This article tells of a fire at a factory owned by A&P supermarkets. It was their Quaker Maid division. I’m not sure if that is the same Quaker Maid that today makes sandwich steaks or not.

The Crescent Beach Hotel on Lake Ontario is for sale again. This time the asking price is $2.5 million. The last owner put money into repairs but never ended up opening the place.

Republic-Democrat
Brockport, NY

Thursday, Aug. 21, 1969

Heated Chemical Causes Explosion At Quaker Maid

Firemen were called to plant A of the Quaker Maid division of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company at 7:34 p.m. Saturday evening when a slight explosion, intense smoke, and a sprinkler alarm alerted guards. The fire which followed was confined to the side of the plant laboratory which is adjacent to the division offices on the main floor of the administration building. Much of the building suffered smoke damage because of the sprinkler heads that were activated. The explosion took place among containers of chemicals being heated over a burner in a fire resistant, vented hood. A wall back of the hood was blackened, making it necessary for firemen to saw a hole on the opposite side in the cafeteria in order to ventilate, and investigate.

The south battalion consisting of Engine 32 and 34, emergency trucks 343 and M37 responded with the aerial ladder truck from the downtown Engine 33 from West Ave.. was also called.

The firemen under chief Charles Smith connected to a hydrant and took five small lines into the building in case they were needed. It was necessary for the firemen to wear smoke masks to get near the laboratory and fans were used to eject smoke from the building.