FROSTBURG — Repairs were under way Monday at the Hotel Gunter at 11 W. Main St. following Saturday’s collapse of an interior section of the historic three-story building.
The 8:30 a.m. incident reportedly occurred without any injuries and displaced up to 28 tenants who occupied 19 apartments in the building. The tenants were evacuated and moved to local motels through assistance of the American Red Cross after the structure was temporarily condemned immediately following the incident.
Late Monday morning, hotel owner Jake Failinger worked feverishly to coordinate necessary repairs in order to get his tenants back to their residences as soon as possible.
“I’m working on everything right now. Harbel Construction is over there starting to work on the building right now. We’re trying to get it dried out. There’s a lot of moisture to deal with. I also have an electrician down there and a certified fire sprinkler and fire alarm man there,” said Failinger.
No estimates were immediately available concerning the damage to the building that contains 14 hotel rooms in addition to 19 apartments.
Failinger said efforts were continuing with city officials to arrange a time Tuesday during daylight hours when tenants could safely re-enter the building to retrieve some of their belongings. He also has been in discussions with his insurance company regarding accommodations for his tenants since the Red Cross assistance provided only three days of motel accommodation.
Repairs to the sprinkler system and the fire alarm system must be completed before tenants will be allowed to return home, according to Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Frostburg building code enforcement officer Mark Monnett said Monday the integrity of the building was not compromised by the interior collapse, which he said covered a 30-by-30-square-foot section near the dining room. “The (Allegany County) collapse team did place some temporary stabilization support in that area as a precaution,” he said.
“Right now the process involves removing the debris and getting the building closed up from the weather and getting it to the point where you can turn the utilities back on,” said Monnett, who was meeting with various officials later in the day concerning the hotel recovery.
The building was temporarily condemned by the city of Frostburg since all utilities were shut off by the collapse. The fire marshal’s office temporarily condemned the structure due to the loss of the sprinkler and fire alarm system.
Failinger also expressed appreciation for the response to Saturday’s potentially life-threatening incident.
“I appreciate what everyone has done — the Frostburg Volunteer Fire Department has been a big help, the Red Cross putting up tenants in the motels and all the support we have received from the community,” he said.
Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.
Local News
Related Photos
-
John A. Bone
Repairs under way at historic Frostburg hotel following interior collapse
Gunter temporarily condemned, owner working on arrangements for tenants
- Local News
-
-
School board to make case against Myers’ bill
State lawmakers should stay out of local school board business when it comes to deciding where children go to school when an out-of-county school is closer to home.
-
LOVE’S IN THE AIR
Barbershop quartet singers, from the left, Lisa Tompkins, Kevin McKenzie, Roger Anderson and Wendy Anderson perform at a Valentine luncheon at the Gordon-Roberts House on Washington Street Saturday. The group entertained those in attendance with love songs.
-
State reforms on board agenda
The Allegany County Board of Education will hear an update on state education reform efforts when it meets Tuesday night.Chief Academic Officer Janet Wilson is scheduled to speak about state reforms during a regular work session at 5 p.m.
-
Romney holds off Ron Paul, wins Maine
Mitt Romney narrowly won Maine’s Republican caucuses, state party officials announced Saturday, providing his campaign with a much-needed boost after three straight losses earlier this week. But the former Massachusetts governor won just a plurality of the Maine vote, suggesting he still has work to do to unite GOP voters behind his candidacy.
-
Learning experience
Todd Blowe walks with his son A.J., 4, as he learns to ride his bike Friday on North Centre Street in Cumberland.
-
Garrett lawmakers won’t pursue collective bargaining
Garrett County’s two lawmakers in Annapolis have decided not to pursue the Garrett County commissioners’ request to be granted legislative authority to mandate collective bargaining for County Roads Department employees.
-
Allegany County overflows noted
Due to precipitation and melting snow during the first two weeks of February, several combined sewer/stormwater overflows occurred in Allegany County.
-
Calling for end to violence
Frostburg State University students participated in the BURG Clothesline Project on Thursday at The Lane Center on The FSU campus.
-
Pennsylvania couple die minutes apart
James and Marjorie Landis of Westmont, Pa., were married and inseparable for 65 years. They died last week just 88 minutes apart.
-
AFSCME backs more changes to pensions for judges than commission recommends
The Judicial Compensation Commission is recommending practically no changes to judges’ pensions, except for an increase in contributions by new judges.
- More Local News Headlines
-
School board to make case against Myers’ bill
