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Omaha Rambler |
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Devilboy
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jun/14/2017 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 997 |
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Found these about a fire at South Rambler in 1962. December 24th 1962
- Fire Alarm: South Rambler - 5125 South 24th Street. On Monday,
December 24th 1962 at 08:11 AM, the Omaha Fire Division responded to the
report of an explosion and fire at South Rambler Company. The fire was
brought under control at 9:32 AM. The
flames were not totally extinguished until noon. Owner Frank Hulac
stated that estimated damage to the one-story, L-shaped
brick-and-masonry building was $100,000 dollars. Also destroyed were
seven cars in the shop area, two in the showroom and six parked
alongside the building that were flattened by the collapse of a wall.
Twenty new cars in an adjacent parking lot sustained damage from smoke
and debris hurled by the explosion.
Although ten persons were in the building when the explosion occurred, none suffered serious injury. This was despite the fact that three employees were blown through a plate glass window in the showroom and one was hurled through a door. The sequence of events leading to the fire began at 7:00 AM when Ronald Morrow of 6253 South 37th Street brought his car in for transmission repairs. Mechanic Orvel N. Andersen, 54, of 6616 South 26th Street placed the car on a jack. The car slipped off the jack which punctured the fuel tank and a water heater located ten feet away ignited gasoline fumes from the ruptured tank. The mechanic said that he used a water hose and began washing the flaming gasoline down a floor drain. The fire was quickly out of control. Anderson's shoes caught fire from the burning gasoline which caused him and the other mechanics to flee toward the showroom area. An explosion ripped through the building, lifting the roof off of the repair shop and sending the masonry walls collapsing outward. The flames then engulfed the entire structure. Employees of Bosanek Grocery across the street were the first to call the fire department and report the explosion and fire. The 18-degree temperature added to the discomfort of the firemen fighting the blaze. Two were temporarily overcome by smoke inhalation, but returned to again fight the fire. Omaha Fire Investigator Dan Mulcahey told Hulac employees, "It's a miracle no one was seriously hurt" and "the Lord gave you guys a Christmas present." Their joy was in contrast to the unhappiness of a customer who had been waiting weeks for the delivery of a new car. He was to accept delivery that day, however it was among those destroyed by the wall collapse. It was owned by Frank Hulac, Sr. who also owned Hulac Chevrolet in Benson. It is now a thrift store. Edited by Devilboy - Jan/28/2019 at 9:59am |
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Devilboy
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jun/14/2017 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 997 |
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I had some South Rambler vinyl stickers made for my car. Edited by Devilboy - Dec/31/2021 at 9:48am |
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Adhowe
AMC Fan Joined: Mar/19/2023 Location: Omaha Ne Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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The dealership was located at 24th & Q streets in South Omaha. Not sure when it closed but I did post photos and history of the dealership to the FB group Old dealership photos. In the early 60s the dealership suffered an explosion and fire that destroyed most of the building. It was rebuilt and reopened. We have breakfast every Saturday across the street from the dealership location.
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