Personal Library of Bookstore Chain Founder Destroyed in Monday Blaze in Downtown
-
Gary Hoover’s home and personal library burned in downtown Flatonia on Monday. The building formerly housed the Flatonia Community Clinic. Photo by Andy Behlen -
A photo of the aftermath on Tuesday. Notice the burn marks on the building next door. -
Flatonia Fire and Rescue’s Tower 3 ladder truck proved to be instrumental in battling the downtown fire on Monday. -
Townspeople gathered downtown on Monday to watch the fire in downtown Flatonia. Photos by Andy Behlen -
A burned page from one of Hoover’s 70,000 books -
Gary Hoover seated at a bench while his building burns behind him.
Gary Hoover’s home and his 70,000-book personal library burned to the ground in downtown Flatonia Monday morning, Oct. 3. He got out of the building, located at 113 W. South Main St., with just the clothes on his back.The building used to house the Flatonia Community Clinic.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Hoover said he had smoked a cigarette in the front of his building that…
Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription. Alternatively, you can click on the red box displaying the $0.99 sign on the right-hand side here to purchase a single issue and access this story. Enter your email address and proceed to make the payment.
