Fire in Keyport Razes a Borough Landmark

The Daily Register VOL. 99 N0.61 SHREWSBURY, N. J. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1976 15 CENTS VANDALS STRIKE - This Utility pole at Union Fire in Keyport razes and Jersey Aves., Union Beach, once stood ap- proximately 30 feet high before it was sawed Into two pieces by vandals, police report. They r say vandals, who they believe, are Iuveniies, used a chain saw for the task. The pole is about IS Inches In diameter. Police, members of the Board of Education and concerned citizens are cooperating In an effort to decrease the rash of a borough landmark vandalism In the borough. By DAVID ASTOR KEYPORT - A fire swept through the West Furniture Co. here last night, leveling the nearly 100-year-old building but no injuries were reported Fire Chief Harold Aumack, who coordinated the fire- fighting maneuvers of more than 250 firemen from companies representing about a dozen towns, said that there were a few cases of minor smoke inhalation, but nothing more serious. Neither the Fire Chief nor. police here were able to immediately pinpoint the cause of the fire or provide a loss estimate in the destruction of the three-story wood and block structure. Sgt. George Nadler guessed that it could have been "a million-dollar fire," but was not certain. An Investigation was scheduled for today. The blaze was first reported around 10:15 p.m.'by Albert Bennett, who resides on 72 First St., Immediately next to the West Furniture Co. The fire companies here, first on the scene, were soon followed BATTLING THE BLAZE - Firemen hose the burned to the ground before firemen from about 12 by companies from Union crumbling West Furniture Company building, First communities could control the blaze An In- Beach. Hazlet. Holm- St., Keyport late last night. The nearly 100-year-old vestigation was scheduled by police ond fire offi- del, Middletown, Keansburg. structure caught fire ot about 10:15 p.m. and cials today. (Another photo on page 2). Matawan, Matawan Town- ship, Marlboro, Atlantic High- Brandauer, 2nd Lt. for En- tresses in the furniture store Mr Bennet's house — an IM0 nighl'i fire was the first h* lands, Morganvllle. Old gine Co. 1 in explaining why could provide places where structure that narrowly es- could remember in the furni- Bridge and the Earle Weap- the men came off the roof the fire might linger a long caped the flames ture store since the original ons Depot. "We made a strategic, with- time. Mr. Hannell, his eyes blood- structure was burned In 1171, With the flames raging, the drawal and started a ground The building was apparent- shot and misty, said that all a fire that eventually leveled firemen sprayed the building attack." ly unoccupied when the fire he could do once he arrived half of Keyport The store, from all angles with their Most of the flames were started Richard Hannell, on the scene was watch the one of the largest here, wai Union Beach losing hoses Several men from En- quenched by 11:30 p.m., but manager of the store and a fire founded in UN gine Co. 1 got on the roof of small fires and huge, billow, son-in-law of M year-old own- "I got so shook up that the The crowd watching the the building for several min- ing columns of smoke re- er Herbert West, said he was First Aid had lo give me a blaze was pretty subdued, utes to combat the flames, mained Chief Aumack laid at hu home in Mlddlelown little air," he uld even when firemen attempted but gave It up and got down that wetting down of the ruins when he was called by one of Ai for Mr .West, the man- to knock down the one re- its vandalism battle several minutes before the was continuing this morning his employes who lives here maining wall of the building ager said he was "taking n By JILL HUBER school property have been damaged. Forty- building collapsed at around Robert Knowles, a patrol- "I came down on the Park pretty rough " The owner, a Chief Aumack explained two windows wen- broken in July, and 11 p.m. man for the Monmouth Coun- way and I could see the red resident here, stayed with hit that the wall was knocked UNION BEACH - Despite passage last twenty-nine more were'shattered in August "The fire was too hot and ty Emergency Police, noted sky from a distance, Mr Han daughter during the ordeal down to preclude the post! July or an ordinance establishing parental re- Obviously, this can't go on." heavy for us," said John that the foam rubber mat- nel recounted, as he stood In Mr Hannel said that last See Fire, page i sponsibility for the unlawful conduct and ac- Mr. Arnold and the board have proposed tivities of minors, officials here say the wave the formation of a committee composed of of juvenile vandalism that inspired the mea- board members, residents, police and youth sure does not appear to have subsided. representatives to investigate methods of cur- Police,' borough officials and concerned bing vandalism at the school. citizens, however, are actively involved in an Letters suggesting a joint meeting will be effort to solve the problem, which, although sent by the board to all concerned parties, Salkind wants new leader rampant here, is not unique in this municipal- Mr. Arnold said. , ity. William G. DiMaio, school superinten- By JIM McCORMICK democracy to do that," he spread publicity because of strongly attacked Mayor Ar- he does, he should receive the said. the guessing game which took thur Goldzweig and the cur- nomination because he is a Among the most concerned parties are dent, said the borough's parental responsi- MARLBORO - Morton Sal- place over who would be rent towmhip Democratic political winner, having been members of the Board of Education. bility ordinance has had little effect on the "No boss of a political par- kind has begun his campaign ty will ever be my boss." Mr there Mr Salkind still insists leadership which he (Mr Sal- reelected to the Assembly "Repair costs for broken windows at Me- vandalism problem. for a Democratic nomination Salkind said that Gov Brendan T Byrne kind) helped elect That while Mr Salkind was not morial School have exceeded $2,000 since "Incidents of vandalism were worse this for the state Senate next year would have been there if he means that Mr Salkind has The assemblyman said he July, 1»75," said Harold W. Arnold Jr., board past summer than they've been in the past 10 Mr Salkind said he was with a call for new party (Salkind) last week had not alienated the people who now did not plan or approve ot the president. "Fences and outdoor lighting or. See Union Beach, page 2 "offered an opportunity to ac- leadership that "represents quiesce." He did not clarify asked senior elected officials are at the helm of his politi- alleged "bullet voting " the people." this remark who were Invited not to come cal base Mr Salkind now has taken Mr. Salkind told nearly 500 "But we will go forward to- Mr. Fiorino has continually Last year, all these people as his theme, bringing the persons at his kickoff dinner gether and nobody will buy us insisted, however, that Gov strongly supported Mr Sal- Democratic party back to the Saturday night at the Rob- off," he said. Byrne told him he was not go- kind for reelection Mr Sal- people He has been critical ertsville Firehouse that "we Mr. Fiorino said yesterday ing to attend Almost all coun- kind lost the election to Mrs of what he calls "party bos Carter train makes will clean up the county and that Mr Salkind's comments ty officials and state legisla- Mane A Muhler. a Republi- >es," but has never named this legislative district (Dis- were "just Moby Dick spout- tors interviewed from the can from here, by 271 voles, who he was specifically re- trict 11)." ing again." county said they would not while his running mate, in- ferring to "1 don't take the whole have attended «ven if they cumbent Walter J Kozloski. There were several current The former mayor and as- were invited semblyman did not attack the thing serioulsy and I don't won election by polling 411 and former office holders brief stops in state think anyone else does, ei- The county chairman re- votes more than Mr Salkind from the western part of the party leadership by name fused to sanction the dinner, Mr Salkind recently county at the dinner Satur- ter F. Mondale, D-Minn., who However, it was apparent ther." Mr Fionnosaid NEW YORK (AP) - Jim- National Committee Chair- claiming that the $25 a couple charged that Democrats in day They Include Joseph completes the trip Tuesday that he was referring to John Mr Salkind insists that he my Carter is heading West by man Robert Strauss. event would siphon funds Freehold. Mr Kozloski's po- l.anzaro, former mayor and with whistlestops in Pennsyl- R. Fiorino, county chairman will seek the Democratic Sen- rail on a Harry Truman-style The train is sponsored by from Democratic candidates litical base, deliberately former local Democratic vania, Ohio, Indiana and Il- and county clerk. ate nomination with our with campaign train intended to the DNC, and Carter rides it running this year Many off! voted fur Mr Kozloski but not chairman. Manalapan Com linois. out party support Some polit- add excitement to his White today to rallies and speeches Mr.

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