St. James FD-House fire on Short Beach Road

April 2, 1955 Babysitter safely evacuates several children from the burning Geoffrey Hellman House on Short Beach Road. Fire reported at 1930 hours. Anne Lane age 12 was the babysitter. Anne was alerted to a thump upstairs and when she went to investigate, she found the 8 year old Charmichael boy attempting to take a pail of water up into the attic which was on fire. Two of the children were in the attic. Anne removed them from the attic then the building then called her mother for help. While her mother responded over, her father called the fire department. By the time the FD arrived, flames were through the roof. FD personnel held the fire to the attic. Nesconset FD sent their tanker to the scene. Smithtown News 4-7-1953.