Six firemen were injured Sunday while fighting a fire on the Public Square in Marion that hit two buildings and resulted in damage to ten businesses. Worst losses were in J.V. Walkers & Sons Clothing Store, 1204 Public Square and Cline-Vick Drug Co. 1203 Public Square in the two buildings the blaze damaged. Fire also damaged the two buildings in 1923. It was the fourth major fire in Marion in 15 months.
John Geittmann, manager of Underwriters Adjusting Co. said the total loss would be about $150,000 but it would cost twice that to replace everything. Most seriously injured was Woodrow Dungey, 19, 701 S. Russell who was admitted to Marion Memorial Hospital at 11:30 am with lacerations of the left arm.
Dungey, brother of Fire Chief James C. Dungey, was injured after he climbed through the store front and fell through the plate glass window along the entranceway at J.V. Walkers & Sons. His condition was listed as satisfactory today. James W. Johnson, 27, 206 E. Charles was treated at 2:30 pm and released. He suffered cuts on his left knee. Robert Cash, 50, 806 S. Court, was admitted at 9 pm. He suffered smoke inhalation and exhaustion. His condition was listed as satisfactory today. Marion fireman Bill Whiting and Paul Barnwell and Carbondale Chief Ulmont Crawshaw were overcome by smoke. They were given oxygen at the scene.
Both Cline-Vick and Walkers plan to re-open in other locations this week. Five fire departments were involved. Marion and Herrin pumpers and the Carbondale aerial truck shot water into the fire. Johnston City’s department provided firemen and the Carterville truck was on standby at the Marion department. An unidentified man reported the blaze to Marion police at 10:30 am.
Authorities said the fire apparently began about an hour and a half earlier. The blaze was brought under control at about 1 pm and extinguished at about 4 pm. Authorities said the fire apparently broke out between Cline-Vicks and Walkers in a hallway about two feet wide. Cause of the blaze was not immediately determined but there was “no evidence of foul play.” The two buildings are connected and not separated by a fire wall. Firemen said the blaze apparently followed a “natural draft.”
The fire began at the back hall way. It apparently went up the wall, along the opening between the joists and into the back of Walker’s. The fire was fought at Walker’s about two hours before it broke through the walls into Cline-Vicks. Bill Hadfield, manager of Walker’s said he believes his merchandise is a total loss at about $70,000. The Benson Building on the east side of the Public Square burned Oct. 10, 1923 with the loss estimated at $180,000. Losses included J.A. Benson and Mrs. Alice Cline, owners of the building, Hub Clothing Co., Cline-Vick Drug; Drs. L.C. Walker, D.H. Harris, and Dr. Wohlwend, A.H. Joseph and John Alexander.
John Hendricks, pharmacist and part owner of Cline-Vick’s said he had not determined the extent of damage to the contents of the store, but the value was estimated at about $25,000. A drug salesman said he doubted if any of the merchandise was damaged. Fire, water and smoke also damaged the offices of Attorney J.C. Mitchell, Attorney H.T. Hubler, Dr. H.C. Dibble and Household Finance Co., all above the two stores. The hallway between the upstairs offices were burned out, and firemen and fire marshalls today could enter only Mitchell’s and Hubler’s offices.
Records in Mitchell’s filing cabinet did not appear to be damaged. Only a few records on his desks were soaked by water. The situation was about the same in Hubler’s office. Most fire damage in Walker’s was in the brick of the store. Fire damage to Cline-Vick’s was mostly along the north wall and the ceiling. There was no fire in the basements of either store. Water was pumped from the basements Sunday. Hendricks said that he hoped to be open for prescription business Tuesday at 108 S. Market in a building owned by Mrs. Virginia Dunston.
Hadfield said that he will reopen by the end of the week at 306 Public Square, the former Quasi-Centennial headquarters. Hadfield’s records were in a safe and escaped damage. Hendricks also saved his records, including those for prescriptions. Firemen were assisted by Civil Defense workers and Marion police. The Salvation Army had a “mobile kitchen” on hand. A CD ambulance and truck were at the scene.
Merchandise in P.N. Hirsch’s store, the former Illinois Brokerage, was damaged by smoke and water but Don Souther, manager did not make an estimate about the extent. The store is on the south side of Cline-Vick’s. An investigation was conducted this morning by Deputy Fire Marshals Al Phillips of Herrin and Edward E. Grumley of Eldorado, Chief Dungey, Police Chief Charles Edwards, Public Health and Safety Commissioner William L. Harris and Geittmann. Businesses surrounding the engulfed fire area were saved, but some received heavy smoke and water damage. The entire inventory of the P.N. Hirsch & Co. store, 1203 Public Square must be replaced Randall Willmore, field supervisor for the firm said today.
The P.N. Hirsch & Co. which had purchased the department store from the John Green Stores May 1 plans to remodel, repaint and re-stock the lost merchandise. Clothing was damaged by smoke and the north wall of the building was damaged by water. Willmore said a new fall inventory of women’s and children’s clothing had just been moved into the store. He said the firm will be closed for about two weeks until remodeling has been completed and a new inventory is brought in.
One store on East Main Street was damaged by water. Lewis Odum, owner of Odum’s Jewelry Store located around the corner from the Hirsch company, said water about six inches deep flowed into his basement. However all merchandise was removed and saved. Lewis said he didn’t know how long the store would be closed. He said it will be repainted and remodeled. Some smoke damage to the walls and ceiling was reported. Other businesses along East Main were not damaged.
The Gebhart Stores, Inc. at 112 E. Main, an auto supply firm, the House of Fabrics, 108 E. Main; Sears Roebuck & Co. and TVW Men’s Store, 114 E. Main were not reported damaged. Merchandise at the House of Fabrics was removed when the fire broke out. Manager Kenneth C. Sparks said the store will be closed for the rest of the week until stock has been replaced. Part of the merchandise was damaged as it was being carried out of the store. Water from a fire hose fell on the fabric as it was being loaded into a truck, Sparks said.
Stores on the north side of the square were not damaged but the City Hall received smoke damage. Mrs. Maureen Johnston, city clerk, said walls and the ceiling in her office were blackened by smoke. Charles R. Prater, manager of Sherman’s Department Store, 200 Public Square reported no damage to his business. Prater was in St. Louis attending a baseball game when the fire broke. He said some water splashed onto awnings, but there was no serious damage. Smoke damage was not present inside the building.
Robert Nemeth, manager of the Dotty Shop, 204 Public Square, said he left his air conditioner on over the weekend. He said there was no damage inside the store. Sam Hill, manager of Limerick Finance Co., 205 Public Square, also reported no damage to his office. Mrs. H.V. Ferrell, owner of the building housing Walker’s said that no plans have been made at this time to re-build. She said she will await the arrival of her son, William H. Ferrell of Belleville, a St. Louis attorney, who is on business in California, before making a decision. Ferrell might arrive by the weekend, she said.
Mrs. Harry X. Cline of Marion and Mrs. Carlista McNeill of Herrin are among the owners of the other building. Mrs. Cline is a patient in Marion Memorial Hospital. It was reported that a decision on whether to rebuild has not been made. Household Finance has been relocated in offices above the Stylart Shoppe on the square. Attorneys Hubler and Mitchell plan to re-locate for the present in the building occupied by Attorney Arthur Melvin on West Main Street. Dr. Dibble is on vacation.
Chief Dungey said the firemen did a “terrific job.” He said that although water pressure was sufficient, a “bigger volume” could have been utilized. The square was roped off until the fire was extinguished. Hundreds of persons gathered around the square. The fire that swept through the J.V. Walker Store and Cline-Vick drug Sunday was the fourth major disaster in the Marion business district during the last 15 months. A $150,000 blaze in December destroyed rubber tires and recapping equipment at Jake’s Tire and Recap.
Firemen from Marion, Herrin, Carterville and West Frankfort had the blaze under control in about an hour after it broke out. The blaze threatened homes and at least three businesses in the area, but they were not damaged. Only a strong southwesterly wind prevented a severe threat to the Cities Service bulk plant across the narrow Stockton Street.
The Christmas Eve fire brought the total loss estimates for three major fires in 1963 to more than $2 million. Cox Hardware Store, which has a new building under construction at 906 Public Square, was destroyed by fire on May 6, 1963. The new building is the first entirely new one to be constructed on the square since 1955. Three-quarters of a block burned in the spring disaster. Total damage in the May 6 fire was estimated at $1.5 million. Fire also destroyed two buildings including three businesses on Dec. 17, 1963. Total damage was estimated at $543,000.
Fire knocked out almost half-a-block of the North Market Street business section. Kimmel’s Auto Supply, the division office of General Telephone Co. above Kimmel’s and Crouse Jewelers were destroyed. The roof of Sorgen Studio Camera Shop building was heavily damaged by the blaze. All businesses since have moved to new locations in Marion.
Total damage for the past 15 months has been estimated at more than $2-3/4 million.
(Extracted from local newspapers and compiled by Harry Boyd, posted at http://www.marionfire.us )