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Grandview Hotel
June 17, 1949
Courtesy of
The Sentinel
A defect in the
wiring of a transformer for a large neon sign was blamed by
investigators for the fire which swept through Grand View Hotel
last evening, causing heavy damage to the structure.
The investigators, Jack
Armstrong and Robert McCartney of the State Fire Marshal’s
Office, and Robert Knight of the National Fire Underwriters
Bureau, estimated the total damage at $15,000. They said the
building was damaged to the extent of $5,000 and the contents
$10,000.
Fire Chief J. Fred Brown, who
was checking the damage with the investigators today, said that
a defect was found in the transformer wiring back of the “Grand
View Hotel” neon sign. The fire started between the first and
second floors just back of the neon sign on the east wall.
One fireman, Ralph Casey, 100
East Chapel Ave., was overcome by smoke in battling the stubborn
blaze and was treated at Carlisle Hospital. Four other firemen
suffered lacerated hands by broken glass and were treated on the
scene by John Steele, driver of the community ambulance.
The hotel was operated by
Arthur Nydick and his son-in-law Yale Gordon formerly of
Harrisburg, who took over the hostelry about four years ago.
Nydick was unable to estimate the loss but stated that he had
$100,000 in the investment.
The fire swept from the corner
of the building up through partitions to the attic and had
gained considerable headway by the time fireman arrived at the
blazing structure, which is located on the extreme end of North
West Street at the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
The only fire hydrant near the
place is located directly across West Street and was used by the
Friendship Fire Company. Other companies were forced to lay
hose lines for two blocks or more but despite the distances did
a quick job in getting water on the fire.
Nydick said there were no
guests in the rooms at the time the fire was discovered shortly
before 7 o’clock. There were three people finishing their
dinners in the grill room.
Nydick said he was in the grill
room of the hotel, which had been recently elaborately
renovated. He said he smelled smoke and made an investigation
of the first floor and the outside of the building without
finding anything. When he returned to the inside, he discovered
smoke issuing from the east wall.
Nydick said that he called
fireman and then went to the hotel office and gathered up
valuable papers and money that was in the cash register.
The blaze attracted a throng of
spectators who were held back by rope lines set up by fire and
local police. During the height of the blaze traffic on the
turnpike was slowed down by dense clouds of smoke which were
blown across the highway by a strong south wind. An airliner
pilot gave his passengers a good look at the fire by circling
the plane low over the scene for about five minutes.
The hotel was formerly owned by
John Fladger, Carlisle, who purchased it from the the late
William N. Hall. Nydick and Gordon, the co-owners, made
extensive improvements to the rooms and the lobby during the
paws few years.
Improvements to the grill room
during the past winter made it modern and attractive.
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