Saturday, January 16, 1999

Arson fire ravages wing of junior high

---

BY JANICE MORSE and SUE KIESEWETTTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Firefighters remove musical instruments from the burned-out band room. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

HAMILTON - An arsonist's blaze destroyed the music room of Wilson Junior High School early Friday, displacing the school's 800 students and destroying dozens of costly musical instruments.

During the wee hours of a cold Friday morning, someone set fire to the music room of Wilson Junior High School, investigators say. The blaze displaced about 800 students, forcing them to move temporarily to Hamilton High School next week. It caused at least $1 million damage and destroyed dozens of costly musical instruments

But it won't stop the music, said Band Director Eric DeKay.

“It's extensive. It's a devastating blow to Wilson's music program,” said Mr. DeKay, who believes thinks the fire consumed least 50 musical instruments owned or rented by his 73 band members. “We're going to start over. That's all we can do . . . no use crying about it.”

Damage was estimated at $1 million or more.

The students will move temporarily to Hamilton High School beginning next week.

Among the instruments lost in the blaze: a cherished family heirloom saxophone owned by Dan Harmon, the 14-year-old son of Deputy Fire Chief Robert Harmon.

“My son's saxophone did belong to his grandfather,” Deputy Chief Harmon said, noting that his son's late maternal grandfather, Sylvester McClung, played professionally in a popular local band, the Al Frankey Band. “It's not like it was worth a lot of money,” Deputy Chief Harmon said. “It's just the fact that it was the kind of thing you could pass along to future generations, and now it's gone.”

A $5,000 reward is offered for anyone who calls 868-5914 with information leading to the arrest of whoever set fire to the school. Officials wouldn't say whether they had specific suspects or a motive in mind.

As sad-looking students, parents and teachers watched, Hamilton police and fire investigators on Friday spent much of the day searching for evidence in the burned-out hollow that used to be the music room of the 65-year-old building.

“That was the only room available for the band, the orchestra and the chorus,” said Michael Wallick, orchestra director, who estimated that two-thirds of the group's basses, cellos and violins burned up. “I'm not sure of when we can start playing again.”

Meanwhile, Mr. DeKay said he was determined to get replacement instruments for two young musicians to play today in an honor band festival at Lebanon High School. Three other Wilson students, whose instruments were not destroyed, also will participate.

The fire, reported just before 3:30 a.m. by someone at Fort Hamilton Hospital next door to the school in the 700 block of Eaton Avenue, also caused damage to neighboring classrooms, including a computer lab, and caused extensive smoke damage to the school's south wing. The blaze is believed to be the worst to hit Hamilton City Schools in nearly three decades, said longtime school board member George Jonson.

“It's tragic,” he said. “There's just a ton of work” to do.

To give school crews time to clean up damage from the fire, no classes will be held at the school for at least a week, said Joni Copas, Hamilton schools spokeswoman. No classes are scheduled Monday because of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and classes for Wilson students will be canceled Tuesday.

Wilson students will resume classes Wednesday through Friday at Hamilton High School. Buses will pick up students at their normal stops, beginning at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday. Wilson students' classes will run from 1 to 4 p.m. each day.

During that time, teachers will review material for exams, which won't begin for Wilson students until Jan. 25, Ms. Copas said. Hamilton High students have exams Wednesday through Friday but are scheduled to leave school by noon. “After that, (next week), we'll assess where we are in the cleanup and determine if students can return,” Ms. Copas said. “All four floors of the building have smoke damage. The basement and first floor were also damaged by water.”

Wilson and district office staff will be available to talk to parents at board offices, 332 Dayton St., or by phone at 887-5000, Ext. 57.

Cleanup began Friday afternoon with special machines designed to remove moisture and soot from textbooks, and library books and other material. Workers are also concentrating on removing soot and cleaning the school's computers, televisions, VCRs and other electronic equipment.        

---

No bus service but doors open - for the kids
Turfway sold for $37M
Keeneland brings Turfway prestige, historian says
Turfway buyers are big in casinos, lotteries
Carroll has Midas touch with property
Firemen survive fatal blaze
Arson fire ravages wing of junior high school in Hamilton 
City schools push for tax increase
Man sentenced to life for raping boy, 8
Events honor Dr. King
Martin Luther King Day events
Annexation fight heats up
Blue Ash to upgrade stoplights
Butler Co. advised to scrap or upgrade computer system
Chief won't quit, so now what?
Jealous over Internet, man kills family, self
Middletown to seek federal law on train whistles
Road builder earning bonuses
Russian diva's 'Salome' sets Music Hall ablaze
Skiers warmed by ice, snow
Tax revenues from casino may be shuffled
TRISTATE DIGEST
Two teens' allegations about jail to be aired