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Postcard: Hotel Normandie 37th and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA Click here to buy this item now on Delcampe   | |
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Lot #8357 | |
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Subject: Hotel Normandie 37th and Chestnut Streets,
Philadelphia, PA Condition: Fair (See scans) Back side: Divided Circulated: Yes Year: 1909 Publisher: Hugh C. Leighton Company Postmark: September 3, 1909, Philadelphia, PA "Monday, January 8, 1968 dawned as a clear, cold morning with several inches of snow on the ground. The Normandie Retirement Hotel, located on the northeast corner of 36th and Chestnut streets in the University City section of West Philadelphia, was a seven story, brick, "E"-shaped building measuring 100 by 200 feet. This apartment-type building was occupied by more than 300 residents. Shortly before daybreak one of its residents accidentally started a fire in a pile of newspapers in his second floor apartment. The occupant attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful as the fire quickly grew beyond his control. At about 6:45 AM he began to alert his fellow residents. Simultaneously a passerby on the street observed smoke from the second floor and pulled fire alarm box 1722 at 36th and Chestnut streets. An on-duty police officer observing the same notified police radio, who, in turn, notified the fire department. Upon receiving this report of fire, the Fire Alarm Room transmitted Box 1722 at 6:47 AM with a response of four engine companies, two ladder companies, two battalion chiefs, and a fire rescue squad. Deputy Fire Chief Joseph McKenna, the on-duty chief of Philadelphia's 1st fire-fighting division, was also notified by Fire Alarm Supervisor John Loughney. The first arriving companies had visible fire showing from two windows on the second floor. Engine Co.5 commenced an interior attack by taking 1½" water line and connecting to the building's interior standpipe. However, open standpipe outlets throughout the building prevented Engine 5 from obtaining adequate water. Given the significant life hazard two additional alarms were ordered within the next fifteen minutes to facilitate evacuation and fire fighting. By 7:40 AM the 5th alarm had been ordered and the responding companies were committed to an extensive evacuation and rescue effort. As the evacuation was proceeding, the fire was extending throughout the entire structure by way of open walls extending to the top floor of the building. Upon successfully completing the evacuation of this building, fire fighting personnel were ordered out of the building, and an exterior fire fighting attack was undertaken. By 8:50 AM, four additional alarms had been ordered bringing the response to nine alarms." (Attribution: http://pafirenews.net/messageboard/index.php?topic=5798.15) Lot #8357 | |