`3 Generations . . . All Gone' -- Commercial District Fire Destroys Piece Of Sumner History

A BIG FIRE in Sumner this weekend did more than wipe out four downtown businesses. It ripped away part of the small town's history, and some of its soul. -------------------------------

SUMNER - Dorothy Peterkin, 84, is no native of Sumner - she has lived here only 74 years. She's curator at the local museum and knows what the town's big fire means to people.

"We all feel bad for all the business people, but especially the Carnahan insurance agency," she said. "That's been handed down for three generations. Three generations! It's just a small little room, of course, but now it's all gone."

The three-alarm fire Friday night that destroyed four downtown businesses at Main Street and Alder Avenue was a hot knife that tore at the heart of this town. It gutted one of the oldest buildings here and gutted Mystic Hair Design, Sumner Auto Supply, Cafe Cinco de Mayo and the Carnahan Insurance Agency. A fifth business, Deltan Salon, sustained minor water and smoke damage.

Two firefighters sustained minor injuries; they were taken to the hospital Friday and released after about an hour. An investigator estimated the fire caused $750,000 damage to the 65-year-old, 6,000 square-foot building at Main and Alder. About 10 people are out of work for now.

"This kind of thing is a bigger deal in a small town because it's more personalized," said Mayor Leroy Goff, a retired ambulance driver. "We know these people. They're the soul of Sumner."

The fire resulted from an electrical problem in the auto-parts store, the Sumner Fire Department reported yesterday.

What is sure is that the fire is the biggest thing to happen here since the Daffodil Festival Parade, which moves down Main Street every April.

Yesterday, as fire investigators tiptoed amid the charred remains with clipboards, a crowd strained at the plastic yellow tape bordering the fire site. People took pictures and traded rumors (it is not true that several women under dryers at the Mystic shop refused at first to leave when the alarm sounded a little after 7 p.m.).

"I'm just filming it - it's a piece of Sumner history," said native Sumnerite Karen Leslie, who shouldered a video camcorder. "And when they put something back up, I'll film that, too."

Stunned business owners could not say for certain whether they will reopen or relocate. The building probably will have to be razed.

Carolyn Garcia, owner of Mystic Hair Design, said she had just spent more than $20,000 to remodel. She had the place repainted, and installed new carpets and a computer system. She placed her overall loss at $70,000.

"It's like losing one of your kids," she said.

Ellenora Peterson and her husband, Louie, opened Sumner Auto Supply in 1947, and moved the family business into the corner location in 1972. Their son is in charge of the store now.

Peterson came downtown Friday night to watch the fire, and remains shaken by what she saw. "Our hearts were going 60 miles an hour," she said, holding an elderly friend's arm for support.

Cris Jaimes, owner of the restaurant, estimated his loss at $60,000. His former partner, George Lebesis, was helping out at the Cinco de Mayo when smoke began pouring over the top of the wall that separates the cafe from the parts store. Fourteen customers had to be evacuated.

With a humor characteristic of some of the people affected by the fire, Lebesis has been dead-panned that the cafe's spicy salsa may have sparked the blaze.

Mike Carnahan spotted his grandfather's clock in the rubble. It didn't look too badly damaged. He estimated the loss - including the destroyed records of clients - at $15,000. His grandfather, Fred Carnahan, opened the business in 1921. In 1969, Mike Carnahan took over the business from his father.

"It's just going to be a big change for this town," said Carnahan. "I'm just glad my dad was not here to see it all burn up."