Galvinell Meat Company pledges to rebuild

CONOWINGO — Galvinell Meat Company is vowing to return to business after a devastating fire last week destroyed the decades-old operation on Ragan Road.

Josh Garvin, an employee, was at work when the fire broke out.

“I actually heard popping and my lights were flickering,” Garvin said Monday. He headed to the room that housed the electrical panel. “I opened the door and flames shot out. I was going to try to put it out with a garden hose.”

Within minutes the whole place was in flames, he said. He did get eight cows on the property out of danger.

Garvin said the fire destroyed the entire kill floor of the butcher shop and two coolers.

“Fifty-seven carcasses were condemned by USDA,” he said. “We worked all the next day to clear them.”

Because the power had to be shut off, Garvin said employees and volunteers rushed to clear out freezers, with some of the meat going to people in the community.

“We filled a lot of freezers,” he said, but added at least half belonged to area farmers and it was agreed that could not be given away without permission.

The loss was estimated at $2.5 million.

Jennifer and Dan McGrath bought the business from her father in 2014, continuing the family run business tradition of honesty and integrity. Customers and neighbors know that and have come to the aid of the McGraths and their employees. Garvin said people have been coming out to the site to help clean up and sort out the debris.

“These crews are not asking to get paid. It’s amazing,” Garvin said.

A Go Fund Me account has been established by Dylan Robertson to support the employees who are now out of a job. Close to $5000 has been donated so far.

PA Boys BBQ is hosting a chicken barbecue Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. with all proceeds going to Galvinells. The sale will be held at Wayvine Winery and Vineyard, 5150 Forge Road in Nottingham, Pa.

Garvin is humbled by the outpouring.

“It’s his money, his time and it’s all going straight to us,” he said of Matt Harper, owner of PA Boys BBQ. “It’s awesome how the community is coming around us.”

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal has ruled that it was an electrical issue in the attic that caused the accidental fire.

Garvin said this is not the end of Galvinell Meat Company.

“We plan on rebuilding bigger and better,” he said.