Monday, December 3, 2012

Here & There Column 11-27-12


Foster Family Suffers Great Loss

  The Livingston Manor business community and the well-known and well-liked Barry Foster family suffered a severe blow last Tuesday afternoon when a devastating fire destroyed the historic Hoos Building located at the intersection of Main and Pearl Streets.
  The fire comes less than two months after heavy rains created another round of flooding that Livingston Manor has had to suffer through for the past several years.
  One can't imagine how it is to sit and stand on the sidelines and watch your dreams and hard work go up in flames.
  The over 100-year-old building was purchased by Barry Foster some eight years ago and housed Barry's own Hot Corner Spots Collectibles store, his son's Lazy Beagle Pub & Grill and two tenants the Morning-Be-Morning Coffee Co. Cafe and the Willow and Brown clothing and housewares shop.
  We witnessed Wednesday morning Peter Howley, the general manager of the Lazy Beagle, as he talked with reporters, his voice quivering, about all the hard work and efforts that were put into the Pub and what a great reputation the eating establishment had become for so many people, many who traveled great distances to enjoy the food and atmosphere offered by the Lazy Beagle. "It's heartbreaking, my heart and soul was in this place," he added. 
  Everyone in the community is mourning this loss and it is too soon to see if any of these business folks will relocate elsewhere.
  It was learned Wednesday morning that present building code regulations may very well prevent building on this location because of the size of the lot and its proximity to the Little Beaverkill River which run directly in back of the former Hoos Building.
  The Hoos Building housed a lot of history, being the location of the former and famous Hoos Bakery which featured the best Coffee Crumb cake made and the location of Odie Hoos's Luncheonette a popular breakfast and lunch eatery. 
  We want to give high praise to the many firefighters who risked their lives to protect adjoining properties and people's lives and also kudos to the New York State Police and fire police in securing the site and preventing injuries to the many folks that had come out to witness this disaster.
  Prayers go out to the Foster family, healing will take time but this community always comes together to help.

                                                    








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