Fire destroys area landmark

Andover - A sign covered with ice and draped with police tape continued to welcome visitors for lunch as curious motorists drove slowly through the Andover Inn’s parking lot. There would be no meals at the restaurant today, tomorrow and probably not for quite some time. A life-threatening fire swept through the 150 year-old landmark structure on Route 206 in the center of town this week, destroying the downstairs restaurant and prompting tenants on the second and third floors to make a daring escape from their residence. The quick reaction of two state police officers, who were responding to an unrelated call in the neighborhood, and an antique shop owner from across the street, prevented anyone from getting seriously injured. Fire officials said the blaze may have been ignited accidentally around 12:30 a.m., Tuesday, by a second-floor tenant before spreading quickly through the roof above the third floor. “I’m not to sure what started the fire, but by the time we got there, it was pretty involved,” said Andover Borough Fire Chief Dennis Walker. Units from six surrounding fire departments including Newton, Andover, Byram, Green and Sparta responded to the scene. Walker said the units were unsuccessful in their attempts to fight the fire inside and instead had to revert to outside measures, which included the use of two aerial trucks. By then, after connecting two hoses to a nearby brook, the frigid temperatures had begun to make containing the fire much more difficult. “It was just so cold and the water was freezing all over the roads,” said Walker. “We tried to make it as much as an inside attack as possible to save the building. It was a long hard effort by our fire department.” Eskil “Skip” Danielson, the county’s emergency response team manager who arrived at the scene with police from surrounding municipalities, said at least 12 people - including two state troopers - were treated for minor injuries such as smoke inhalation. “The first major thing was to get everyone out of the building,” said Danielson. “When a fire goes through the second floor and through the roof, it’s a pretty serious fire.” Danielson said the American Red Cross had made accommodations for the displaced residents of the building. About 50 employees will be out of work as a result of the fire. But a day after the fire, the owner of Arthur’s St. Moritz, in Lake Mohawk, was in the parking lot of the burned restaurant offering work for job seekers. The restaurant, first established in 1856, had reopened as the Iron Mine Grill and Tavern in November after extensive renovations and repairs. Ironically, the new owners had installed an effective exchange system that re-circulates outdoor air into the facility every five minutes to provide a smoke-free dining atmosphere, said Joseph Henriquez, the general manager of the Tavern. The Andover Inn, located in the historic district of the small borough, had served as an overnight stop for stage and rail passengers. Through the years, despite a handful of different owners, much of the structure remained as it was initially built. “It’s the center point of town,” said Walker. “It had become pretty popular. Hopefully, they (owners) will rebuild.”