OBIT: Alma GULICH, 1954, Bald Eagle, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sharon Miller Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ Elderly Woman Dies in Bald Eagle Fire, Home Destroyed Cause Is Unknown; Two Others Escape Blazing Structure. A 68-year old woman died when she was unable to escape the wind- whipped flames that engulfed her home at Bald Eagle early today. The body of Miss Alma Gulich, one of three elderly occupants of the home, was found by Tyrone firemen at 1:55 a.m., lying amid the charred rubble of the two story frame dwelling. The home is located between the Triangle grill and the home of the Robert J. Charles family, on the east side of Routes 350-220, five miles northeast of here. A brother, Everett, and a sister, Ivy, who resided with the victim, escaped in partial attire. State Police and the fire marshal are investigating to determine the exact cause of the fire, but at press time today could not issue a statement. Miss Ivy told the Daily Herald that she discovered the fire shortly before midnight. She said her sister was already in bed, apparently asleep in a back bedroom, her brother had just retired, in the middle bedroom, and she was preparing to retire, in the front room. She said that all of a sudden, the lights went out. I smelled something and looked under the bed at the electrical outlet, thinking it was burning. About that time, a paper bag containing clothes burst into flames, the flames shooting up the wall. She said she shouted and aroused her brother, and they ran downstairs, being forced down by the heat from, the flames. The brother and sister shouted for the victim but received no response. They were unable to return upstairs, so left the blazing structure. Nearby residents and persons at the Triangle Grille, noting the blaze, went to the house, obtained ladders, and put them to the upstairs windows, but were forced back by the intense heat and smoke. The home quickly became engulfed in flames. The victim's brother received burns about the face. The first truck of Tyrone fire companies arrived at the scene at about 12:10 a.m., but the general alarm sounded at about 12:35 a.m. Coroner D. Harold Troxell, Altoona, placed the time of Miss Gulich's death at 11:55 p.m. for official records. Mrs. Robert J. Charles, whose home is located about 200 yards southwest of the Gulich home on the same side of the highway, said she was preparing for bed when she noticed "a bright light" at the Gulich's. She said it "appeared to be on the side of the house nearest the Triangle." The highway was lined by autos belonging to spectators and firemen, and one-way traffic was established. The area was fog-covered in spots. By 1:30 a.m. most of the bystanders had left the scene. The home, consisting of three rooms upstairs and three downstairs, had no cellar. It was heated by a round-shaped coal stove in the living room. It was reported to have been fully covered by insurance. Miss Gulich's death brought to thirteen the number of victims of fires in the area served by the three Tyrone fire companies in a period since October, 1952, when the five children and the wife of Edwin T. Smith were fatally burned at Grazierville. Alma D. Gulich was born July 26, 1886, at Clearfield, the daughter of Lorenzo and Liza Jane Redifor Gulich. She had resided at Bald Eagle the past nine years. She is survived by her brother and sister with whom she resided. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church, Altoona, and was a retired bookkeeper. Funeral service will be Sunday at 2:30 p. m. at the Cox Funeral home, Warriors Mark, in charge of the Rev. Gordon Williams, pastor of the Bald Eagle Methodist church. Burial will be in the Bald Eagle cemetery. Friends will be received at the Cox Funeral home after 7 p. m. tomorrow. The body will not be on view. Tyrone Daily Herald, Tyrone, Pa., March 26, 1954