Building at Fourth and Main  collapse November 1, 1959

First
 
Previous
Next
Last
 
Gallery
 
 

Home.....

.......................
 
 
 
 
 
 

Following is the article from the November 1959 Courier -Tribune

 "BUILDINGS IN COLLAPSE
TWO STRUCTURES FALL

One Great Blessing in That No One Has Been injured"

"An almost unheard thing, two building falling down with out fire or flood. Saturday night and brought hundreds of onlookers to Seneca Yesterday.

Down is the John Clough building at the north west corner of Main and fourth street, which housed the Cooksey Auto Parts on the ground floor and the family of Ray Downing, the manager, in the upstairs.

Down is the next building to the west housing the Mike Kerns pool hall on the lower floor and the hall of the Veterans of Foreign wars and their auxiliary above: building owned by Emmit Mealy.

Cracking heavily is the wall that is between the Mealy building and the Gambles store location owned by Bernard Kanpart.

Fred Bergman, state fire marshal, advised this morning that the Gambles store move out because of the danger

Here is about the line up at noon; The Cooksey Auto parts with stock brought from Marysville  is setting up at the old Schetz Garage in the north part of town and will be in business there in the time being.

The Gambles store is moving it's stock to various various locations and the merchandise will be at the city hall at the former treasurer's location, as soon as possible after the room is cleared after its use tomorrow  as a polling place.

The cleanup of debris and recovery of stock and household goods is ready to begin but the work is delayed by the tottering wall at the east-side of the Kampart Building. (and this morning while Gambles could move out stock) Questions what will happen when work is stated to move the rubble of the two buildings that are down. Will the next wall fall, and what would happen  then to the rest of the Kampart building and the joining Walkamp Building?"

Information above from the Courier-Tribune of November 1959


Editors note:  The Gambles building never came completely down however the east wall did suffer some damage and  it took some skilled work to save the lower floor. The wall above  second floor had to be removed and the front of the building had to be  cut down to match the this.   If there is someone  who worked on the Gambles building or has knowledge of what was  done   to save   it from total loss let me know.    I would like to put their  story here. 

Pictured below is close up of the building  and the part of the Ray Downing's family living quarters on the second floor.  Picture property of Seneca Volunteer Fife Department.

I visited with Mrs. Ray Downing recently about this and she said they were devastated when this happened as they had lost every thing.  They did not know where to turn however many people came to their rescue and helped by bring in furniture, clothing and household items of all kinds  to help them get started again. They ended up with more than they had  before this happened.

They had been awaken by the sound of popping and cracking like the house was moving on it's foundation. They put their coats over their night ware and got out. They considered themselves very lucky to have gotten out before the building  fell.

 

   

 


Please send e-mail to Ken Stallbaumer to provide feedback about this page. 


This page last updated on 6/28/2004 10:25:35 PM.