Uptown Athens has had its fair share of fires in the past
The history of Athens is littered with ash from fires. Infernos have raged through businesses, apartments and movie theaters that have altered the look of Uptown Athens. And though the fires have caused a lot of damage, there have been relatively few injuries over the years. Below are some of the prominent fires that affected the area around Uptown.
March 1922, information from The Athens Messenger
Early in the morning of March 12, 1922, the First National Bank Building, on the corner of Court and Washington streets, went up in flames. The damage totaled an estimated $41,000. The C.C. Millikan Jewelry Store and Home Furnishing Co. also suffered losses of about $10,000. The bank did not collapse, but almost all of the inner walls were affected by the flames, causing it to be deemed a “total loss.” An investigation revealed that the fire started in the back of the jewelry store.
October 1928, information from The Athens Messenger
A fire that started in the basement of the Hotel Berry in the early morning hours of Oct. 22, 1928 left 22 rooms damaged by the fire. The blaze made its way up to the air shaft through the roof and the rear of the building was damaged by smoke, fire and water. Many students assisted the firefighters. One woman suffered a broken ankle and an injury to her back when she tried jumping to safety.
May 1982, information from a previous Post article
A fire destroyed the Belk Simpson Department Store and the Cat’s Den Tavern on May 20, 1982. Apartments on both sides were torched while other businesses were damaged by smoke and flames.
Lightning was the culprit of the fire and no injuries were reported.
Structural damage to Belk’s was estimated at $510,000. Damage to the buildings adjacent to Belk’s was estimated at $94,000.
The Parlor, 19 N. Court St., suffered heavy smoke damage. The Parlor and above apartments suffered smoke, water and heat damage.
Attractions Hair and Tanning is currently located at that address.
March 1984, information from a previous Post article
More than 40 OU students and six business no longer had a place to call home after several buildings on Carpenter street went up in flames on March 12, 1984.
Carpenter’s Hardware, Paulinda’s Small World children store, Beepz Video Arcade, the Parthenon restaurant, the Athens Flower Shop and Your Father’s Moustache hair salon were all affected by the fire.
The fire started in Paulinda’s and destroyed the shop.
Some students in affected apartments lost all their belongings. About seven students stayed in Scott Quad’s guest housing facility; others stayed with friends.
The Red Cross donated food and at least $50 to buy clothes for the displaced students.
January 1985, information from a previous Post article
The Athens Hotel at 27 N. Court St. went up in flames on Jan. 14, 1985, leaving 48 OU students without homes.
No injuries were reported, but firefighters did have to rescue people trapped on rooftops.
The blaze was under control within three hours and all available firefighters from Athens were present, along with firefighters from The Plains, Waterloo and Dover townships.
The fire gutted the top three floors of the apartments and left water damage to businesses on the ground floor. One student lost an extensive record collection estimated at around $8,000.
OU offered students help, including housing, health center counseling and emergency loans.
Later that month, tenant Gary Lee Gilkey confessed to setting the hotel on fire. He set the blaze due to a “grudge against the landlord.” Gilkey, an unemployed Athens County native, had lived in the building since August.
Insomnia Cookies now occupies that address.
May 1988, information from a previous Post article
There was a morning fire at Athena Cinema on South Court Street on May 28, 1988. The fire consumed the lobby and concession station and caused extensive damage, though no one was injured. A total of 33 firefighters from Athens Fire Department, Richland Area Volunteer Fire Department and The Plains Fire Department were on the scene of the blaze.
Firefighters had to fight their way into the building by breaking the front windows with their hoses.
November 2002, information from The Athens Messenger
The Beta Theta Pi fraternity house at 23 S. Congress St. suffered from a fire on Nov. 22, 2002 after curtains were lit on fire by a lamp.
The fraternity president’s girlfriend broke her arm jumping out a window to safety. She was the only person who suffered an injury. Some fraternity members jumped off the house’s second floor to safety. The six white pillars in front of the house burned. The neighboring building, Bromley Hall, was evacuated along with other nearby residences.
The front of the fraternity house suffered the most damage. The fraternity installed a new smoke alarm system the day before the fire. Damage was estimated at $250,000. The house still stands today.
October 2010, information from a previous Post article
During the Athens Halloween Block Party on Oct. 30, 2010, Athens Firefighters responded to a call at the Athena Cinema at 20 S. Court St. A fire caused minor damage on the rubber roofing, estimated at $2,000.
April 2012, information from a previous Post article
At Palmer Fest on April 28, 2012, there was a house fire at 11 Palmer St. Onlookers caused considerable interference in the ability of firemen to respond to the fire, causing the area to be evacuated. The cause of the fire was deemed “suspicious,” meaning it was started by something different than the typical accidental sources.
mh573113@ohio.edu
@megankhenry
