32 Commercial St. Suite 2, Honesdale, PA 18431
The big fire on a cold night
30 below zero and fighting fire.
A story form over 100 years ago. “Sunday morning, Jan. 14, 1912, the temperature was thirty degrees below zero when the fire alarm sounded. The fire was in the red stone fronted building on the east side of the 800 block of Main Street. At the time the building was occupied by the Spettigue Hardware Store and the Reif Shoe Store.
“The response of the firemen was described as amazingly rapid and Main Street came awake at 1:45 a.m. Hose Company No. 1 and Protection Engine 3 were first at the scene with Alerts and Texas 4 dashing up the store soon after. Despite the quick response, the firemen were hampered by extreme cold and the fire soon burned out of control. More than 5,000 feet of hose was used to fight the fire, much of it froze sometimes to the extent of bursting.
“At the end of the struggle, the companies had only 600 feet of usable hose. For a time, it looked as though the entire block would be lost. A second alarm was sounded at 5 a.m. This brought fresh, warm help including members of Seelyville Fire Company to the scene. By 8 a.m., the fire was considered to be under control. As the morning went on, it was discovered that one fireman was missing.
“By Monday, it was realized that the man, George Bergmann, a member of Engine 3, had probably perished in the fire. It was not until Saturday morning, Jan. 20, that the body was found in the ruins of the Spettigue Hardware Store. The body was badly burned and the circumstances surrounding his death were never learned. Mr. Bergmann is the only member of the Honesdale Fire Department to lose his life in the line to duty.”
Write the name of the fireman who lost his life in the blaze on line # 32 of your scavenger hunt entry form.
Return to the Visitors Center with your scavenger hunt form filled out in completion and present at ticket office for your souvenir pin or 10% off anything in the gift shop. Thanks for joining us on this adventure to learn more about our beautiful town.
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