In aftermath of Hampden fire residents assess loss of some memories, revival of others
When he heard about the fire Tuesday in
In the early evening, after the blaze had been put out by a crew of more than 70 firefighters, a cleanup worker named
"Is there any other sentimental items that you'd like removed from the house as soon as possible?" she asked.
Workers with Woodmoor Cleaners, a dry cleaning company, shuffled in and out of the homes carrying what could be saved of people's clothing and shoes.
Between the fire and the water used to put it out, there wasn't a whole lot left.
"We're good, we're not miracle workers," said employee
Most of the residents had insurance, said Lake. But not all.
The homes had once been worker housing for a local sailcloth factory, said resident
Tuesday he sat on a neighbor's stoop, having packed up what he could in black garbage bags.
He'd lost his vinyl record collection in the fire, along with most of the rest of his earthly possessions. He had wanted to have the albums digitized, he said.
He could still find them online, Lake suggested.
Not his version of the 1812 Overture. "You can't get that on CD," he said.
A woman and a young boy walked out of their house and over the yellow police tape. She held one of his toy boats and looked at the ground. The boy held a pillow that had somehow managed to stay dry.
Neighbor
Red signs outside the front doors revealed the structures' fate: Condemned.
Blue sky and clouds could be seen through the third story windows.
There have been other fires here through the years, said Cardiff, who lives up the street. "This whole block has had its sorrows."
He survived. So did the house.
"It brings back a lot of memories," he said, viewing the fire scene.
"The smell, the water."
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