Willoughby Fire - Much as when they had nearly completed rebuilding Captain’s
Quarters Recreation Center when it was torched, we hadn’t heard the sirens that
pre-dawn either. A multi-family condominium structure and nearby home was leveled.
We'd called Mike and Legh
Murphy (nee: Edmonds) to find out the extent of damage on her family’s old summer
home; having spent many past summer afternoons with her and her parents, Maurice Lee
and Geneva Edmonds, drinking lemonade on their deck. Legh felt very fortunate. A
hole was cut in the roof by firefighters since flames caught inside the walls. Part of the
wrap porch was gone. The Edmond's family had moved there in 1942, buying the summer home
from General Marshall.
The Pitchford home (on the other side of the Edmond's) was also a lucky
"survivor". “Boo” Pitchford's daughter, Owen receiving clothing and
various donations at Owen’s Dress Shop, for the families affected.
“Boo” poignantly reflected on the community effort, the Red Cross’
presence, Hardee’s providing coffee and the general outpouring of concerned
neighbors.
At left is Stephen Olzinski, as he dug through rubble all morning with his
nephew, continuing a search for lost family relics. As he found his cuff links from the
U.S. Naval Academy, received his plebe year in Annapolis in 1957, he began to grin.
Shortly thereafter he diligently uncovered old uniforms, smiling here for my camera.
Shows to go ya'-- those among the oldest homes in Willoughby and Ocean
View are made of the the"right stuff"-- whether weather or fiery fury, they keep
on sticking. Shame: they just don't build 'em like that anymore!
See also NFD History!
Part XVI: OV Stormy Weather
See effects of bygone hurricanes in Ocean View
for more tales of survival--
and find out current weather conditions!
rk@rkpuma.com
