Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Crown officials hope to save building facade

New Bremen fire ruled accidental

By Margie Wuebker
Photo by Shelley Grieshop/The Daily Standard

Two businesses - Fireside Pub and Que's Barber Shop - remain closed in the wake of a disastrous Monday night fire along West Monroe Street (state Route 274) in New Bremen. Crown Equipment Corp. officials hope to bring in structural engineers to assess the integrity of the structure, which once housed the historic Boesel Opera House. Photo by M.J. Smith.

NEW BREMEN - The cause of a fire Monday night that destroyed a historic landmark and two businesses has been ruled undetermined.
The finding was made Tuesday after an investigator and a supervisor from the Ohio Fire Marshal's Office met with New Bremen Fire Chief Bob Kuck.
Insurance adjustors have not set a dollar loss for the blaze that ravaged the vintage 1895 Boesel Opera House as well as the Fireside Pub and Que's Barber Shop located on the ground floor of the brick building.
"The fire appears to be accidental with no evidence of criminal intent," public information officer Shane Cartmill of the marshal's office told The Daily Standard this morning. "The building was locked and secured at the time of the fire."
The blaze reportedly started between the first and second floors in the bar area of the restaurant owned by Misty Kuck Callahan.
Cartmill initially labeled the building, located along West Monroe Street (state Route 274) as destroyed, but deferred on that ruling after learning Crown Equipment Corp. plans to bring in experts to assess the integrity of what remains.
"Once we get access to the building, structural engineers will make assessments," said Randy Niekamp, Crown's vice president of human resources. "Our goal is to save the facade."
Niekamp said workmen have shored up an area at the rear to the building to prevent further damage. Part of the second floor collapsed onto the restaurant's walk-in cooler, causing some floor joists to give way.
The blaze drew fire departments from New Bremen-German Township, Minster-Jackson Township, St. Marys Township, Chickasaw, St. Marys and Wapakoneta with three aerial trucks in the fleet that arrived about 6:30 p.m.
Nearly 375,000 gallons of water were used in a span of approximately two hours - making the blaze one of the largest in recent years.
Some water was pumped from the nearby Miami and Erie Canal and a water connector between New Bremen and Minster was opened.
Mayor Jeff Pape lauded the response of area fire departments during a Tuesday night village council meeting. Council member John Schwartz, a New Bremen firefighter, agreed.
"People sometime question why we spend so much money on equipment," he added. "All that equipment and the quick response probably saved a few downtown buildings."
A plywood barrier hides the front of the brick building and its brick walls - some reportedly three rows wide.
It is business as usual today at New Bremen Coffee Company & Books situated less than 5 feet from the barrier. It was closed Tuesday due to minimal smoke damage.
Keith Quellhorst, owner of Que's Barbershop, is working with the village and Crown to relocate the business he started eight years ago.
He was able to remove three barber chairs from the interior and one of them is undergoing restoration. He also retrieved antiques displayed in the front windows.
"I was able to get the chairs and the antiques from the window," he said. "I could get stuff close to the door and the fate of the other stuff is unknown.
"I always dreamed of being a barber since my teenage days," he added. "Fire can strip away all your hard work and effort in a matter of minutes."
Callahan did not return calls by press time today.
Additional online stories on this date
St. Henry
ST. HENRY - The village again is making a splash by earning the title of best tasting tap water in the U.S.
Still reeling from past honors for one [More]
Division IV Sectional at Coldwater
COLDWATER - Though they were playing without a key cog, the Minster Wildcats turned in an efficient performance to begin postseason play on Tuesday night at The Palace. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
One year anniversary
One year after a flash flood hit Auglaize and Mercer counties, local officials say they've learned from it and made improvements.
Auglaize County e
CELINA - New legislation enabling city officials to crack down on dangerous and unfit structures is being pursued in Celina.
Safety service directo
CELINA - City law director George Moore advised council members to hold off on vacating an alley until all abutting property owners agree.
The alle
NEW BREMEN - Property "police" will not be coming to the community to look for residents disregarding the community's property maintenance code, council members decided during a meeting Tuesday.
ST. MARYS - City council's streets and sidewalks committee on Monday presented several roads for resurfacing and reconstruction this year.
Interim safety service director Craig Moeller said they would inspect the roadways one more time before final approval.
COLDWATER - Village council members on Monday heard second reading of an ordinance that could financially protect the community from future flood damage.
COLDWATER - Board of education members on Tuesday hired a new middle school principal.
St. Marys City Schools social studies teacher Bill Ruane was awarded a two-year contract, effective Aug. 1. His salary will be set at a future board meeting, superintendent Rich Seas said.
Mercer County Commissioners are seeking input on a proposed $40,000 revolving loan to help a welding company relocate from downtown Mendon to expand in a rural Mendon site.
COLDWATER - First Choice Credit Union in Coldwater has purchased land on West Main Street for future expansion, a news release says.
The 1.6 acres to the west of Dollar General store will be used for construction of a larger facility.
Division II Sectional at Lima Senior
LIMA - Alex Greve's three-pointer with less than two seconds left in the game pushed Wapakoneta to a 43-40 win over St. Marys in the Division II boys' sectional semifinals on Tuesday night at Lima Senior High School.
CELINA - Together Everyone Achieves More.
It is a TEAM approach that has been the undeniable key in leading the Celina girls' basketball team to a sparkling 18-4 record and a berth in the Division II district semifinals on Thursday at 8 p.m. against Napoleon at Paulding High School.