Chapin's Drugstore Catches Fire!

Monday, December 3, 2007 12:25 A.M.

    The fire whistle blew one short and soft sounding blast, the fire truck lights were visible from the front windows for an instant and that was all we knew for the night.

At 7:30 A.M. the firemen were rolling up the hoses that were stretched to our corner and one lane of the road (our side) from Glendive to Jordan was blocked-off. There were lights flashing between the Corner Bar and Hale's Conoco Gas Station.  And since neither of us had ventured out we didn't know what the situation was.

By 10:30, Jane had gone to the Post Office and had seen that it Was Chapin's Drugstore was the location of the fire.

The fire gutted the building there are no floors or ceilings from the roof to the concrete floor of the basement. The only occupant of the three apartments in the back of the building escaped safely.  He smelt the smoke and got out clad in his PJs with only his wallet and pick-up keys, well, that's the current story going town.  The Corner Bar was still open at that time and I believe the man then called in the fire, not positive on this fact as of Tuesday evening.

Shortly after that I left for a quick trip to Glendive and by 2:30 P.M. Monday afternoon I took these three pictures. And at 5:45 P.M. nothing had changed, though on Tuesday morning a fence was blocking access to the opening into the building. Our guess is that some time after 6 P.M. the fence was placed to prevent anyone from falling into the basement of the building.

Taken from the corner of Hale's Conoco gas station by the gas pumps

Taken from across the street in front of the AIM Insurance office

Taken across Main Street from Larson's True Value and in front of the gazebo steps

 

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