Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Dick Gendron's QSL card featuring the Cherry Street fire


Tomorrow is the 50-year anniversary of the Cherry Street Fire.

Now I just need to find out what the Cherry Street Fire was.

A photograph from the fire is featured on this unique QSL card, which is stamped "FIRE BUFF" on the front and has the following information on the back:

1 Q 0928
RICHARD J. GENDRON
344 NO. WINOOSKI AVE.
BURLINGTON, VT. 05401

Sadly, Gendron died in 2001 at age 65. It would have been interesting to get in touch with him and ask him about this QSL card and photograph. Here's a little bit about him and his life from his obituary:
"Dick worked at Cassler's toy store on North Winooski Avenue for more than 30 years. He served honorably with the Vermont Army National Guard for eight years. He was a longtime member of the Malletts Bay Fire Department and was known as the 'fire photographer' for Burlington and surrounding towns. In keeping with his spirit of community service, Dick founded the C.B. Radio Patrol Club."
See more vintage QSL cards starting here.

1 comment:

  1. The fire was at 108-114 Cherry St, which housed BF Goodrich, a paint store and a barber shop, as well as 8 apartments. A Deputy Chief, George Carty, lost his life due to electrocution. The building was a total loss.
    Dick was an avid photographer, as well as a very friendly guy. His daughter told me that most of his photos were lost when, ironically, his residence and 6 other buildings were destroyed by fire. Some of his pictures survive and hang on the walls in Burlington Fire stations.

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