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None injured, as '1812 Hotel' burns Firefighters and investigators were still on the scene Monday morning, after a major fire that severely damaged one of the oldest buildings in Sodus. The 1812 Hotel was so named, because the first floor portion was built around that time. The fire started around 10:30 Sunday night at the 1812 Hotel on West Main Street, now a bar and apartment building. Firefighters from more than 10 departments responded to the fire. The Sodus Volunteer Fire Department, under the direction of Chief Dan Littlefield, was back in service by 4:30 a.m., but still cleaning up and putting equipment away later Monday. The three-story building had 18 residents, and everyone inside escaped safely. The initial call came from a tenant, Glennon Heinrich, who noticed a tripped circuit breaker and smoke on the third floor. When firefighters arrived, thick smoke had engulfed that portion of the building. Assisting Sodus firefighters were firefighters from Alton, East Williamson, Fairville, North Rose, Pultneyville, Sodus Point, Sodus Center, Wallington and Williamson. Standing in front of the building Monday was Steve Patchett, whose grandparents had owned the former Sodus Hotel from the 1920's to about 1984. Patchett was reminiscing with passers-by about the history of the local landmark, which had once been a hub of downtown activity with a bar, restaurant, barber shop and gas station. The cause of the fire was determined by investigators to be an overheated cell phone charger in a third-floor apartments. Hank Forest has owned the hotel for 10 years and reportedly had no insurance on the building. The American Red Cross helped many displaced residents find food and shelter. Copyright
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