Richard Palmer Sr. also put down $25,000 on a dream of owning his own candy company, buying some used equipment and rending an old warehouse in Sinking Spring.
In 2009, the company lost its founder. In addition to his role with the company, Palmer had served as the president of the YMCA's board of directors and was on the board of Reading Hospital. died at the age of 89. The retailer agreed to a trial display in November — well before Easter — and Baby Binks was an instant success. told 69 News during an interview inside the company's factory in 2011. President Harry S Truman pulled off one of the greatest election upsets in American history, the Philadelphia Eagles won the NFL championship, and a bottle of Coca-Cola cost 5 cents.
An explosion at the RM Palmer chocolate factory in West Reading killed two people, injured nine others and has left five people missing, officials said.
The county of Berks is committed to support our community in any way we can during this time of tragedy.” “It was a lot of people that knew what they were doing and they were getting their hands in there and they were getting it taken care of and handled. The RM Palmer company has been a mainstay of West Reading and Berks County for 75 years. “It’s pretty leveled,” West Reading Borough Mayor Samantha Kaag said of the explosion site. Today the company has three facilities, more than 800 employees and makes more than 1,000 different items that are distributed around the world. To aid in search and rescue efforts, Kaag said, the borough has declared a state of emergency. “A lot of the community came together — it was a lot of different companies that were there, a lot of different officers, our neighbors, the Reading police department and all of the firefighters that came together,” Kaag said. “We hope our community can continue to come together and send thoughts and prayers to those involved in this tragedy.” Two of the patients at Reading were admitted in fair condition and five were treated and released, she said. [#explosion]at the RMPalmer Factory in West Redding. The governor said West Reading will have the state’s full support during rescue efforts, as well as in the weeks and months of recovery the borough will face. Crews working in shifts worked methodically to remove debris left by the
Officials announced that three people are now dead after an explosion and four-alarm fire at a West Reading, Pennsylvania chocolate factory.
"Our hearts break for the families of those who didn't come home," Shapiro said in a statement. "Everyone at RM Palmer is devastated by the tragic events at one of our West Reading facilities and we are focused on supporting our employees and their families. "It was very scary, the building filled with smoke from just the explosion." We will be providing additional information and making contact with employees, impacted families, and the community as soon as possible." I think it was a gas explosion the way it sounded," said Garry Witmoyer from Wyomissing. We are sincerely grateful for the extraordinary efforts of all of the first responders and for the support of our Reading community, which has been home to our business for more than 70 years. The whole house shook and my dogs froze, they couldn't move, it was scary." "It was the loudest thing I've ever heard in my life," she said. "During the overnight hours one person was located alive and rescue workers continue to search for any other possible survivors," said Chief of Police Wayne Holben. The damage is extensive. "Of those, one was transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital, one to Penn State Health St. at the R.M.
RM Palmer, the chocolate company that owns the factory that was destroyed in an explosion released a statement regarding the event on Saturday, March 25.
Three people were confirmed dead after a historic chocolate factory, the R.M. Palmer Factory, in Pennsylvania exploded on Friday night.
[CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP](https://www.foxnews.com/apps-products?pid=AppArticleLink) Josh Shapiro](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pa-gov-josh-shapiro-plans-propose-3-year-incentive-newly-certified-teachers-police-officers-nurses) visited the explosion site Saturday, pledging resources for first responders to continue the rescue effort. "Our hearts break for the families of those who didn’t come home… We offer our heartfelt condolences to those families who have lost loved ones and hope those injured will recover quickly," the company said in She also said she hadn't heard from a friend who works inside the factory. "The tragic events that occurred on Friday have had a profound impact on all of us at R.M. "Someone was found alive in rubble, not knowing if they were going to live or die," West Reading City Council Vice President Philip Wert said in a press conference. [recovery efforts](https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/disasters/disaster-response) were still underway as rescue workers on the scene search for survivors. PALMER CHOCOLATE FACTORY IN PENNSYLVANIA LEAVES 2 DEAD, OTHERS MISSING AND INJURED](https://www.foxnews.com/us/explosion-r-m-palmer-chocolate-factory-pennsylvania-leaves-2-dead-others-missing-injured) [deadly blast](https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/disasters). [Police Department](https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/police-and-law-enforcement) confirmed with FOX 29 Philadelphia that three people died and five are unaccounted for following the fiery blast on Friday evening. [R.M Palmer Factory](https://www.foxnews.com/us/explosion-r-m-palmer-chocolate-factory-pennsylvania-leaves-2-dead-others-missing-injured), a historic chocolate factory in Pennsylvania, officials confirmed.