SARAH SMELTZ/THE EXPRESS Firemen canvass the Fallon Hotel at 131 E. Water Street in Lock Haven on Sunday night after responding to a report of smoke in the building about 9 p.m. It was the second time firemen were called there Sunday; the first was at 2 p.m., but no information on that call was available by press time last night.

SARAH SMELTZ/THE EXPRESS
Firemen canvass the Fallon Hotel at 131 E. Water Street in Lock Haven on Sunday night after responding to a report of smoke in the building about 9 p.m. It was the second time firemen were called there Sunday; the first was at 2 p.m., but no information on that call was available by press time last night.

From staff reports

LOCK HAVEN – Firefighters were twice called to the vacant but historic Fallon Hotel in downtown Lock Haven on Sunday.

The second time firefighters had to break in the front door to deal with smoke reportedly coming from the basement, and police searched the place.

In fact, the second alarm at roughly 9 p.m. had firemen equipped with air packs entering the building.

At one point, some smoke could be seen coming from a basement door in the front of the building at 131 E. Water St., next to the Lock Haven YMCA.

Firemen took a hose into the front and it appeared whatever was burning was doused quickly as a couple of police officers then entered.

It appeared the police and firefighters were searching the building for any people.

The owners, Delores and Terry Mantle of Jersey Shore, reportedly were called and entered the building after all indications of fire and smoke were cleared.

No information was available by press time last night as to why firemen were called to the Fallon about 2 p.m. Sunday.

Fire officials were busy and could not answer questions about whether they thought the situation was suspicious considering the building has been vacant.

Firemen remained on the scene well into the night,

The Fallon was closed late last winter by the Mantles, who said the boiler stopped working.

They then put the building up for sale, listing it at $275,000.

However, a check this past weekend shows there is a “sale pending” on the Fallon, and the list price is $235,000.

The current listing is through Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, which has an office in Lock Haven.

“Tremendous opportunity to own a piece of Lock Haven’s history. Engineering study says building is sound. Great opportunity for a go-getter. Hotel liquor license available separately. Boiler does not work. Being sold ‘as is.’ Although this backs up to dike/levee, it is in a ‘ponding’ area, so flood insurance is required,” Berkshire Hathaway’s listing states.

The hotel was built in 1880.

The hotel liquor license also was available, but separately from the building.

In its heyday, the Fallon was a grand place.

Even in the late 20th Century, when the hotel rooms had become much less than grand, the building offered a series of restaurants that service clubs used as their meeting place, families rented for banquets, and business people frequented for lunch.

The Fallon’s recent history includes its ownership by Anthony and Gertrude Torsell. They sold the Fallon to Charles and Hazel Stevenson in 1988.

After Mr. Stevenson’s death, his widow sold the building to the Mantles for $104,000 in 1997.

The Mantles, its seems, have done what they could to continue to meet code regulations, and the building is not in violation, city officials had said.

At least it wasn’t until the boiler went out and forced the Mantles to close the Fallon to the public.