1929 Reading Eagle Newspaper Article
"FIRE DESTROYS HISTORIC HOTEL EARLY TODAY"
-Occupants Flee In Night Clothes When Moselem Springs Property Burns-
Moselem Springs, March 8 (Special.) ---The historical Moselem Springs Hotel,
one of the best known landmarks in rural Berks, and located along the William
Penn Highway, this place, was totally destroyed by fire at 4:30 this morning.
All that remains of the old hostelry are the side and rear walls. The loss
is estimated at over $50,000.
The fire was discovered by Walter Leibensperger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin B. Leibensperger, who have conducted the hotel for two years. He called his parents and Miss Emma Keller, who was employed at the hotel, and the four barely escaped with their lives. They were compelled to flee to the home of a neighbor, Sylvanius Fegely, in their night clothing, and suffered greatly from the extreme cold and biting wind.
The entire building, including the section used as a general store by Elmer A.F. Kline, was destroyed. When the Fleetwood and Kutztown Fire Companies arrived the entire structure was a mass of flames, and all efforts of the firemen were directed in saving the adjoining buildings, including the home of Mr. Kline, which is located across the highway from the hotel property.
FANNED BY STRONG WINDS
A strong west wind fanned the flames and carried the burning embers some distance. Several times it was thought that the Kline property would be destroyed and all the furniture and other belongings were removed. However, through the efficient work of the firemen, who were handicapped by the lack of water facilities, the Kline home was saved. The window frames and doors are badly scorched by the heat of the burning hotel.
The hotel property is owned by Joel. M. Leibensperger, who conducted a hotel there for 40 years, or up untill two years ago, when he retired , and Irvin B. Leibensperger, who was formerly in his employ, took possession. Mr. Kline conducted the general store in the building for the past 17 years.
According to investigation the fire started in the section where the kitchen is located. -Preparations were made yesterday to care for a funeral party and it is thought the chimney became ignited during the day and smouldered until the flames worked their way through the partitions and the dry timbers proved easy prey to the flames.
SMOKE AWAKES SON
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Leibensperger sleeps in the room directly above the kitchen and was awakened by the smoke. Almost choking from the fumes he worked his way through the building and awakened his parents and Miss Keller.
When the occupants of the building attempted to flee they found the lower floor a mass of flames, but finally worked their way down a front stairway and safely reached the outside. While the other members of his family ran to the home of Mr. Fegely, Mr. Leibensperger called Mr. Kline and the two, with the aid of Earl Fegely, summoned the fire companies.
One hour after the fire was discovered there was nothing left of the historic building but the brick walls. The front wall fell in during the height of the blaze, but the two side and rear walls withstood the terrific heat, showing the sturdy construction of the building.
ERECTED IN 1852
The hotel was erected in 1852 by the late Solomon Leibensperger, to be operated as a hotel by his grandson John Leibensperger. During construction the grandson died, and when the building was completed Samuel Dumn became the propreitor of the hotel section, and the Lenhart Brothers operated the general store located in the northern end of the building.
Joel M. Leibensperger took possession of the hotel erected by his grandfather in 1882, and in 1896, erected an addition to the property to care for the increased trade in the hotel and general store. Mr. Leibensperger purchased the property in 1898 from his father, Jacob Leibensperger. During the time the property was used as a hotel it seldom was conducted by any other that a Leibensperger. The present propreitor Irvin B. Leibensperger, however, is no relative of the former propreitors.
During the days of the Conestoga wagons the hostelry was the stopping place of many of the teams hauling merchandise and grain between Pittsburgh and New York. It was nothing unusual to see at least a dozen of these large wagons, drawn by six horses, stop at the hotel at dusk. The animals were quarted in the large barn, and at times the hotel propery proved to be inadequate to care for all the drivers, and some were compelled to sleep in the bar room.
HAVEN FOR DRIVERS
Many of the drivers of these teams proved to be splendid entertainers and on more than one occasion they would bring their old violins and musical instruments and stage real old-fashioned dances. They were a jolly lot of men and good fellowship prevailed whenever a number of them met as they did at the old hotel.
The drivers of the teams were astir at an early hour and after feeding their horses and themselves partaking of a good wholesome breakfast for which the place was noted, would be on their way to either New York or Pittsburgh. This was in the days before the railroads and all transportation between these two centers was done by wagon.
During the time Joel M. Leibensperger conducted the hotel it became know for its typical Berks County cooking. Many of those who traveled, considered it a real treat to be in the vicinity of the hotel at meal times so they could enjoy a dinner at the "Springs", as the place was known. Mr. Leibensperger personally seen to it that his visitors were cared for and his wonderful personality won for him a host of friends.
WELL-KNOWN HOSTELRY
When Irvin B. Leibensperger took over the hotel he conducted it along the same lines as did his predecessor and he catered to a large transient trade.
Mr. Kline carried a large stock of general merchandise in his store, all of which was consumed by the flames. His loss is estimated at about $15,000 partially covered by insurance.
Mr. Leibensperger, the proprietor, lost all of his belongings, and while he carried some insurance, a number of priceless antiques were consumed by the flames. Joel M. Leibensperger, the owner of the property, carried some insurance. Many of his antiques handed down through several generations, were stored in the upper floors for the building, and his loss in this line cannot be replaced.
MOVED ANTIQUES
When the elder Mr. Leibensperger retired from the hotel business he remodeled the building formerly used as a creamery and moved many of his antiques to this place. This is located about 200 feet from the hotel building and was not damaged by the fire.
A large quantity of smoked meat prepared by Mr. Leibensperger, the proprietor, was burned, including 34 hams and several pounds of sausage. The smoke house located to the west of the hotel was the only other structure burned.
As soon as is possible Mr. Leibensperger will start building operations to replace the burned building. In the meantime Mr. Kline will conduct his general store business in his home which is located directly across the highway.----
