Hooker Chemical Corporation's full-page newspaper ad on Love Canal: 'Let's set the record straight'
Title
Hooker Chemical Corporation's full-page newspaper ad on Love Canal: 'Let's set the record straight'
Subject
Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Corp.
Advertising, Newspaper
Mass media and propaganda
Hazardous waste sites
Description
A black-and-white advertisement features a bold headline reading "LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT." Below, a block of text defends Hooker Chemical from allegations related to the Love Canal environmental disaster. The statement outlines the company's knowledge of chemical hazards at the site, their communication with local authorities, and claims that no cover-up occurred. At the bottom, "HOOKER" is written in large bold type with the tagline "Ask the people who know."
Creator
Ploughman, Penelope, 1955-
Source
State University of New York at Buffalo. University Archives
Publisher
State University of New York at Buffalo. University Libraries
Date
1979-05-22
Rights
Format
image/jpeg
Type
Image
Identifier
MS100.493
Date Created
2009-01-28
Is Part Of
Love Canal Images
Penelope D. Ploughman Love Canal Collection
LIB-UA003
Is Referenced By
Medium
Newspapers
Text
There have been charges and allegations that Hooker Chemicals “covered up” knowledge of health hazards at the Love Canal site 20 years ago. These charges are not true.
Here are the facts. In the late 1950s, there was some construction over the Love Canal site. And some of the buried chemicals were disturbed. Children playing in the construction area were burned by some of the chemicals and were treated accordingly.
We looked into the problem and advised the School Board, who owned the property, to take precautionary measures so that there would be no further accidents.
Did we know the chemicals were hazardous? We knew they could cause burns and that some of what was buried in the Love Canal site could be poisonous. But we did not have—nobody had—the knowledge of toxicity then that they have now.
One more thing. The main problem with the Love Canal site was chemicals seeping into the basements of homes bordering the Canal aea. There was no evidence of this happening back in the 50s; Hooker management had no evidence of this until 1976.
There was no cover-up in the 50s. There isn't one now. But there is a problem at the Love Canal and Hooker is very much concerned about it and wants to see it solved. Sensationalism and false accusations won't do that.
Hooker
Ask the people who know.
Here are the facts. In the late 1950s, there was some construction over the Love Canal site. And some of the buried chemicals were disturbed. Children playing in the construction area were burned by some of the chemicals and were treated accordingly.
We looked into the problem and advised the School Board, who owned the property, to take precautionary measures so that there would be no further accidents.
Did we know the chemicals were hazardous? We knew they could cause burns and that some of what was buried in the Love Canal site could be poisonous. But we did not have—nobody had—the knowledge of toxicity then that they have now.
One more thing. The main problem with the Love Canal site was chemicals seeping into the basements of homes bordering the Canal aea. There was no evidence of this happening back in the 50s; Hooker management had no evidence of this until 1976.
There was no cover-up in the 50s. There isn't one now. But there is a problem at the Love Canal and Hooker is very much concerned about it and wants to see it solved. Sensationalism and false accusations won't do that.
Hooker
Ask the people who know.
Collection
Citation
Ploughman, Penelope, 1955-, “Hooker Chemical Corporation's full-page newspaper ad on Love Canal: 'Let's set the record straight',” Digital Collections - University at Buffalo Libraries, accessed June 25, 2025, https://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/items/show/16737.