Yesterday, a significant blaze consumed the vacant premises of the former Beckett Paper Company building in Hamilton, a structure steeped in the city's industrial history. Multiple fire departments, including Hamilton, Fairfield, and Liberty Township, were called to the scene, battling the flames as portions of the edifice crumbled. WLWT reported that the conflagration was so intense that the resulting smoke was visible on the radar.
According to Local 12, the source of the fire remains unknown. Meanwhile, the site, which dates back to 1848 as the city's first industry, has stood empty since the business shuttered in 2012. The fire sparked questions and a sense of loss within the community, particularly following a 2015 incident where firefighters combated a similar situation for over 10 hours.
City officials noted the absence of injuries, but the sheer scale of the fire led to the inevitable decision to demolish the structure for safety reasons yesterday night. "I was just getting off work and I saw a big cloud of smoke on the highway and I was like, what is that about? So I was driving around Hamilton and next thing I know when I'm pulling my driveway, it's literally like in my backyard," Michael Barrett, a local resident, told WCPO.
As to the upcoming developments, city officials had previously announced a $50 million project in May 2022 meant to reinvigorate the said site. The current state of affairs could affect these plans, as suggested by officials in statements to WCPO. The fire investigation continues with a possibility of criminal involvement as per Hamilton's City Manager Craig Bucheit, and the demolished site's fate in relation to a city landmark remains uncertain.
Civic sentimentalities were relayed by the townspeople and their representatives. "It's kind of sad honestly, because like more and more of Hamilton's history is going away slowly and slowly," Barrett lamented. A sentiment echoed in council member Michael Ryan's words, "It’s been a namesake to this town for centuries, and employed thousands and thousands of our residents. It helped make Hamilton what it became," as WCPO reported.
