Bsawsw P) The News - Record a ^ WW ^ SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY 75lh V?f No. 1? PUBLISHED W6EKCY IN THE COUNTY SEAT <| MARSHALL. N.C. THURSDAY, JUNE 3. 1976 15- P?r Copy Fire Destroys Old jHot Springs Hotel By JIM STORY Fir* completely destroyed the massive Hot Springs Hotel Saturday night and left only the scarred brick walls standing. Flames were discovered coming from the hotel about 10:45 and Hot Springs firemen aiswere* the -'call immediately. However, Carroll Anderson, Hot Springs Are chief, stated that lack of water at the lone fire hydrant near the hotel made it im possible for firemen to ex tinguish the Are. He stated that the main water line to the hydrant had been "rusted apart" for years and there was absolutely no water at the hydrant. "The firemen did everything they could but to little avail." He said the Marshall firemen were celled end reepooded within SO minute* with three pumpers but by thet time the Are had engulfed the huge 50 room building." Anderson also said thet two Hot Springs female "firemen" ? Genelle King and Linda Tull ? helped battle the Are. He said that Genelle King was injured while helping reel in hose on the Hot Springs Are truck but the injury was not serious. "We are most grateful to the Marshall firemen for their quick response and also wish to congratulate everyone who helped battle the furious Are," Anderson said. Lee Fowler, who was caretaker of the vacant hotel, stated that most of the rooms on the second floor contained beds and that several valuable antiques, including a grand piano, were destroyed. Fowler also pointed out evidence of 'shoe prints in the ground near one end of the hotel. The SBI and Sheriff Ponder were on the scene quickly where investigations started on the likely cause of the fire, thought by some to be in cendiary. Oddly enough, one week earlier on Saturday night, May 22, firemen were called to the same hotel where a fire was discovered in the dining room and hack porch. This hap pened, also, about 11 p.m. Firemen extingusihed the blaze without flames spreading to the main portion of the hotel. The hotel which burned last Saturday night was started in 1924 and completed in 1926, according to reports. For the past several years the huge brick structure, adjacent to the Hot Springs Bath House which originally had 16 separate hot springs bathing stalls, has been vacant. The hotel was (or merly a gorgeously-decorated and furnished place with splendid dining room facilities. Meetings and banquets were frequently held and it was one of Western North Carolina's most popular and beautiful places to spend hours, days and weeks. The natural hot springs were piped from the French Broad River into the bath house where hundreds of persons from throughout the world visited and enjoyed the healthful baths. In recent years the hold, owned by the C. L. Rudisill heirs, has been closed but many visitors still liked to drive through the huge lawn from the highway Just to see the grounds and hotel. This particular hotel was built near the site of the original world-famous hotel, which was destroyed by Are in 1921. Will a hotel ever be built back in the same location? This is a question which can only be answered in the future. Testimony*, Resumes In Teacher Trial Here Testimony in the trial here of six teachers, charged with falsifyjqjyyttendance records, resume^Fru&day morning foUoWhjg,4 court holiday Monday due to Memorial Day. The trial began in superior court here with jury selection last week and is the result of an appeal by the teachers from District Court where they were all convicts# Ast m whic1 hi Univwratty. la Ittt in ?w tlae ot i R*7nU ? for rammer ?; ly at the University* Colorado oo*? ackfrounc ? v of o?ial Mtw teaching oab year is an assistant principal for three yean, in id 4 a special ?at u tssistan Principal for Instrwttoo He taught night classes at Forsyth lip years nd served as Skadar Si: al -leftlth; t e Iter I rerT.LaG and Ridg< , rural programs. Bine Ridg Mental