Raging fire destroys historic building in South Otselic
SOUTH OTSELIC – According to local residents and firemen, Sunday was a sad day for South Otselic, which saw the demise of a historic building due to a raging fire.
City of Norwich Fireman Travis Burlingame said the fire at the beloved building named the “Cox Block” in South Otselic – off of state Highway 26 – was reported at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14. It was initially reported as a “stove fire” in a kitchen.
South Otselic firemen responded to the scene, along with a ladder truck from Norwich and an engine and tanker from Pharsalia and Cincinnatus. Pharsalia, Cincinnatus, Plymouth, Smyrna, Georgetown, Norwich and DeRuyter fire stations were among those who responded to the fire.
The first fire chief on the scene reported a stove fire in an apartment above the South Otselic General Store. The chief requested a ladder truck from Cincinnatus and a “full response” or “all equipment” from DeRuyter.
“It was an older building fire that spread rapidly. Before long, the whole structure was on fire,” said Burlingame.
Georgetown and Plymouth were quickly requested for an engine and tanker. Smyrna was requested for manpower and two additional tankers.
“The fire was reported under control at around 3 p.m., but due to the size of the building and fire, extensive overhaul needed to be completed,” said Burlingame.
Crews remained on the scene for several more hours and conducted overhaul. NYSEG, the Red Cross, and an ambulance from CMT were requested to standby.
The age of the building and the way it was constructed greatly impacted how fast the fire spread, according to Burlingame.
“The crews did a hell of a job,” said Burlingame. “Many of them have probably never seen a fire of this magnitude.”
State Highway 26 was closed between County Road 42 and Stage Road due to the commercial fire and overhaul for multiple hours. County Road 13 was also closed at the intersection of state Highway 26 for multiple hours. Drivers had to drive away from the hamlet of South Otselic.
The Cox Block was a nationally registered historic building in Chenango County. The building was built in 1890. It once housed a bank, among other commercial businesses over the years.
The building recently had 10 apartments (of which five were rented), The South Otselic General Store (which had been there for many years) and a satellite office for the Chenango County Sheriff's Office.
Laura Hakes Davis, daughter of the owners of the now burned building, said she and her family are sad about the loss.
Davis' parents, Bruce and Lonnie Hakes, bought the building with their late daughter, Kelly Hakes, two years ago. “Together they wanted to restore the building and make it something to be proud of. They wanted to bring the pride back to the center of South Otselic,” said Davis.
When Kelly Hakes passed away in December of 2012, it was up to Davis's parents to restore the historic building. “My parents took on the task. They painted, restored and cleaned up the building,” said Davis.
Davis said it started as “kind of joke” that her family bought the “Cox Block,” but that after it was restored, they were proud of the building and thought it “represented Otselic Valley very well.”
Shane Jolliff, 38, who was born and raised in South Otselic, said he lived in the building as a toddler. When he was a teenager and the bank was in the Cox Block, he opened his first checking account there.
“I have so many memories. The Cox Block was the heart of town,” said Jolliff.
Longtime South Otselic resident Melissa Mandeville, 50, also said she has a lot of good memories at the Cox Block. “It is such a tragedy. I remember when it caught on fire when I was 11 years old, but it's hitting me harder this time, along with the entire village,” said Mandeville.
Mandeville said friends from all over the country –who grew up in South Otselic– are feeling the loss of the historic building. “It was the hub of the community,” she said. “It's hard to explain to outsiders.”
While Davis also feels the fire was a tragedy, she said, “The main thing is, no one was hurt. Everything else is just stuff.”
In remembrance of the Cox Block, Mandeville added, “I am very proud to have grown up there.”
City of Norwich Fireman Travis Burlingame said the fire at the beloved building named the “Cox Block” in South Otselic – off of state Highway 26 – was reported at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14. It was initially reported as a “stove fire” in a kitchen.
South Otselic firemen responded to the scene, along with a ladder truck from Norwich and an engine and tanker from Pharsalia and Cincinnatus. Pharsalia, Cincinnatus, Plymouth, Smyrna, Georgetown, Norwich and DeRuyter fire stations were among those who responded to the fire.
The first fire chief on the scene reported a stove fire in an apartment above the South Otselic General Store. The chief requested a ladder truck from Cincinnatus and a “full response” or “all equipment” from DeRuyter.
“It was an older building fire that spread rapidly. Before long, the whole structure was on fire,” said Burlingame.
Georgetown and Plymouth were quickly requested for an engine and tanker. Smyrna was requested for manpower and two additional tankers.
“The fire was reported under control at around 3 p.m., but due to the size of the building and fire, extensive overhaul needed to be completed,” said Burlingame.
Crews remained on the scene for several more hours and conducted overhaul. NYSEG, the Red Cross, and an ambulance from CMT were requested to standby.
The age of the building and the way it was constructed greatly impacted how fast the fire spread, according to Burlingame.
“The crews did a hell of a job,” said Burlingame. “Many of them have probably never seen a fire of this magnitude.”
State Highway 26 was closed between County Road 42 and Stage Road due to the commercial fire and overhaul for multiple hours. County Road 13 was also closed at the intersection of state Highway 26 for multiple hours. Drivers had to drive away from the hamlet of South Otselic.
The Cox Block was a nationally registered historic building in Chenango County. The building was built in 1890. It once housed a bank, among other commercial businesses over the years.
The building recently had 10 apartments (of which five were rented), The South Otselic General Store (which had been there for many years) and a satellite office for the Chenango County Sheriff's Office.
Laura Hakes Davis, daughter of the owners of the now burned building, said she and her family are sad about the loss.
Davis' parents, Bruce and Lonnie Hakes, bought the building with their late daughter, Kelly Hakes, two years ago. “Together they wanted to restore the building and make it something to be proud of. They wanted to bring the pride back to the center of South Otselic,” said Davis.
When Kelly Hakes passed away in December of 2012, it was up to Davis's parents to restore the historic building. “My parents took on the task. They painted, restored and cleaned up the building,” said Davis.
Davis said it started as “kind of joke” that her family bought the “Cox Block,” but that after it was restored, they were proud of the building and thought it “represented Otselic Valley very well.”
Shane Jolliff, 38, who was born and raised in South Otselic, said he lived in the building as a toddler. When he was a teenager and the bank was in the Cox Block, he opened his first checking account there.
“I have so many memories. The Cox Block was the heart of town,” said Jolliff.
Longtime South Otselic resident Melissa Mandeville, 50, also said she has a lot of good memories at the Cox Block. “It is such a tragedy. I remember when it caught on fire when I was 11 years old, but it's hitting me harder this time, along with the entire village,” said Mandeville.
Mandeville said friends from all over the country –who grew up in South Otselic– are feeling the loss of the historic building. “It was the hub of the community,” she said. “It's hard to explain to outsiders.”
While Davis also feels the fire was a tragedy, she said, “The main thing is, no one was hurt. Everything else is just stuff.”
In remembrance of the Cox Block, Mandeville added, “I am very proud to have grown up there.”
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