Click here to subscribe today or Login.
By KALEN CHURCHER [email protected]
Thursday, March 18, 2004 Page: 3A
DURYEA – Barely two months have passed since Betty Bauman sopped up the
flood of water in her Main Street beauty shop from pipes that burst.
On Wednesday morning, the 10-year owner of Hairloom Salon & Day Spa stared
at the charred remains of what had once been a successful business.
“I’m going to have to look for a new place,” Bauman said.
Shortly after 12:30 a.m., fire tore through her business, a podiatrist’s
office and Floral Express, at 505, 503 and 507 Main St., respectively. Eleven
hours after firefighters responded, Excelsior No. 2 was still wetting down hot
spots with the smoky stench of the blaze’s aftermath hanging in the air.
Bauman strained Wednesday morning to see how much damage was done to her
shop. The fallen remnants of an apartment behind the business blocked much of
her view and firefighters stopped her from going beyond police tape.
“It was my dream,” she said as she paced the muddy ground. “I’ve been doing
hair for 28 years and I built this up.”
In January, the burst pipes in the vacant apartments above Bauman’s
business caused thousands of dollars in damage, destroying her spa equipment
and tanning bed, which she has yet to replace. Bauman’s insurance coverage is
for $13,000 – much less than what she says she lost.
Besides the apartment behind Bauman, two upstairs apartments were
destroyed. All apartments were unoccupied. Firefighters Wednesday described
the structure as “a total loss.” The blaze’s cause is under investigation.
Landlord Doug Shrader of Pittston could not be reached Wednesday for
comment.
Kalen Churcher, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7329.
CUTLINE:
TIMES LEADER STAFF PHOTO/DON CAREY
An early morning fire Wednesday gutted three businesses and three
apartments along Main Street in Duryea.