Blaze Destroys Three Stores at Paoli Center

Flames roared through the Paoli Shopping Center early Tuesday morning, destroying two clothing stores and a delicatessen. Two other stores were damaged.

Six fire companies fought a losing battle against the blaze that surged through the center on E. Lancaster pike near Howellville Road, Paoli, shortly after 1 a.m.

Roof Collapses

By 2 a.m. the roof of Deever’s Men and Boys’ Wear had collapsed. The fire enveloped the adjoining Helen-Ware Dress Shop and Dick’s Delicatessen.

Smoke also poured from Quaker City Laundry and a Sherwin-Williams Paint Co. store. The blaze missed a State liquor store that stood at the end of the row of business establishments.

All are one-story brick structures with frame and glass fronts.

Aided By Winds

Firemen from Paoli, Berwyn, Malvern, and Radnor battled to keep the flames away from the nearby Paoli Hardware center. They were aided by favorabole winds.

The large parking lot was crowded with the cars of about 200 spectators as the roof of the clothing store collapsed with a roar. Flames shot up 20 feet, and huge columns of smoke billowed into the air.

Philadelphia Inquirer 5/29/1962