The Huron Expositor, 1996-10-09, Page 8S -TNI HURON EXPOSITOR, October 9, 1990
PIZZA
TRAIN
527-0180
MAPLEWOOD
MANOR
527-1440
McGAVIN
FARM SUPPLY
& EQUIPMENT
527-0245
Bee's
Lades. & Men's
Fl ;Mons
527-0278
ty•, S
�r��t hoppe
tr-4-
527-0489
''N°AL .
:STRICT'.
`')1 �� [JIVE
527-0.770
icGRATH
PLUMBING
&" HETING
522-0493
FAMILY DINING
527-1964
527-1142
*For Smoke Detect / R E
•New Fire Extinguishers
& Recharging Depot
•Replacement Batteries
'Fire Escape Ladders
527-1620
ti
1211
SECOND FLOOR FIXES - This is how the newly painted second floor of Box Furniture
now appears. The firewall on the left has been covered over in new drywall. The ceiling
was repaired and painted as well as the wall and trim. New carpeting covers the floor.
ANNA'S REOPENS - Anna's Dress Shoppe was the first of
the three damaged businesses to reopen after the fire.
Businesses rebound from Main Street fire
BY DAVID SCOTT
Expositor Editor
It's a disaeter story with a
happy ending.
The Canada day weekend
fire that destroyed three busi-
nesses on Main • Street,
Seaforth this past summer
could have easily been a far
worseidisaster if it weren't
for the efforts of the Seaforth,
Clinton and Goderich Fire
Departments.
Thankfully no one was
injured in the blaze, one of
the biggest downtown fires in
recent memory. Although
three businesses were lost,
three other stores heavily
damaged by smoke and water
managed to reopen after
extensive cleaning and some
renovations.
Anna's Dress Shoppe, Box
Furniture and Bee's Ladies'
and Men's Fashions (former-
ly Shinen's) were all closed
following the fire. Owners
had to deal with an over-
whelming clean-up, smoke -
damaged inventory and the
loss of business while repairs
were being completed.
"It was hell. It was a stress-
ful summer," said Barb
Betties, co-owner of Box
Furniture with her husband
Gary "Cub" Betties.
"The contractor, Don
Bruxer, worked seven days a
week, sometimes from 7 a.m.
to 9 p.m. We were closed for
12 weeks."
All the staff worked six to
seven days a,week to 4et the
store really.
Immediately following the
fire, all the furniture went to
the Seaforth Agricultural
Society buildings at the fair-
grounds. "We were surprised
there was so much when it
was all laid out. It almost
tilled the building."
Box Furniture, immediately
north of the hurnt-put build-
ing, was probably the worst
hit store. The mutual firewall
shared by the destroyed
building and Box's saved the
generations -old furniture
business.
During repairs, it was dis-
covered that the second floor
NEW SIGN - Bee Foreman took the opportunity of chang-
ing her store name when she was closed following the fire.
FIRE PREVENTION
"Never Try To Fight A Fire Alone"
Ili
ALWAYS KEEP
A FRESH la) extinguisher)
BATTERY
`'ROT
SMOKE
DETECTOR YOUR FARM LIR HOME
For more information on Fire Safety call the following...
REMEMBER TO
HAVE THEM CHECKED!
CHIEF DEP. CHIEF
George Garrick Tom Phillips
527-0873 522-0921
CAPTAIN
Jim Sills
527-1248
CAPTAIN
Rene Dupuis
527-1804
FIRE E NUMBER Y5z7-1100
Seaforth & Area Fire Dept.
joists ran through the fire
wall and were shared with the
burnt building. This was a
major cause of the smokey
smell upstairs.
The worst damage was
against the firewall, including
the staircase area leading to
the second floor.
"We had the (first floor)
white tile ceiling removed. It
was black underneath."
Special urethane foam was
sprayed on the firewall. It
was then straPPed and dry-•
walled.
A Ipt of (he repairs under-
taken by the Betties were
paid for out of their own
pocket and not covered or
required by insurance follow-
ing the fire.' "We re -sanded
the original hardwood floor.
That was our choice. 'We
changed our office and
,rewired."
On the first floor, a new
ceiling was installed, never
walls and new floors were
put in after the fire.
Everything was painted on
the second floor and all new
carpet laid down.
There's not as much display
Space now in the store and
because of the new drywall
on the firewall, there's a little
less room to move furniture
up the stairs.
Even though the store had a
successful smoke sale busi-
ness is behind.
"Even with a good sale
we're not where we would be
after missing two and a half
months of business."
But customers like the new
look of the store.
"It's nice to hear all the
good comments."
Barb Betties is hoping the
debris next door from the fire
is moved soon.
"Our basement display area
is not ready and can't he until
they excavate next door. The
debris left is causing a smoke
smell."
There's a sense of relief to
finally be hack in business.
"We're very happy to he
where we arc and to have it
behind us. It could've been
worse."
Anna's Dress Shoppe
Anna's Dress Shoppe, to
the north of Box Furniture
and a little further from the
fire was able to re -open in
August after having profes-
sional cleaners cleaned "from
the top of the store to the
basement." '
A new ceiling was also put
in as well as new wallpaper
and painting.
"We were closed for the
ARCHIE'S
SERVICE
5g1-11::1
month of July. In August we
opened up with pretty well an
empty store," said owner
Anna Hamilton.
She says the experience of
dealing with the fire and the
clean-up that followed was
"disheartening."
"The customers were very
good and patient."
The' store is now fully
restocked with new fashions.
"I thank my customers for
patronizing me through my
called Bee's. As well as con-
tending with smoke damage
,to their store, the Foremans
had to deal with damage to
their family apartment above
the store.
Bee rushed her family out
to safety early Sunday morn-
ing on June 30 before the
blaze spread.
As far as repairs to the
store, extensive cleaning was
done, the ceilings were low-
ered, new display areas were
NEW WALL COVERING - New slat walling was installed
on the first floor of Box Furniture. The worst damage was
around the firewall, to the right. New drywall is installed
leading up the stairs.
Photos by
David Scott
Bee's Fashions
To the immediate south of
the burnt building is the for-
mer Shinen's store owned by
Bee and Doug Foreman, now
dilemma," says Anna.
She hopes something is
done with the shell of the
building that remains from
the fire.
"I hope the town soon,
cleans up the Main Street."
made and wiring . was
replaced. Bee repainted the
store with help from family
and friends.
She has received many pos-
itive comments and support
from customers and friends.
"I got a lot of calls from
Clinton, Mitchell and Blyth
-from concerned customers:
They wanted me to re -open
and urged me to go on."
Bce thanks her friends for
their "kind words -and
encouragement."
She's happy with the flow
of customers since she re-
opened. "There's so- many
young people in. We cater to�•
all ages." • -
BARRICADE STILL UP - The building destroyed by fire on '
the Canada Day weekend still awaits its fate. A barricade
was installed to protect against possible falling debris.
SEAFORTH
MANOR
527-0030
JIM ETUE
INSURANCE
527-0720