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passing it later he observed flickering flames behind a neon sign in the front center of the building on Rte. HO.Farnhart said by the time the first fire units arrived from Cottage Hills and Bethalto departments, the front of the building was already in flames.During the blaze, Gladys Watsker, a sister who operated a grocery store in the lumber yard complex, became ill, and was rushed to Alton Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and released Kutter, with employees, sat at a table at the Sunray Cafe, located just across the‘The fire was set,’ says Kutter“The fire was set by someone,” A1 Kutter said this morning as more than 100 firemen attempted to save the Kutter Brothers Lumber Yard “1 hope we can identify him, because this is a terrible thing, said Kutter, as he sipped coffee at the Sunray Cafe across the street from where firemen were battling the blaze.Surrounded by friends and employees, Kutter said a nearby resident told him he heard glass break, and when he looked out his window, he saw flames shooting out of the front of the large lumber ard Besides the lumber business, the former Watsker Grocery, occupied by Suburban Sheet Metal Co., and a home were destroyed by the fire “I paid off my brother s estate and became sole owner of the business January 2. 28 years to the day after we opened there.” Kutter said.“1 don’t think 1 will rebuild,” Kutter said, “because I’ve been in business 32 years, and have gone through two other fires at other locations ... at this point I'm not real sure what I’ll do.“It's not the end of the world, but I’ll have to survey the damage before I make any firm decisions, and will have to talk with my insurance company about fire,” Kutter said He said the building couldn’t be saved because of the intensity of the fire He said he appreciated the efforts of all who responded Firemen from Cottage Hills. Rosewood Heights, Alton, Bethalto. Fast Alton and Wood River responded, as did police from Bethalto. Wood River, Fast Alton, the Madison County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police Medco and Davey Ambulance services also stood by at the sceneFire threatens firm's neighborsFlomes light the sky in the pre-dawn os fire destroys the Kutter Brothers Lumber Co. building in Cottage Hills. Fifty families in homes near the firm on Route 140 wereevacuated as the became more acute Rick Stankoven.danger to surrounding buildings (Photo by Telegraph photographerAlton TelegraphServing Madison, Jersey, Macoupin, Greene and Calhoun CountiesVol. 143 No, 59Km. Jan. 15. 1836Fri.. March 24. 1078 Alton. Ill3 Section* 32 Page* 15'
Newspaper Details
Alton Telegraph
Alton, Illinois, US
Fri, Mar 24, 1978
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Hayner P.
IL, USA 27 Sep 2023
Other Publications Near Alton, Illinois
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