A 2- alarm fire destroyed this Linden, NJ VFW post on June 26, 2022, a few weeks before I took these images. The intense heat of the blaze in the front of the 1890’s era wood framed house had scorched the yew bushes in the front yard and had melted paint on the metal sign in front of the John Russell Wheeler Post #1397. Apparently a 76 year old resident in an apartment on an upper floor had to be rescued from the roof during the fire. He was treated on site for smoke inhalation and declined a ride to the hospital to receive further treatment. Fortunately, no one else was injured in the blaze, but the structure of the old house was destroyed after a 2 hour fire fight.
The banquet spaces on the main floor of the Hall were being used for a party or a gathering and there were other customers at the bar at 4:30 pm on a Saturday when the fire was called in. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to all of the accounts I saw.
The Hall is within sight of the Linden train station, served by NJ Transit, but the trains kept on running past as the fire raged.
In addition to the residents of the Hall, the community suffered the loss of a place meant for gathering, socializing and celebrating at a reasonable cost. The Hall was insured, but can probably not be fully replaced without further financial help. Linden Councilman John Roman set up a GoFundMe page hoping to raise $20,000.
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