In times of tragedy, people come together, and that rings true in the Moorestown community.
The night a two-alarm fire ripped through the Community House in the heart of the Moorestown community on Dec. 17, an outpouring of support came from concerned residents and businesses, offering to help the historic landmark in any way they can.
“We are so thankful for the well wishes, support and encouragement of those who reached out to us. We’ve already had a lot of businesses express their support either financially or through other services, and we’re thankful for that,” MCH Executive Director Brad Kenney said.
It was the outpouring of offerings of help and support for the MCH that really was awe-inspiring in the community that night, despite the unfortunate fire. Current and former residents, businesses, churches and even the town council reached out to show their support.
“(The MCH) means a lot. It has been here since 1926, hosting big events and nonprofits and means a lot to the Moorestown people. It really is one of a kind in the state of New Jersey. You could tell by the amount of people who came out that night and posting online just how popular it really is. I grew up here, it means a lot to me and a lot to the people and organizations,” said Chris Chesner, Moorestown Fire Department district administrator and public information officer.
“A lot of people see it as a second home,” said George Schulmann, president of the board of trustees for the MCH.
In a release, town council in the coming days, members will be having conversations with the MCH to see how the township can best assist with the restoration efforts.
“Our hearts are heavy for the many non-profit organizations that call this special place their home and for all of Moorestown’s residents. The Moorestown Community House has been a special place for generations of Moorestonians since 1926, and we know they will rebuild stronger than ever,” the release said.
The fire started just before 5 p.m. in the attic of the MCH, according Chesner. The fire department was quick to arrive on scene, along with many surrounding area fire departments, and the fire was deemed a two-alarm fire.
Despite staff, swimmers and dancers being in the building at the time, no one in the building was injured, as a witness who called to report the fire and Moorestown police notified those in the building and got everyone out before the alarms went off.
The department was directed by Kenney, also a volunteer firefighter, about the best way to go into the building to put out the fire, causing as little damage as possible.
“It was very emotional. I think everyone has strong feelings about this place. I was afraid we had lost it. Thank God we didn’t. The fire department was so respectful, opening windows and not breaking anything. Brad directed them on what to do. They did it all with speed and care. They really saved it,” Schulmann said.
The fire was placed under control approximately an hour later. The cause of the blaze was electrical, according to Moorestown Fire Official Matthew Orsini.
There was fire and charring damage in the attic area, as well as water and smoke damage. The floors below suffered water and smoke damage. However, it is all repairable. The ballroom and garden room were not affected.
“The firefighters did an excellent job to keep the fire at bay and not cause a lot of damage. It is an iconic, beautiful building hosting a lot of non-profit organizations. We want to get it up in operation as soon as possible. It can definitely be repaired,” said Chesner, a Moorestown resident and participant in many non-profit organizations himself.
The smell of burnt wood and smoke still filled the air around the MCH the day after, but repair companies were already on the scene looking at the damage and seeing what can be done to repair the landmark.
Kenney wanted residents to know that the Board of Trustees was diligent in its job and has insurance on the building, which Kenney expects should cover the cost.
Founded in 1923, the MCH was created as a place to strengthen the community by providing a home for all civic, social and recreational activities for individuals, families and organizations. The MCH continues and will continue to honor that mission by supporting more than 70 organizations that benefit the community and other community events.
“We can’t thank the fire department, police, EMS and others for all of their quick work. They were incredible in saving the building. Our building isn’t lost, it was just limited to that area. We’re working with the remediation company and going to try to get the building re-occupied as soon as we can,” Kenney said.
“We’re rebuilding and coming back better than ever,” Schulmann said.
If anyone is interested in helping the MCH, they are encouraged to visit and donate at the website www.ourcommunityhouse.com. Checks are also accepted; just stop by the office to drop of a donation.
“We’re encouraging people to go there and support our restoration campaign, which was already underway. All of the money goes toward the restoration of the building to get it back to serving the community,” Kenney said.
For updates and more, visit the website www.thecommunityhouse.com/ or follow them on Facebook at The Moorestown Community House.
