Monday, July 7, 2008

$350,000 Fire Destroys Greenvillage Plant



On July 7, 1965 around 6:15 p.m. lightning struck the Blue Ridge Pre-built Homes Inc., just south of Greenvillage along Route 11. By the firemen arrived the fire had control of the building making it impossible to save any of the contents. At the height of the blaze 150-200 firemen from six companies were involved in battling the fire. A shortage of water hampered the firefighting effort, tankers were used to haul water, the hydrants were used in Greenvillage and lines were laid across the fields to the Conococheague Creek at Sycamore Grove.

The building was a sprawling one story frame and concrete block construction. The facility burnt to the ground along with one nearly completed pre-built home and two others under construction. Four completed homes nearby were damaged. Officials listed damages at $350,000.

By 9:15 the fire was partially under control and some firemen remained on the scene all night. Several firemen were injured but only one was transported to Chambersburg Hospital. The West End Fire and Rescue Company answered the alarm.

With the amount of tankers called from other companies I would have thought the Vigilant's tank truck would have taken in the box, but there is no mention of it in the articles. There is a gentleman out there that reads these and was on the call along with a few others in the past week that may know if he wants to comment or elaborate on the incident.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good color on the old photos.

Anonymous said...

Would this have been in behind where the lighthouse is now? Cressler