New hope has risen from the ashes of a January fire that gutted the historic Midland Hotel on Tremonton's Main Street.
Don and Debra Christensen owned Hepp's Shoe Shop, one of many family businesses displaced by the Jan. 31 fire. The Christensens will open a new store, Buckle D & B Shoe Repair, one block east on Monday."It's almost been an even month we've been out of business," said Don Christensen, a tall, lanky character with more yarns than LaRue's Country Quilts shop across the street.
"Changing buildings, you may as well start fresh," he said of the new name. The "Hepp's" part of Hepp's Shoe Shop came from the surname of the man who originally opened the store.
"I think we'll do quite well here," said Don Christensen, waving a cobbler's calloused hand to the spaciousness of the rented, corner shop. "But when you almost get one paid for, get your plans laid out . . . well, life's no guarantee."
"No guarantee" in more ways than one. Due to the age and condition of the old buildings that housed the Midland and the shoe shop, neither the Christensens nor their neighbors, the Feldmans, carried insurance on the businesses.
"The building was just so old you couldn't afford the insurance," Christensen said.
"You think things are going to be there forever," said his wife, Debra. She pulled out a snapshot of the water-damaged building, taken for remembrance sake. "You think you're going to wake up one day and it's all been a dream."
On Friday, the couple was still unpacking supplies in time to reopen after the weekend. The coin business operated by their 14-year-old son, Bo, still remained in boxes in the rear.
"It's a good move for us," Debra Christensen said. "Without all the good friends, we couldn't have done it."
What remains of the two-story brick building that held Hepp's and The Hairline salon will be demolished next week. The adjacent structure that was the Midland Hotel is gone, a gaping hole and orange safety tape in its place.
City officials are negotiating with the business owners to purchase the property for redevelopment, Tremonton Mayor Max Weese said. Potential buyers have already contacted the city.
Some of those interested are locals, others out-of-town developers.
Bear Valley's weekly newspaper, The Leader, polled shoppers in its March 1 issue regarding ideas for the spot.
Suggestions ranged from a movie theater to a parking lot.
"A lot of the buildings are getting old, and this is the time to do something," said Weese, also a part-time salesman for Harris Truck & Equipment Dealer.
The plight of those families victimized by the fire isn't yet forgotten, townspeople say.
Jazz players Tom Chambers and Antoine "Big Dawg" Carr were on hand Thursday night for an exhibition basketball game organized by Salt Lake television sportscaster Rod Zundel, a native of West Fielding and Bear River High graduate.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and assistant coach Phil Johnson tagged along, as did sports radio personality Hot Rod Hundley.
The game packed the bleachers at the high school gymnasium, with all proceeds going directly to the business owners closed down by the fire.
"There were a jillion and one-half people there," Debra Christensen said. "We appreciate how much everybody has done."
A benefit auction Feb. 25 attracted some 900 people, including many from outside the county. Auction sales totaled some $30,000 and also went to the fire victims and their families.
"It's been a very touching situation to see how they've all come together for support," Weese said. "You see the big cities and all the problems they have. The way people have come together here is unbelievable."
Neighbors have taken food to the Christensen home - donations toward a new business - and many even helped when it came time to move the heavy fixtures from the old store, according to the couple. The same could be said of support for the Feldman family, who lost their entire variety store and storage to the fire.
"They lost everything," said Margaret Kitchen, who works in a shop across the street. "The Feldmans lost more than just the business." The family had stored food and even heirloom quilts behind their shop, she said. They were out of town this week following the death of a family member.
At Miller's Button & Bolts, also on Main Street, the owner scurried Friday to help customers who crowded the aisles for smoke-damaged sale items. A hand-drawn sign outside advertised fabric for 59 cents and up.
Commenting on her busy store, she said, "I hope I have an empty one in just a few days."
Next door, Elaine Bingham at Howe's Health & Nutrition recalled the morning of the blaze.
"When I got here that morning, I wasn't too sure it wasn't going to get us," she said. A fireman gave her five minutes to grab essentials from the store.
"All I wanted was the computer disk and some papers so I could file the taxes," Bingham said. "It's something you never think about. The firemen did their job. We were back in business two days after the fire. We were pretty lucky."