Weather DISTRIBUTION 7 aju. temperatart 21. tamf TODAY tetoy, Wjh In (he S«fc TMtftf, MBBANK dear, low M. Tomorrow and Sat* 23,800 "day, fair and milder, Ugh about M. See weather, page 2. -. 7 DIAL 741-0010 lira* dallr. Montar throuch FrldiT. Btcaoi CI«JI Foiti|« RED BANK, N. J., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1964 VOL. 86, NO. 172 Paid it B*l Bank ui mt Additional Mailing 'Olden. 7c PER COPY PAGE ONE School Fires: What Is Being Done? "Children's lives are ia jeopardy, each day that passes." In the wake of the blaze which Saturday destroyed Union MATAWAN - 1895 Board President John J. Bradley said that in light of That was the comment yesterday of County School Su- Beach's 46-year-old CotUge Park School, Keyport Fire Chief In Matawan stands another multiple-story grammar the Union Beach school fire, the board will re-evaluate its perintendent Earl B. Garrison on school buildings in Mon- Floyd W. Gardner said yesterday of the 93-year-old Keyport school — built in 1895. Last year, Fire Chief Rhea Long- planning, particularly in regard to the 69-year-old Matawan mouth County, particularly older structures, which do not structure: street labeled the structure a fire hazard and declared that Grammar School. have automatic fire alarms. "It should be demolished." it should be torn down. Board members made no comment. In September of last year, the state Board of Education Others before him have made the statement but because issued a new directive requiring automatic fire detection de- In the past year, two schools in the county's Bayshore In the Matawan board's recently-proposed new building - section have burned, along with another in eastern Monmouth. of the "bad tax situation in Keyport" — not for quotation. vices — which are triggered by smoke or heat — to bo in- program, plans were revealed to raze the structure. But stalled in all schools throughout New Jersey except one- So far, no lives have been lost, Chief Gardner said: "Quote me." "Keyport Grammar School was a wreck when I at- even if the program is approved demolition would not come story buildings with doors opening to the outside from each One fire chief called it "pure luck." for about two years. classroom. How long will school boards base their action or lack tended it, 30 years ago. It was over 60 years old then. of action on luck? What is being done about it? Twenty-five years ago, it was condemned but all they did was In the meantime, the board has no plans for automatic Deadline for installations is September, 1968. The oldest three-story school still in use in Monmouth repair it. fire alarms in the building. Present tentative plans, board The state originally had set a three-year deadline, but County is Keyport Grammar School — the first section built "The Union Beach fire should be a lesson. This (Key- secretary F,dward J. Scullion said, are to float a school con- extended it to five. In 1871. It houses more than 450 children. port) school should come down before there's a tragedy; struction bond issue in 1967 which would include enough Mr. Garrison, however, does not feel that boards should For decades, local officials have referred to it in terms Kids get burned to death and then the people won't worry money to install automatic alarms throughout the school sys- wait that long to install the protective systems, particularly ranging from "unsafe" to "a firetrap." about taxes." ' • • * tem. He estimates the total cost at $20,000. (See SCHOOL FIRES, Page 3) Loss Set at $300,000 Freehold Stores Burn FREEHOLD — An ugly mix- 10 a.m. yesterday, a gray-brown where the new Court House- at the scene, commented, "It's a are located at 36-38 West Main ture of waiter and char blights smoke column rose to more than Square building now stands. terrible loss to the town." St., owned by the estate of Max the south side of West Main St. 500 feet and was reported seen Three buildings containing 10 Snider, Rose Grunstein of Miami after yesterday's stubborn fire from as far away as the Colling- Terrible Loss' Damage from yesterday's dis- stores and offices were com- Beach, executrix; 40 West Main gutted three buildings at the west wocd traffic circle, a distance of pletely burned out and were left St., owned by the Old Monmouth end of the block. approximately eight miles. aster was estimated by Council- man Antihony B. Smith, a mem- in a state of partial collapse. Realty Co., here, and 42-44 West The fire, discovered at 9:05 It was Freeflwld's second ma- ber of Freehold Good Will Hook Firemen plan demolition of sev- Main St., owned by Leo Mog- a.m., still licked sullenly at black- jor business-district fire in less and Ladder Co. No. as $300,- eral walls left standing because land, also here. ened nibble smoldering at 5 than two years. In April, 1962, a 000. of danger to pedestrians and ad- Contained to S o'clock last night. $500,000 fire destroyed a block Councilman Frank K. Woolley, jacent buildings. Stores and offices burned out At the height of the blaze, about of stores and offices on the lots who spent a good part of the day The three buildings destroyed were Freehold Bowling Acad- emy; Central Dental Laborator- ies; the offices of Dr. Howard Donowitz, optometrist; Durand's Blaze May Help Boro men's clothing store; Frank's Shoes, Inc., Freehold Paint Store; the Fabric Center; the Elizabeth Heit Cotton Shop; Lop- In Dealing With State atin Electric Co.; the offices of the U. S. Department of Agricul- AERIAL ATTACK — Freehold's new aerial ladder fir* tnjck Waits a ih-eam of water FREEHOLD — "This ought to 1,250.000 to 2,000,000 gallons. ture Stabilization and Conserva- onto the bisiing roof of the Freehold Bowling Academy during yesterday's disastrous "»J" '« to get the bo* No decision was reached at a tion service, and a barn behind commission hearing Jan. 30, Jj j • B the bowling lanes. firt, which gutted three buildings on West Main St. The a«ri*| attack was largely _ when the matter was adjourned B J_^_-JB- Borough officials praised local responsible for keeping the fir* from spreading to the Birch Building, «f left, which gazed despondently at yester- until Feb. 5. On Feb. 5, the hear- - • " ' firemen and reinforcements from wis not harmed. **?'* «M» blMe °" West ing was concluded, but decision 10 neighboring municipalities who was reserved. Main St kept the blaze, which could easily A decision on the well is hoped An objection to the new well have spread to adjoining build- for by March 12 or 14, Borough by the Freehold Water and Util- ings, confined to the three struc- Attorney Clifton T. Barkalow ity Company would permit its in- tures destroyed. stid yesterday while the fire still stallation only if the borough will Particularly effective in this Bus Strike May burned. supply water from it to the util- part of the fight was the bor- The blaze, which completely ity company. ough's new aerial ladder truck, destroyed three buildings housing The objection was disallowed bought last year after the 1982 10 stores and offices, sharply by the commission, Mr. Barka- fire on East Main St. Firemen pointed up the need for an addi- low explained, insofar as supply- used the. largest nozzle a-nd tional supply of water in the bor- ing water to the utility is con- poured water -i into the fire all Be Settled Today day, from the -truckfa hi^i tower. ough. Water pressure dropped so cerned. However, he added, the low during the course of the fire commission said that its policy Assisting local firemen were USD BANK - The bus driv steward at the company's Asbury when the buses, which had been companies from • Roberteville, aw' strifes against the Asbury Park garage and a member of carrying about 1,000 commuters that water had to be supplied by is to "consider the possibility of Freehold Water and Utility Com- AdelpWa, Englishtown, Gordon's PUfcNew York Transit Company the union wage negotiation team, day to New York City, will roll the physical installation of an NEW BOROUGH WELL? — Freehold Mayor Frank E. Corner, Freewood Acres, Howell pany and Minnesota Mining and interchange connection for emer- It beaded for settlement today— said after the meeting, "I feel again, but it could be a few days Gibson hopes that yesterday's blaze, during which low- Township; Manalapan, Lakehurst, 101 days after it started. very good tonight." from now. Manufacturing Co., both of gency use." Freehold Township. Colts Neck and Marlboro. The. drivers will meet in the There is no positive word on However, the company will The utility company also ob- water pressure showed up the borough's need for ad- Additional Water Molly Pitcher Inn at 4 o'clock make an announcement tomor- The borough, Mr. Barkalow re- jected to the new well on grounds ditional water, will make it easier to obtain state Water row—if the drivers approve the lated, applied Nov. 14 to the that it would lower the area wa- Additional supplies of water this afternoon to vote on a 31 Policy Commission approval for the proposed new well were contributed by Freehold page contract agreed upon by contract—Louis Rollo, Jr., com- state Water Policy Commission ter table to the detriment ol the pany vice president, said. for authority to drill a third well , „,,,.._,, aterworks Rd.