This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Patch Update: Whitehall Resident Shares Details of Life Since March House Fire

Catching up with Highgrove Road's Mary Lou Grasser.

Six months after an early-morning fire ravaged their home, John and Mary Lou Grasser recall waking to .

On Saturday, March 26, at around 7 a.m., Whitehall resident Brian Spegar spotted flames shooting from the roof of his neighbors’ home at 5328 Highgrove Road. Spegar pounded on the Grassers’ front door until the couple finally shuffled downstairs. The Grassers had been sleeping soundly and were unaware of the fire that would heavily damage the home that they had shared for 39 years.

The brick house and nearly everything in it was damaged by fire, smoke and/or water.

Find out what's happening in Baldwin-Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We lost it all,” Mary Lou, 59, stated. “The roof, the windows, all of our furniture. It’s all gone.”

The couple did manage to rescue several Tupperware containers of family photographs, along with some of Mary Lou’s jewelry, before fleeing the burning home. But sadly, their wedding photos sustained considerable water damage and may be beyond repair.

Find out what's happening in Baldwin-Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A thoughtful, quick-thinking firefighter from the rescued several framed photos of the Grasser grandchildren—treasured mementos to the married couple who is still experiencing the grief of losing four decades of memories.

“It’s still traumatic,” Mary Lou stated, explaining that, while she and Lou have become accustomed to a new routine living with their son and his family in Canonsburg Borough, they often forget that familiar household items, cherished recipes and favorite articles of clothing were lost.

“I was getting ready for work last week,” Mary Lou said, “and I realized that I had nothing to wear for Casual Friday. All of my favorite Steeler shirts were gone. I had Troy (Polamalu) ... (Ben) Roethlisberger, but I ended up wearing my Steeler earrings.”

An assistant to the associate dean at Duquesne University’s A.J. Palumbo School of Business Administration, Mary Lou tearfully recalled the many acts of kindness and charity extended to her and John, 62, by the Duquesne University family, as well as by many other friends and neighbors.

“People have been so good to us, so generous,” she said.

And their family members have provided for John and Mary Lou’s basic necessities, including new lodgings, cleaning help and invaluable emotional support.

“We moved in with our son that day (of the fire) and have been there ever since,” Mary Lou said.

She expressed immense gratitude for her son, Fred, and his wife, Heather, with whom they are now living. Mary Lou also thanked her daughter, Kristian, and son-in-law, Matt.

“They’ve all done so much,” Mary Lou said. “We’re so grateful.”

John and Mary Lou are also grateful for Spegar, whose quick action and persistence allowed them to escape from the fire physically unharmed. The couple showed their appreciation to their rescuer by sending him a special thank-you gift.

While the Grassers’ Highgrove Road house has undergone many improvements in the months since the fire, the couple wrestles with an uncertainty regarding the cause of the blaze. An exhaustive investigation by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office determined only that the fire was likely electrical in nature; however, additional details are not forthcoming.

Meantime, the couple’s insurer, Erie Insurance, has been both sympathetic and expedient, issuing several checks on a claim within weeks of the fire. That has allowed the couple to move forward with the costly task of rebuilding their home, inside and out.

“The drywall is in,” Mary Lou said. “We’ve replaced the roof. We’ve picked out new furniture and kitchen appliances. Erie has been wonderful.”

The couple is looking foward to the winter holidays, anticipating a return to their “new” house in December.

“I can’t wait,” Mary Lou said. “I miss Whitehall.”

The Baldwin-Whitehall Patch sincerely thanks the Grassers for sharing their story.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?