Fire Ruins Vogel Building

SUNNY COD The Daily Register VOL. 100 NO. 190 SHREWSBURY, N. J. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8. 1978 15 CENTS Fire ruins Vogel building Recently purchased by Nadler Furniture By ANN BRENOFF Dense smoke, carried by combined with the icy roads southeasterly winds, menaced to make the task of getting to LONG BRANCH - A city other shops along Broadway. the fire a difficult one for the landmark, the former VogeTs Firemen, fearrul that the city's volunteer fire force Department Store, was rav- roof might collapse, were The Initial alarm was aged by a spectacular fire unable to enter the flaming sounded at approximately early today which fire offi- structure. 1:45 a.m., said the chief. cials have called "highly sus Flocks of pigeons who had Aerial ladders from Oak- long called the awnings of the hurst, Red Bank and West The 72-year-old department old Vogel building "home" Long Branch were dispatched store at Third Avenue and found their quiet dwelling In to help. Monmouth Beach, Broadway, which closed Us utter turmoil last night. doors in 1975, was sold last Deal and Oceanport units week to Allen Nadler. It was They fluttered In confusion were also at the scene. slated to reopen as the Nadler onto neighboring rooftops, "We've got about 200 or furniture chain's main retail firetrucks and into the arms more men out here," said center. of several onlookers Chief Cook, "but we can't get "I've called for a second inside the building " The Nadler chain had oper- alarm," said Chief Cook after The second alarm, he said, ated another large store in the magnitude of the blaze See Fire, page 3 Red Bank until that was de- stroyed by a massive fire in February 1170. That fire, also suspected ar- son, was the subject of an in- tensive, although in- conclusive, investigation. Mr. Nadler could not be reached tor comment early this morning As Long Branch firemen, assisted by firefighters from six other municipalities, bat- tled the dense black smoke and leaping flames, a crowd gathered to watch the demise of the building. Flaming embers, carried by thp wind, threatened neighboring buildings. The huge flames lit up Broadway and could be seen from all quar- ters of the city. A lone figure huddled in the shadows of the blaze, stand- SPECTACULAR FIRE ing on the comer of Third Av- — Smoke and flames enue and Broadway. Tears pour out all sides of the brimmed in his eyes. four-story former Vo- He was identified by sev- . gel's Department Store eral Broadway store owners In Long Branch, early as George Vogel, former own- today as firemen try to er and operator of the store contain spectacular for 30 years. FIRE REFUGEE - Charles Williams of Grant blaze and save neigh- "I can't comment now," Court, Long Branch, holds one of the hundreds of boring businesses, such Mr. Vogel said softly. stunned pigeons that were forced from their perch as Opholstery shop "Please. It's a part of me," atop the former Vogels Department Store. I (foreground top photo). he said of the burning store." At right, firemen train As he spoke, firemen broke hoses on door In antici- through still another section pation of. flames burst- of roof to ventilate what Fire Sea Bright story: Ing through. Photos by Chief Ray Cook called "noth- Register staffer Carl Fo- ing short of a furnace," re- rlno. ferring to the inside of the four-story brick building. People thankful Mr. Vogel Just turned away. By ANN BRENOFF borough homes — after the Leaping flames shot from water left, that is. the roof as the holes were SEA BRIGHT - Sea Bright "Just look at this," moaned axed. The front doors, long residents were "just damn a woman as she hauled a since boarded up, were thankful to be here" yes- ruined carpet from her home yanked (ree by firemen to on the ocean. further ventilate the building. terday as they assessed mil- lions of dollars in damages to "I've never seen anything their homes, cars and town in like it," said Chief Carmody. the wake of Monday's ravag- "I've seen (Hurricanes) ing storm. Esther, Donna and Belle — High tides flooded the en- but nothing like this," he con- Monmouth crawls back from storm tire borough with waters in tinued. excess of four feet, forcing By DAVID TURNER Conrail and the two area running out of." on duty from 4 a.m. Monday gency with a burst of volun- hospital was able to provide the evacuation of many bus lines, Asbury Park-New He said that customers on, to provide any possible as- teer help and employee loyal- minimal coverage for its borough residents. Picture, page 3 Venturesome county resi- York Transit Co. and New were generally in good spirits sistance to area municipal- ty mixed with the cam- patients, during the storm. As they returned to their dents pulled on their boots York-Keansburg-Long Branch despite the storm. ities. eraderie of a shared ex- About 25 to 30 employees flooded apartments and ."I figured that we wouldn't and buttoned-up their over- Bus co. said they would re- "Normally they're very Along with National perience. slept on the grounds, unable homes, they marveled at the have to worry anymore about coats as they headed out to sume their regular schedules grouchy and moody, but Guardsmen, the county assist- Michelle Demko, nursing to reach their homes, and extent of damage "just plain having to put an inlet to the work, school and shopping today. toaay they were happy," he ed In the evacuation of resi- supervisor at Bayshore Com- rooms at the facility were set water" can cause. ocean In (for boats). The today, after a two-day holiday Conrail ran Its Saturday said. dents of Sea Bright, Mon- munity Hospital in Holmdel, aside for this purpose. "There were waves coming whole borough was an inlet," imposed by Old Man Winter. schedule yesterday, while the The president of Colonial mouth Beach, Long .Branch, said most of the hospital's Jane Hollander, director of down my street," exclaimed a said the chief. Most schools, businesses, bus companies ran part-time First National Bank, Barry and Avon during flood condi- employees were at work yes- public information at Mon- shocked resident of Sandpiper Blank of Rutnson, said that tions. terday, and the hospital sent mouth Medical Center, said Lane. Her car had been The Monmouth Beach Bath- and government offices were schedules. ing Pavilion sustained exten- closed down yesterday, and One supermarket manager banks were closed all day The county provided cots out their van to pick up nurs- volunteers walked into the floated several feet before yesterday, because of the lim- and blankets for emergency es stranded by the snow. hospital to offer assistance. coming to rest wrapped sive damage to its beach, many expected to be closed reported that customers were fencing, parking lot and pool. buying "basics, like bread, ited state of emergency de- shelters In several towns, and At Riverview Hospital, Red while nursing personnel in around a fallen mailbox. down again today, as area It's parking lot was strewn residents attempted to dig out potatoes, milk, and rock salt, clared by the governor. for the staff of snowed-in Bank, many employees slept some cases worked three and Residents of the north end which no one had, and snow "It's very unusual. I have a Freehold Area Hospital. at the hospital with cots four shifts. The hospital secu- with rocks, sand and debris. from under the worst snow of Sea Bright were hit the Stone fences on the west storm In more than 30 years. shovels, which everyone was feeling that it's been many, High-wheeled county ve- placed in the auditorium and rity personnel operated a hardest by the storm. The many years since the banks hicles provided transportation beds available on the sixth shuttle service town-by-town side of Ocean Avenue in Mon- 1 state Department of Trans- mouth Beach were ripped in were closed. We're obligated for the staffs of Monmouth floor. Police and volunteers along a prescribed route toil portation ordered shut the by law to be open every busi- Medical Center, Long Branch, aided In bringing employees bring in the staff. pieces and littered the main portion of Ocean Avenue be- thoroughfare. ness day," he said. and the Jersey Shore Medical to the faculty. In Shrewsbury Township tween the Rumson Bridge and The Inside Story The county coordinator of Center, Neptune. Roy Ettlinger, executive di- the mayor and two coun- the Highlands Bridge. The Monmouth County Red Civil Defense and Disaster Hospitals throughout the rector of Marlboro Psy- cilmen directed their own Cross coordinator, William Police Chief John Carmody THE WEATHER Control, Bernard Koch, was county met the snow emer- chiatric Hospital, said the See MMmMiia, page 3 Murray, said that the Sea said that the road would be Bright recreation center re- Suiy aid c*M May aid iMimw, Com- closed "for as long as the mained open through last plete repnt M page t. state orders it so" and noted night as an evacuation post. that huge chunks of the sea The facility serviced ap- Mart! Grai parties II The Register prints fall press run wall remain strewn through- proximately 80 people on, feus are eeaauUeal 14 out the roadway. Monday night and was still Mam KO'i heal tparU date... 17 The weather was horrendous.. .but The Daily Regis- to produce and distribute the paper.

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