
the open hearth building.
Mr. Chapin was born in Toledo, coming to canton with his parents at the age of two years. Following his
graduation from old central high school in 1907, he attended the engineering school at the University of
Michigan where he was a member of the Trigon club.
In 1915 he was names construction engineer at the old United Alloy Steel Corp., where he was associated
with Mr. Shetler, and remained there until 1925. From 1925-1943 he was head of the Chapin Construction co.
He was a member of the Construction Council of Stark County and formerly was an active member of
Congress lake club.
Mr. Chapin is survived by his widow Mrs. Katherine Frank Chapin, two daughters Katherine Ann, a former
model at Quinn Maahs in Cleveland, and two sisters, Mrs. George H. Thomas of Canton and Mrs. Richard
Greer of Magnolia.
Mrs. Chapin suffered a fractured ankle in December and is at the home of her sister, Mrs. M.T. Lothrop of Fox
Hill dr., Hills and Dales.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the Lothrop home in charge of Rev. E. T. Horn. Burial will
be in Westlawn cemetery. The body is at the Seesholtz memorial where friends may call Friday from 2 to
5:30 p.m.
| Transcribed from The Canton Repository February 1, 1945 page one and three |
| Robert Hadley Chapin July 9, 1887 ~ January 31, 1945 |
