From the Archives #50: The Jesse Welden Inn Fire
Just after 1 AM on January 30, 1948, guests at the Jesse Welden Inn in St. Albans City woke to the smell of smoke and cries of "Fire!". Located on the corner of Bank St. and Maiden Lane, the inn stood on the former site of the Welden House hotel, which also burned to the ground in 1897.
The fire reportedly started in the inn's cocktail lounge, although its cause was never fully determined. As the flames raged, owner George St. Laurent rushed to warn the building's occupants. He ran from room to room, pounding on doors and shouting to awaken sleeping guests. He managed to make two trips throughout the building before the fire forced him out. His efforts ultimately saved many staying in the inn that night, although three people would tragically lose their lives in the disaster: Katherine Bryant of St. Albans, Ethel Holmes of West Newbury, MA, and Frederick Blake of Plattsburgh, NY. Around ten others were injured.
Fire crews worked for hours in minus-21 degree weather to extinguish the blaze. Only five firefighters were initially on the scene; they were later assisted by crews from Swanton and Burlington, but the building was a total loss by the time they arrived. A few city residents also helped out, but due to the timing of the fire, high winds drowning out the noise, and a thick blanket of snow that protected adjacent buildings from catching fire, most remained unaware of what had occurred until the following morning.
The resulting damages totaled between $350,000-$500,000, or $4.5-$6.5 million today. St. Laurent initially stated that the hotel would be rebuilt, but the remaining portion of the structure was ultimately demolished and the rubble removed later that year.