Nearly nine decades after it happened, local residents have placed a historic marker at the site of Devon fireworks explosion, writes Richard Ilgenfritz for Main Line Media News.

The small plot of land that is today known as Westover Bird Sanctuary was rocked by an explosion on April 2, 1930 that some say was heard as far as Trenton and Wilmington.

“Ten individuals were killed: scores were injured and nearby homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed,” reads the recently placed historic marker.

The marker also has several before and after photos of the 7-acre site just off Old Lancaster Road. A newspaper image of the explosion is also featured.

“It has a historic significance and so we wanted to tell the story and the parks foundation agreed that it would be good to inform people and preserve history,” said Mary Westervelt.

She added that there is also a plan to make the park into a site that attracts birds and pollinators. To achieve this, a group of volunteers from a local Bird Town group have been removing the trash, creating trails, and planting trees and wildflowers.

Read more about the site at Main Line Media News here.

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