Fate of historic Troy building still unknown
At least nine efforts raising money for displaced residents
Heavy equipment is used to access utilities outside the scene of a weekend fire at 451 Broadway on Monday in Troy. The future of the building that long housed the iconic Hill's Stationery on the first floor is still uncertain, John Hill, the building owner, and city officials said Monday. Meanwhile, multiple fundraisers have been set up to aid the residents who lost everything in the fire.
Multiple fundraising campaigns have been launched to assist residents, including the woman who was rescued from a fourth-floor window by firefighters, who lost everything in a devastating fire Saturday that destroyed much of the historic four-story building at 451 Broadway.
The future of the building that long housed the iconic Hill's Stationery on the first floor is still uncertain, John Hill, the building owner, and city officials said Monday. Hill said he expects to meet with his insurance company Tuesday to determine the building's fate.
City crews were severing water service to the heavilydamaged building in which the roof and upper floors collapsed, leaving a large hole on the building's rear eastern corner.
"We're cutting the water connection," said Chris Wheland,the city superintendent of public utilities.
Underneath Broadway is a chaotic world of water, gas, sewer, telephone and cable lines and conduit, Wheland said. This is one of the oldest areas of the city where public utilities were first introduced as early as the late 18th century — making it a place where utility crews have to work gingerly. Patrick Stella, a spokesman for National Grid, said the natural gas service was turned of Saturday and electrical ties were being cut Monday.
At least nine fundraisers have been started on Gofundme to aid the residents of the nine apartments. By Monday evening, a total of $76,144 had been donated.
Jessica Breault of Nashua, N.H., set a goal of $25,000 to help her sister Lindsay Hall and her wife Stephanie Pollan. The “Troy, NY Fire – Help Lindsay and Stephanie Recover” Gofundme effort drew support from 379 donors whose gifts were at $35,825 early Monday evening. surpassing the $25,000 goal.
"It is amazing and I can't thank everyone enough for their generosity. I never dreamed it would raise this much so quickly," Breault said via text message from New Hampshire.
Breault's sister Lindsay Hall was the person city firefighters pulled from a fourth-story apartment window where she was hanging as the fire's intensity and smoke built during the early morning hours Saturday.
"It was really confusing with the smoke," Hall said Monday afternoon. She remembered opening the window and leaning out.
"I leaned out and was yelling," Hall said.
Firefighters had made their way up to the fourth floor as they fought the blaze and looked to get the tenants out to safety. They found Hall and helped get her down the stairs to the front door.
Hall thanked everyone for their support and urged people to donate to the other Gofundme sites related to the fire.
Two separate drives have been started to raise money to assist Kristi Thalmann. "Help Kristi Thalmann Troy, NY Apartment Fire" has raised $4,075 toward a $25,000 goal and "Help Kristi Thalmann Rebuild After Fire" has raised $1,890 toward a goal of $10,000.
Another account has been created for Steve Reisman as "Support for the Broadway Fire & Steve" with a goal of $2,500. "Rachel's House Fire Relief" has raised $995 toward a goal of $5,000.
The "Help Annie Rebuild" fund for Annie Finn has raised $8,825 toward a goal of $15,000. The "Adam and Michael's apartment destroyed by fire" effort has raised $14,906 toward a goal of $20,000
There are two funds for Amy Rose, with "Amy Rose Fire Relief" raising $5,611 with a goal of $5,000 and "Fire relief funds for Amy and friends" raising $4,017 surpassing the goal of $2,000.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Fire Chief Eric Mcmahon said Monday.