By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
A fire broke out Sunday, March 1, at the Female Charitable Society’s loan closet, located at 10 River St. in the village of Baldwinsville.
Founded in 1817, the Female Charitable Society is one of the nation’s oldest charitable organizations run primarily by women. The FCS maintains a loan closet containing about 2,400 pieces of home medical equipment for B’ville residents to use. The loan closet program began in 1928.
FCS President Bonnie Kisselstein told the Messenger that Baldwinsville resident Bill Major noticed smoke coming out of the building when he went by around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
“[It] could have been much worse if it hadn’t been discovered when it was and if the fire department hadn’t just returned from a call and got ours while they were still all suited up and at the trucks. If it hadn’t been discovered when it was we would have lost the building,” Kisselstein said.
Kisselstein said an electrical fire started in the ceiling of the building. Most of the damage is to the rear of the structure. The loan closet will be closed while the FCS assesses the damage.
Kisselstein provided more details in a comment on the “You know you’re from Baldwinsville, NY when … ” Facebook group.
“We will not be loaning anything except beds for the foreseeable future,” she wrote. “It’s bad enough but at least no one lives there.”
The FCS will accept returns of its equipment at 14 River St. For more information, visit facebook.com/femalecharitablesociety.
