On the night of Thursday, January 18, 2007, a devastating, quick-moving electrical fire swept through Oram’s 18th floor New York offices. Thankfully, no one was there. All electronic data is backed up off site, and current, essential paper records are kept in a back office we maintain elsewhere. We were able to salvage some business and personal paper files, and some mementos, photos, artwork and doo-dads of sentimental and historical value. Smoke and water damage was extensive, and the space was totally destroyed. By noon Monday, we were up and running, relocating our Manhattan office to our new quarters at 16 East 40th St.
Our 1940 issue of Fortune magazine was among the rescues. That issue passed down through the firm more or less accidentally – from Harold Oram, to a file drawer, and ultimately (in shrink wrap which is what saved it) to Hank Goldstein. It’s an interesting perspective: a lot has changed; on the other hand, not a lot has changed.
Happily, there was no business interruption. Thirty years of “stuff” was gone. We started fresh, in retrospect an unintended blessing for Oram’s senior pack rat.
Not a single client meeting, obligation or telephone call was missed. We are in a service business; service is what our clients pay for and expect. Under all circumstances, exemplary service to those who entrust their futures to us is what we are about.
