JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – It’s been 50 years today since the fire that burned down the largest hotel in Jamestown, North Dakota.
The March 27th, 1968 fire that destroyed the Gladstone Hotel has been talked about since then, establishing itself as a tragic historical moment in history. Retired Jamestown Fire Department Volunteer Gordie Christianson says he was still relatively new to the department when he was called to the Gladstone Hotel.
Christianson says he remembers feeling “shock and awe” when they arrived on scene.
“We just stood and looked at it,” Christianson recalls. “I didn’t have a lot of experience at that point. After we got inside the building, it became more normal firefighting for me.”
Gordie explained what the cause of the fire was.
Christianson says when they made the decision that the building couldn’t be saved, they stood watch until all the flames and smoke were out.
“We put as much water on it as we could and to make sure the fire didn’t spread,” Christianson explained. “It was such a big event that you remember what you were doing when it happened.”
Chirstianson was one of the firefighters who helped the estimated 11 guests escape from the blaze.
Chris Ebertz of Bismarck has family ties to the workers that accidentally caused the fire.
“My uncle John Kroff and a helper Chris Jobb were cutting off old steam heat pipes removing steam radiators in the morning,” Ebertz says. “The plan was to install a new high tech heater/AC in the windows above each room’s doorway. They cut one off, noticed hot liquid weld fell down into the floor to the wall below. They poured a lot of water thinking it was put out and went to lunch. Upon returning, the fire pursued.”
Mayda Mueller was an employee of the hotel when she first came to Jamestown. She remembers it being a huge and beautiful building.
Mueller no longer worked at the Gladstone Hotel when it burned down, but she was only a few blocks away when it happened.
The 3 story, 100 room hotel housed several other businesses inside. The fire was so large, it destroyed several surrounding businesses including the First National Bank, Speed Wash Thrift Dry Cleaning, and the Northwest Printing Company among others. Those who were around when the building caught fire can vividly remember the sight they saw.
The Gladstone Hotel was built and named in 1883 when Anton Klaus built the Klaus House. Additions were made and that turned into the Gladstone Hotel. Once it burned down, the monetary loss was estimated at $500,000. There were no injuries reported.
The Gladstone Hotel is remembered as a historic part of Jamestown and one that won’t be forgotten.
Below are some photos from the Jamestown Fire Department archives. Video footage in the YouTube video was taken by Clifford Paulson with his 8MM camera.
