Historian's Corner



Charlene Cole
Sandy Creek/Lacona Historian
Historian's Corner
June 16, 2017

Photo: fire at the Wigwam

I recently met Rose Dillenbeck, the daughter of “Jack” Snitchler, the owner of the Wigwam when it burned in 1947. I was able to share a Sandy Creek News story on the fire, a history of that historic hotel and photographs with her.

Sandy Creek News: $30,000 Fire Levels Hotel at Sandy Pond. Flames sweep Wigwam, Nearby Cottages Saved. Historic Wigwam Hotel at Sandy Pond was leveled by fire late Thursday afternoon as firemen from two communities, aided by snowplows, bucked drifts and a blinding blizzard to reach the scene of the blaze. Loss of the 40-room structure was unofficially placed at $30,000. About 10 guests in the hotel, which was operated in the winter as an accommodation for ice fishermen escaped uninjured when flames broke out in the kitchen from an undetermined cause. Fanned by a gale-like wind, the fire spread rapidly as apparatus from Sandy Creek and Ringgold Fire Company of Pulaski struggled to reach the scene.

Snowplows were pressed into service to clear the road for the trucks. The plow opened the road into the Wigwam, but the snow was so deep the firetruck was unable to get to the water of the pond and the only supply available was that in the booster tank, which was inadequate for a fire of that size and headway. A bucket brigade was used to supplement the booster tank, and the department sent back to Sandy Creek for an auxiliary pump, which however arrived too late to be used in saving the hotel. The Pulaski Fire Department was called soon after Sandy Creek and arrived at the height of the fire and saving the nearby cottage owned by Mr. Hippic of Syracuse. This cottage which was in the path of the flames was only slightly damaged, the paint being somewhat blistered. The fire which broke out about 3:30 pm also leveled a nearby cottage owned by the hotel, but firemen were able to prevent the spread of the flames to a group of nearby cottages. During the fire an explosion occurred, which it is believed was caused by the hot water tank blowing up, Mr. Snitchler stated.

The Hotel, a two-story frame structure, was built about 50 years ago by Bert Ostrander of Syracuse. He operated it until his death about 20 years ago. Since then it has been conducted by Leslie B. Price, Paul R. Hadley, Kenneth Buckland and its present owner, C. A. Snitchler. The Hotel was situated on the south shore of North Pond at Sandy Pond.
To be continued….

Charlene Cole
Sandy Creek/Lacona Historian
1992 Harwood Drive
Sandy Creek, NY 13145
315-387-5456 x7
office hours: Friday 9am to 2pm
www.sandycreeknyhistory.com