MOUNT VERNON — The Salvation Army and the Knox County Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to the scene of a fire at 112 E. Gambier St., Tuesday afternoon.
Five apartments, housing at least seven residents, were destroyed by the blaze. The American Red Cross set up residents of three of the apartments with assistance Tuesday evening, according to Keith Hughes of the Red Cross. Residents of one apartment went elsewhere for help, and residents of the fifth apartment initially refused help, although Hughes said they later changed their minds and planned to sign up for help today.
“Usually after the shock wears off, that’s when they realize they need us,” Hughes said.
The Salvation Army, located just a block away from the fire, also rendered assistance Tuesday evening, according to The Salvation Army’s Maude Proper.
“We opened a campaign providing refreshments and warmth to firefighters working the fire,” Proper said.
She added that The Salvation Army will be available to offer extended help to residents displaced by the fire after the Red Cross’ standard two nights of housing are finished.
Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn Christy had high praise for the police department for barricading the streets while firefighers fought the blaze. Vine and Gambier Streets and Ohio Avenue were completely closed, and parts of South Gay, East, South McKenzie and South McArthur streets, the cross streets east and west of the scene, were barricaded. According to Mount Vernon Streets Department superintendent David Carpenter, the streets were shut down around 5:30 p.m.
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“But then we did have some issues with many vehicles driving over our hoses under pressure,” Christy said, adding that could easily ruptured hoses. Driving over fire hoses, he said, is also against the law.
Carpenter said that the barricaded streets were reopened late Tuesday evening, before midnight. Gambier Street was shut down again briefly this morning for a flare-up of the smoldering fire, which was quickly controlled by firefighters.
The house, owned by Wayne Gottke for 11 years, is known as the H.M. Young House. Built around 1840, the two-story home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home is of the Greek Revival style of architecture, with Doric column supporting the potico. Wings flanking the center section were added in the early 1900s.
Upon hearing about the fire, Janet Wacker of the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, did a bit of research into the home, which was Young’s residence. According to the 1876 White’s Mount Vernon Directory, Young was a dealer in leather and wool, whose store was on the west side of Public Square.
An article in the Democratic Banner stated that Young came to Knox County in 1850 with his parents. He died Dec. 31, 1888. His will stated he owned the storeroom and building on the southwest corner of Public Square.
None of the firefighters were injured and there was no damage to any of the equipment.
