Early TV Memorabilia Burns

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Journal News photo

FROM NORTH SALEM, NEW YORK, the Associated Press reports:

A large fire destroyed a barn in North Salem that contained T-V memorabilia dating back to the 1950s. The fire at the property owned by 84-year-old Philip Hymes was called in at 3:50 p.m.

Hymes says he had finished mowing the lawn and drove his tractor into the barn, when he saw a flame flicker from a burlap cloth he used for wrapping plants. Hymes says he grabbed a garden hose and shouted to his wife to call 911. Some 75 firefighters from five departments in Westchester, Putnam and Fairfield County, Connecticut fought the flames in the 18th century barn but couldn’t save it.

Hymes, who still works as a lighting designer for Saturday Night Live, said he had memorabilia in the barn dating back to the 1950s programs “Robert Montgomery Presents” and “Your Hit Parade.”

When the fire department arrived on the scene the building was already fully involved.  Later yesterday the remains of the barn were knocked down by an earth excavator.

The Journal News has a good VIDEO HERE.