May 28, 200719 yr Again I ask, what would have been the mob's motive?12 to 15 years earlier, they would have had lots of motive. In the late 70's, I have no clue what the motive would have been.
May 28, 200719 yr From what I've read, they wanted to add gambling, or buy the club to add gambling, and when the owners refused, citing no need as profits were fine, the mob wanted to make sure they were profitable no longer.But Newport and the surrounding areas had long been shut down by then, I just don't buy into the theory.
May 28, 200719 yr But Newport and the surrounding areas had long been shut down by then, I just don't buy into the theory. Yeah, I have no idea. There was a write up in the paper this week from a few employees there who recounted their version, involving the mob and suspicious men at the club that night. I have a hard time believing it without the owners corroborating it.
May 28, 200719 yr I attened my Prom there two weeks before. Tried to walk over to another room and visit another prom where some people I worked with were attending. Got lost several times in the hallways even though some BH workers provided directions. Upon leaving that night took some more wrong turns and could not find a way out. Had to back-track, ask directions again. And this is while there was no smoke and full electricity on. If there was a fire that night I never would have found a way out.
May 28, 200719 yr Does anyone have a picture of what the BHSC looked like before the fire? http://www.nkyviews.com/campbell/southgate_beverly.htm
May 28, 200719 yr Does anyone have a picture of what the BHSC looked like before the fire? Too big to attach
May 28, 200719 yr Thanks Those pictures really don't show what the club looked like in the years right before the fire.
May 28, 200719 yr Pep, what is your opinion on the theory that the mob set this fire on purpose? I listened to a couple of people on the radio that were completely convinced that this was the case. To be entirely honest with you, having gone through the Investigative Report to the Governor, the Special Investagor's Report to the governor, speaking with Ron Elliot and evidence gleaned from a NFPA report I doubt that it was the case. All the accounts that I have been privy to constantly cite the faulty wiring in the facility ever since the Schillings had begun to remodel the facility. Old aluminum wiring, which was mentioned in the articles linked above, was a disaster waiting to happen, especially when it is not conduit laid. The Zebra Room itself, which was originally a storage room converted to a party room was a disaster waiting to happen. Gaps between the walls and suspended ceilings made for a prefect space (with no easy access for the employees short of breaking down the wall) for a fire to develop unseen. The combine that with the aluminum wiring and it is easy to see how it happened. I would not lend much credence to the idea that the mob started it, but that is just my opinion. The fact that the building had many an addition and modification that were never approved by the local authorities, much less up to what code specs Kentucky had at the time (which were few to none), coupled with faulty wiring and furnishings that were by no means flame resistant (they in fact gave off a black toxic smoke) were what led to the disaster that night. Could the mob have had a hand in it? I suppose anything is possible, but I saw no evidence to indicate something other than what I mentioned above.
May 28, 200719 yr 12 to 15 years earlier, they would have had lots of motive. In the late 70's, I have no clue what the motive would have been. WHat is anyone's motive for anything -- greed -- revenge -- hate?
May 28, 200719 yr Also a story in today's (Ashland) Daily Independent. I never realized before that 18 people from Ashland perished in the fire. http://www.dailyindependent.com/local That's one of the first things I noticed today while glancing over the list of the deceased.
May 28, 200719 yr From what I've read, they wanted to add gambling, or buy the club to add gambling, and when the owners refused, citing no need as profits were fine, the mob wanted to make sure they were profitable no longer. Where'd you read it? Link? Citation if you please, I would like to read this as well.
May 28, 200719 yr Where'd you read it? Link? Citation if you please, I would like to read this as well. http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070523/NEWS0103/705230388/-1/beverlyhills http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=beverlyhills
May 28, 200719 yr I too was a 16 year old out riding with friends around Ft Thomas when we saw the smoke and headed into it's direction. We just drove by slowly and in complete amazement of what was happening. We went to the armory a little while later trying to help out but were turned away because we were young, probably a good idea. I still have trouble being in the basement of the armory without thinking about that terrible night.
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