Summary: The July 15 fire in Apple Creek not only destroyed the East of Chicago Pizza franchise and four apartments in the three-building complex, but carried with it a rich history of Apple Creek.
Firefighters from nearly every department in Wayne County worked feverously in the heat, July 15, to contain the fire that heavily damaged three history Apple Creek buildings. The blaze is now suspected to be arson after state investigators were on scene. It heavily damaged the East of Chicago Pizza franchise, located in one building, the vacant storefront in the middle structure, and four apartments in a complex on the end. However, this is not the first fire in the history of those buildings.
The faces of Herb and Ruth Amstutz told their sad story on Saturday morning, July 16. Sitting across the street from the burnt-out buildings, the couple talked with well-wishers and stared at property now rendered useless.
Amstutz said he received a call at 9:21 p.m. on July 15, that the buildings were on fire, and then called his wife, Ruth, who had been away with friends. Listening to her husband crying on the phone, Ruth Amstutz feared the worst had happened to a family member, and then raced back to the village, to watch with her husband, helplessly, as dozens of firefighters worked into the early morning hours to extinguish the blaze. Ruth did note, "I felt at peace, knowing everyone (in the building and apartments) was out ."
The couple said they hope to be able to salvage the buildings, and as Herb noted, "there?s a lot of history there." He added, "I had decent insurance on it?hopefully, we can do something." His family owned a grocery store from 1959 to 1980, housed in the buildings.
The East of Chicago Pizza franchise was owned by Rex and Rayonna Leiner. The couple had recently entered into negotiations to sell the franchise Richard and Anne Lester, and the sale was due to close on Monday morning, July 18.
The Leiners, who have been generous supporters of Apple Creek area individuals, schools and charities, are now themselves victims of an arsonist, who also displaced four families. Raynonna Leiner is accepting donations for the families of household goods and clothing, at The Faithful Little Cupcake, located at 146 East Liberty Street in Wooster.
"We cannot say enough about the incredible firefighters and how they poured together to contain the fire. I had never witnessed a fire before and was in total awe of their commitment and bravery," Rayonna Leiner said.
As she and her husband look toward an uncertain future, she worried about others affected by the blaze. "I can't even begin to explain our feelings; we are completely numb. My heart aches for the families in the apartments upstairs and for my staff. We have staff members with medical conditions that rely on every single cent they make with us. Rex and I trust in God completely and know that He has a plan for all of this."
The first fire in the buildings, which were built in the 1860s, took place in 1881. According to the Sept. 22, 1881, edition of the Wooster Republican, losses from the fire totaled about $3,000. The paper credits the ladies of the bucket brigade and "the heroes who periled their lives to save their property." It does note, "although the majority did their duty, a number of skulkers who did nothing but look on; they are known but infamously." Telegraphs were dispatched to the Wooster and Orrville fire departments for mutual aid.
Costs from the most recent fire were around 100 times that of the 1881 blaze.
Darla Flory showed many historical documents, including the newspaper article and titles to the buildings. Robert and Darla Flory owned Apple Creek Hardware Co. from 1983 until 1999, when they left the business, and sold the buildings to Herb and Ruth Amstutz.
Ownership of the buildings collectively and individually changed hands more than 15 times and the names read like a Who?s Who of Apple Creek Station and Edinburgh families. Whatever the outcome from the current fire damages, the three buildings will forever be a part of the village?s history.
