The blaze gutted the first floor of the gay nightclub.
By: Linda Seida
SOLEBURY Pennsylvania state police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are continuing their investigation into the cause of the fire that gutted the first floor of the Cartwheel, a gay nightclub, according to Bucks County Fire Marshal Tom Krutsch.
The Bucks County fire marshal’s office has listed the cause of the fire that occurred April 11 as "undetermined," according to Mr. Krutsch.
The fire started in an older, stone part of the basement, Mr. Krutsch said.
Cartwheel owner Paul Quintieri could not be reached for comment. A manager of the nightclub, who goes by the name DJ Chas Paris, did not respond to an e-mail request for comment or information.
The Cartwheel is located in Solebury, just across the New Hope border. It was a popular nightspot for both gay and straight patrons.
Part of the building is at least 200 years old. The front section dates from approximately 1790 to 1810, according to New Hope Mayor Laurence Keller and Councilman Jake Fell, two sources knowledgeable of the area’s history.
During the Depression in the 1930s, the building housed a restaurant that went into a decline when its meal prices approached 75 cents, according to Mr. Fell.
The loss of the Cartwheel is a major casualty for the area’s alternative nightlife scene, according to Mayor Keller.
Another local nightspot, the Raven, attracts clientele interested in drinks and a place to chat. But the Cartwheel was where patrons went to eat and dance, Mayor Keller said.
"They complemented each other so well," Mayor Keller said. "The Raven and the Cartwheel fed each other. It’s a loss for the Raven as well."
According to Fred Williamson, New Hope fire marshal and president of the New Hope Eagle Fire Company, the blaze appeared to have begun in a basement utility room.
Firefighters worked to control the blaze for about 90 minutes, Mr. Williamson said. Between 75 and 100 emergency workers and firefighters responded to the alarm. None was injured, according to Mr. Williamson.
No employees or patrons were injured in the fire, which occurred about 3 p.m. The building was empty at the time the blaze erupted, Mr. Williamson said. >