OBIT: George DODSON, 1918, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2005, 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ ALTOONAN KILLED AT MT. UNION George Dodson, Penn Central Employe, Electrocuted, While Working at Sub-Station on Mountain TWO OTHERS HURT George Dodson of 2900 Spruce avenue, this city, was instantly killed and Charles Shope and George Geisinger, of Huntingdon, were seriously injured yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock, at the Mt. Union sub station of the Penn Central Light and Power company. In order to increase the capacity of the Mt. Union sub station, it was necessary to put in new equipment on Sunday, while the service from the station was low. Dodson, with the other men, went to Mt. Union early Sunday morning, accompanied by local officials of the company and were proceeding rapidly with the work when the officials left the plant for Altoona bout 2 o'clock. OCCURRED IN MOUNTAIN The sub station is located about a mile in the mountains and the information from the scene of the accident was hard to get, the accident putting the telephone line out of commission. Information secured in this city up to midnight, was to the effect that Dodson was instantly killed and the other two seriously burned, Shope about the hands and legs, and Geisinger about the body. They were brought to Mt. Union and hurriedly taken to Huntingdon, where they were admitted to the Blair Memorial hospital for treatment. According to the last report, they were not seriously injured and will recover. Coroner F. L. Schum of Huntingdon was notified of the accident and went to Mt. Union. He turned the body of Dodson over to an undertaker, and Roher and Mauk of Juniata were sent to Mt. Union to bring the body to this city. ACCIDENT UNACCOUNTABLE Officials of the Penn Central Light and Power company of this city were unable to account for the accident last night, there being no open wires where the men were at work. The only way in which they could account for it being that the men had finished where they had been working and in some manner came in contact with live wires at an adjacent building. George Dodson was a resident of this city and was one of the best electricians employed by the Penn Central Light and Power company. He was spoken of by the officials as one of the best men they had, a good workman, always to be trusted and known to be devoted to his work and his family. He is survived by his wife and two sons, aged about 10 and 13 years, residing at 2900 Spruce avenue. CONDUCTING INVESTIGATION Both the coroner of Huntingdon county and the Penn Central company are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the accident that cost the young man his wife and resulted in the serious injury of his companions. The body was brought to this city and the funeral arrangements will be completed today. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Monday Morning, May 6, 1918 FUNERAL NOTICE The funeral of the late George Dodson will be held at the home, 2900 Spruce avenue, on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock; interment in Rose Hill cemetery. Mr. Dodson was accidentally killed on Sunday, while at work for the Penn Central, near Mt. Union. He is survived, besides his wife, by two sons: Claude C., aged 12, and Norman G., aged 9; also by a brother, Joseph, of this city and a sister, Mrs. Louis Uphouse, of Cleveland. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday Morning, May 7, 1918 ALTOONA MAN MEETS DEATH AT MT. UNION George Dodson, 2900 Spruce Avenue, Electrocuted at Penn Central Station TWO OTHERS ARE BADLY BURNED George Dodson, of 2900 Spruce avenue, was electrocuted and two other men, Charles Shope, aged 40 years, and Walter Geisinger, aged 30 years, of Huntingdon, were painfully burned at the Mt. Union sub-station of the Penn Central Light & Power company at 5 o'clock last evening. Just how the accident happened has not yet been definitely determined. The men were engaged in installing additional equipment to increase the capacity of the station to accommodate the various industries at Mt. Union. It was necessary to do the work on Sunday in order not to effect a delay to the operation of the plants using electrical current. The men were engaged on the work all the day and were nearing the consummation of their task when the accident occurred. Dodson was instantly killed, while Shope, foreman of the substation, was burned about the right hand and one leg. Geisinger, a lineman, was burned about the body and was taken to the Blair Memorial hospital at Huntingdon. George Dodson was regarded as one of the Penn Central's most competent workmen, having been in its service for the past fifteen years. He left the city at 6:33 o'clock yesterday morning to assist in the work. He was aged 35 years and is survived by his wife and two children, aged 9 and 13 years. The remains were taken in charge by Roher & Mauk, undertakers, to be prepared for burial. They will be brought to this city for interment. The officials of the company and Coroner Schum, of Huntingdon county, are making an investigation to determine how the accident occurred and how Dodson met his death. Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday Morning, May 6, 1918 The funeral of George Dodson, of 2900 Spruce avenue, will take place Thursday. Service at the home at 2:30 p.m. Interment in Rose Hill cemetery. Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday Morning, May 7, 1918, page 10