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Pocono News Section
Fire Guts Dansbury Depot
Fire Guts Dansbury Depot - Monday, October 26, 2009 at 6:00PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Monday, Oct 26, 2009 @ 06:00pm EDT
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - Fire claimed a piece of history in the Poconos. The Dansbury Depot was built in 1863. In the 1980s a businessman turned it into a restaurant. Monday fire gutted the place. It's on Crystal Street in East Stroudsburg.
One-hundred-forty-five years of history went up in smoke Monday. Dansbury Depot Manager Melanie Guindon said, "This is like the core of East Stroudsburg right here."
Rail history buffs Loretta Rowe and Joseph Fisher heard the fire call at about 2:30 in the morning. They grabbed a video camera and headed out. Loretta said, "The historical value is gone now." Joseph said, "For me personally it's a landmark that I don't think this community can recover so easily from losing."
Soot covers historic pictures and heat melted the famous little train track that once circled the dining room. The most damaged part of the building includes a new sports bar. Firefighters say the owner recently spent thousands of dollars to renovate it.
Guindon said, "New tables, new bar, new air conditioning, worked on the kitchen, new bathrooms - so it's very devastating."
She added, "I was crying. Devastated. We're all gonna be out of a job. We're all a close family."
People who own nearby businesses are also concerned. Frank Summa owns a barbershop across the street from the restaurant. he said, "This is kind of the hub of the business district and it is definitely going to affect it."
Summa also said he's glad firefighter did the best they could. He said, "I'd like to commend the East Stroudsburg fire department for containing the fire to this building."
It's a building full of history and memories of the town that grew up around it.
The owner told firefighters he will likely rebuild. It appears the fire started in the kitchen. Investigators are still trying to figure out what sparked it. | | |
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