Crossett Rebuilds After Downtown Fire
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Crossett merchants are trying to move on after
a fire destroyed downtown`s oldest building and parts of adjacent
structures.
The three-story Masonic Building on Main Street, Crossett`s
first brick structure, built in 1913, was ravaged by a December
fifth blaze.
Assistant Fire Chief Todd Freeman says the fire required several
area fire departments and four hours to squelch.
The building was named for the Masonic lodge on the third floor,
but also contained offices for the Crossett Company, the local
forerunner of Georgia-Pacific, the lumber-products company that
became the cornerstone of the local economy.
In fact, the company even had a hand in fighting the fire.
Freeman says the town`s lone ladder truck was in Florida for
maintenance and Georgia-Pacific had donated money so the fire
department could rent a replacement truck.
Posted By Mike Hellgren
