I remember the day that he 5&10 burned down. It was early morning and summer time. I had to go to band practice which was mandatory at BBHS if you were in band. I was getting ready when the fire whistles blew, could actually smell the smoke from my house several blocks away and there was a smoky cloud all over town. My granmother dropped me off at the school and couldn't wait to get out of there. Of course as a kid in Bound Brook, some of the biggest thrills were chasing the fire trucks and seeing where the Rescue Squad was off to!! I got out of practice and ran home to get on my bike and go see the excitement. This fire was an all day event with the train station plaza being full of spectactors. The fire lasted all day. Those poor firemen worked hard along with assistance from the neighboring towns to put that inferno out. It was quite a day. Unfortunately that was the end of the 5&10. They did open for a few brief years later in a much smaller downtown storefront but it just wasn't the same. Now a small park occupies the space where that grand building once stood. Another piece of history and great bygone architecture had gone by the wayside.
When Klumpus reopened down by Lorrees drug store my Aunt Helen worked for the young couple that ran it for a few years. I used to see them most nights in Bound Brook Diner where they ate supper after closing the store. Doi you remember the fire at Archies Men Shop ? That was a BIG ONE too. Dixie
I don't recall the Archies fire but I do remember the big one at Hoagland's and the paint store. They used to occupy the empty lot where Kurtz's paper store is by the train station. Also remember the big one that Loree's Drug Store had and they were filling prescripts out of a trailer serve the towns people so no one had to go without.
I remember the Klompus fire well including the fire at the corner by where Kurtz was and Lorees Drug Store Fire quite well. There was a park set up at the old Klompus lot but they did away with it when Bill II purchased it for their parking lot quite a few years ago. It is the parking lot for Dougs Diners now.
Does anyone remember the big fire at the Nutex building on Main Street? It may of been before your time J. Anyway I think I already mentioned it on this forum that the same lot is were Rick's Cycle Center was built on back in the late 60's. That Nutex Fire was the largest fire I ever saw.
-- Edited by RollingStone at 14:29, 2008-04-16
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I definitely remembered the Klompus fire - I was right down the alley from it. Joesdad hit it on the head again - we loved counting the fire whistles and chasing the fire trucks. What else was there - we didn't have 300 channels of TV to watch and cell phones and computers but we were definitely the happiest kids around.
We sure did have summer practice. I was still playing the drums then. You probably got a ride with me that morning with Caroline in the Rambler!!! I remember being preoccupied and couldn"t wait to get out of there to go see the fire. If i recall, we rode our bikes down to the fire together. And yes, we chased the fire trucks, rescue squad, and didn't tell our parents about watching the trains at the Vosseler Ave. crossing because we weren't really allowed by the tracks!
I remember that fire well. I have a memory for stupid things to boot like August 1 when it burnt and Saturday morning it was. I remember being told it started due to faulty sewer venting and a guest at the Berkely threw a lit cigarette into the toilet and wham. I don't remember hearing stories of a guest flying through the roof when the toilet exploded, but way back when, I'd be surprised buildings had proper codes. I agree, the loss of that store was devasting to the main street area. Like I said, I have a memory for stupid stuff and this one was implanted in my head.
