Downtown

Black smoke enveloped downtown Breckenridge, at times pouring intosurrounding businesses, as local and area firefighters struggled to keep thefire at 100 W. Walker from spreading to other buildings Wednesday afternoon.

Breckenridge American Section CSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2005

Inferno

(Staff Photo by Don Treul)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2005Downtown InfernoBreckenridge American - Page 2C

By CARLA McKEOWNAmerican Life Editor

Glenda and Tommy Rogers hadjust finished eating their hamburgersat Kountry Korner on U.S. Highway180 West. They were getting readyto leave when Glenda heardsomeone at the front of the storemention something about thebuilding across the street from thecorner bank.

She immediately started askingquestions and got several conflictinganswers. Glenda and Tommy heardthat there was a fire in the vicinityof their business, Breck Printing,located at 100 W. Walker, but somepeople thought the fire was fartherdown the block.

I said, Tommy, wed bettergo, Glenda said. We put ourplates in the trash and headed totown.

As they drove close todowntown, they were stopped by apoliceman who explained that theycouldnt go any farther. At first, theythought the officer was telling themthat the fire wasnt at their store.Then, he clarified his comments, andthey realized their 22-year-oldbusiness was indeed in flames.

At about 12:50 p.m. Wednesday,35 minutes after the first report ofthe fire was called into the firedepartment, Glenda and Tommyparked at the city offices and triedto get to their building. When theyfinally neared it, Breck Printing wasengulfed in flames and smoke waspouring from the building.

The couple said they are amazedby the timeline of events Wednesdayafternoon. Tommy had troublestarting his truck, so they didntleave until 12:05. According to thepolice report, the first 911 call camein at 12:15 p.m.

Its just amazing to me that in10 minutes a fire started and got so

big that people outside noticed it,Glenda said. I guess God didntwant us there. If we had been there,we would have fought that fire.Tommy would have fought it till itforced him out; thats just the wayhe is.

Twenty-five years ago, Glendaand Tommy lived in South Bend.She worked for a print shop inGraham, and he worked for Petco.In 1981, his job required the familyto move to Breckenridge, so Glendatransferred to the print shop her bossowned here.

In 1983, they bought the printshop, which was located on NorthCourt Avenue. Seeking a largerspace, they moved the business toNorth Baylor Avenue, in the backpart of the building that now housesCurves.

Around that time, Tommy beganto help Glenda with the printingbusiness. As they continued to seekmore space for their business, theymoved to 116 E. Walker and then to119 E. Walker. In 1990, they movedto 100 W. Walker, the location thatburned Wednesday. For more than40 years, the building had been theC.R. Anthonys department store.

The couple remembers workinghard on that last move. They had toinstall new lighting and additionalelectrical outlets. Additionally, theytransported 3,000-square-feet ofbusiness supplies down street. Ittook lots of work to get it ready andlots of work to move, she said. Ittook us four days of solid work toget moved.

As Glenda and Tommy talkedFriday morning about the early daysof their business, the memoriesseemed to come in spurts, mixedwith the realization that the businessis gone.

We put in lots of hours there,Glenda said, wiping a tear from hereye. Lots of times we worked all

Twenty-two years of business disappear in flames, friends remainCasualties of the fire

Glenda and Tommy Rogersreflect on effects of fire

night long and all day long.Twenty-two years are gone. Its

like theres a hole in our hearts, andwe dont know what to do, shecontinued. I think that surprised us.We worked so hard for so long, butnow we wake up and dont haveanywhere to go.

Tommy echoed her sentiments.The lossI dont know how toexplain the loss, he said quietly.Its like we lost part of the family.

As the couple approached the fire

Wednesday afternoon, their firstthoughts were of their onlyemployee, Tim Stewart. At the sametime, Stewart was rushing aroundthe scene trying to determine ifTommy or Glenda were in thebuilding when the fire started.

When they ran into each other onthe street and discovered thateveryone from Breck Printing wassafe, their thoughts turned to thebuilding and the rest of downtown.

Glenda and Tommy expressed

appreciation for the work of thefirefighters and other emergencyworkers. They worked so hard, andwere thankful for what they did,she said.

The couple said that the natureof their business led to a building fullof things that burned easily andquickly. Tommy ticked off a list ofdozens, maybe hundreds, of cans ofink and other chemicals.Additionally, many shelves of paperfilled the shop.

But, out of the whole deal, thegreatest loss is the building; that wasa piece of history, Tommy said.The second floor of the buildinghad been offices at one time. Theradio station used to be up there, andthere were still doors up there withLester Clark and O.H. Reaughsnames on the windows.

Tommy Rogers watches as firefighters attempt to put out the fire athis business, Breck Printing, Wednesday afternoon. Rogers and hiswife, Glenda, left for lunch shortly before the fire broke out. (StaffPhoto by Don Treul)

Glenda Rogers, co-owner of Breck Printing, (left) is comforted byfriends, (l to r) Michele Arnot, Mary King and Landa Stewart,Wednesday afternoon as the business burned down. Stewartshusband, Tim, is an employee of Breck Printing. (Staff Photo byDon Treul)

Although they have insurance,Tommy said a few years ago theyreduced the amount they werecarrying on the business.

You know, when times get alittle tighter, thats one of the firstthings people cut, Glenda said. Iguess this goes to show you thatsnot what you should do.

They are still unsure of their plansfor the future but hope to reopen thebusiness.

The couple said they havereceived moral support from thecommunity since Wednesdayafternoon. The phone just rang allday Thursday, Glenda said.Through 22 years of business,weve met a lot of people and mademany friends, and the fire cant takethat away. Were just overwhelmedwith feelings.

(Above photos) Firefighters from theRanger Fire Department assist Breck-enridge emergency officials in battling theblaze at 100 W. Walker St. Wednesdayafternoon. (Left Photo) Firefighters fromAlbany also were on the scene to help withthe fire that burned for four hours and,according to some reports, was visiblefrom Albany. (Right Photo) On June 20,1946, the building was the site of the grandopening of Breckenridges C.R. Anthonysdepartment store. Local historians wereunsure of the exact date of theconstruction of the building, dating it fromthe late 1920s to the early 1940s.

(Staff Photo by Carla McKeown)(Staff Photo by Carla McKeown)

(Staff Photo by Rob Durham) (Photo courtesy of Swenson Memorial Museum)

Breckenridge American Page 3CDowntown InfernoSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2005

By DON TREULAmerican Editor

Just after the lunch hour began Wednesday, D.W.Thurmon said, he smelled smoke.

He walked outside in front of his furniture office at122 W. Walker St. and saw smoke coming out of BreckPrinting down the block at 100 W. Walker.

Thurmon went back into his store and dialed 911. Isaid, Have you had anyone report a fireto you?

Thurmon said the police dispatcherhad not been informed, so he told herabout the smoke, and she thanked him.

Within two minutes, Breckenridgefirefighters began their battle with the firethat eventually destroyed the building.City employees, the Albany Fire Depart-ment, the Ranger Fire Department andthe Young County Rural Fire Departmenthelped douse the flames in about fourhours.

During the blaze, a plume of black smoke, whichcould be seen for miles, filled the downtown area. Witha prevailing north wind, businesses south of the fire wereinundated with smoke.

At Main Street Florist, directly across the street fromBreck Printing, owner Stephanie Renfro said smoke didvery little damage to her business. We lost about $250worth of flowers, she said, but that was because therefrigerator used to cool the flowers was shut off be-cause there was no electrical power.

At DejaVu Antiques, some soot settled on the an-tiques stored outside.

At The Hub Clothiers, Gwen Boazsaid smoke was minimal in the store.

Just down the block, BruceMcClymond and his staff watched untilthey were told to evacuate their office byStephens County Sheriff Jim Reeves.Our damage was minimal, negligible.Id say the worst is that well have toclean the carpet, McClymond said.

The thick smoke seemed to hit themiddle of the block where Barbara Clarkowns A Quilters Dream. Its going toaffect me because of the fabric. I cantwash it and retail it as new, she said. Aslong as I have to stay close, it affects me.

But Clark said she is determined to remain in busi-ness. Oh yes! Im definitely staying in business. Thereis no question about that at all, Clark said.

At C&G Fashions, Laurie Bucher said smoke fromthe fire affected her products. Its in all mygarments...the carpeting. Ive held on (despite the con-struction), but I dont know how this will affect me,

Bucher said.I just didnt open my door a lot, said Susan Denbow,

owner of Brickfield Marketplace. I was a little morefortunate than others, Denbow said. As to keeping herbusiness open, Denbow said, Im still real hopeful. Mymain concern is for Glenda and Tommy (Rogers, own-ers of Breck Printing).

Jon Trammel, owner of Jon Trammels Gunsmithing& Sports Shop, said he put tape around the doors to keep

out as much smoke as possible. Dam-age from smoke was minimal to hisbusiness.

There was little smoke damage toother businesses on the north side of theblock, including Thurmon Furniture andBlack & Downing Insurance Company.

At Walton Production Company,next door to Breck Printing, owner JohnWalton said he smelled smoke aroundnoon Wednesday, but he thought it wasan electrical ballast failing in one of the

lights in his office, according to his secretary ShoneCampbell.

Walton next heard the sirens of the fire trucks andsoon discovered the fire next door.

Firefighters poured water on the building whereWalton has his office, but there was no water damage.Some smoke filled the office, but no damage was re-ported.

Despite the proximity of the Walton Production Com-pany office, firefighters were able to keep the buildingfrom burning. I just knew there was no way they weregoing to save our building. These guys dont get enough

credit, said Campbell.The Swenson Memorial Museum

also was saved from much of smokedamage.

The building that was destroyed byWednesdays fire is owned by theBreckenridge Industrial Foundation.Stan Carstens, president of the BIF, saidmeasures are being taken to clean upthe lot.

At this point we dont know whatkind of money well have to use. Butthe Breckenridge Industrial Foundationwill be proactive about what were go-ing to do with that site, Carstens said.

Some businesses also were affected when the fireknocked out electrical power for most of the afternoonWednesday. Power was reportedly out in the entire north-east quadrant of the city; part of the southeast quadrantwas without power; and several downtown blocks werewithout power.

Power was restored to most of the businesses around4 p.m.

Blaze destroys one business, mayaffect others in downtown area

Oh yes! Imdefinitely staying inbusiness. There isno question aboutthat at all,

Barbara Clark,A Quilters Dream

The BreckenridgeIndustrial Found-ation will beproactive aboutwhat were going todo with that site,Stan Carstens,president of BIF

(Staff Photo by Rob Durham)

(Staff Photo by Rob Durham)(Staff Photo by Rob Durham)

(Staff Photo by Don Treul)

(Staff Photo by Don Treul)

From top, clockwise, firefighters battle the fire at the backof the building; Breckenridge Fire Chief Roger McMullenreacts to smoke; Breckenridge Assistant Fire Chief GeorgeRodgers retrieves street lamp that fell during the fire;firefighter Will Warren helps battle blaze; city workercontinued to douse flames the morning after.

SATURDAY, FEBRUAR Y 19, 2005Downtown InfernoBreckenridge American Page 4C

(Staff Photo by Rob Durham)

Top Photo: Firefightersbattled the blaze for aboutfour hours before it wasunder control. Breckenridgefireman Jon Williamsmonitors the flames as theytotally engulfed the front ofthe building. Left Photo:Early efforts to save thebuilding were in vain. RightPhoto: As the fire moved tothe front of the building,efforts shifted to shut offelectricity. TXU ElectricDelivery worker DavidCalvin was on the scene asfirefighters attempt to douseflames over one of the citysmost noticeable murals.Bottom Photo: About an hourafter the fire began, the frontwall of the building camecrashing down.

(Staff Photo by Carla McKeown)(Staff Photo by Carla McKeown)

(Staff Photo by Rob Durham

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