Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1864-03-11
VOLUME 81. NO. 13
Fire in Bridgton. /.

On Wednesday night at about half
past one O'Clock, /, was discovered that
the IemPeranee Building which has long
been the ehref ornament 20 our village.
Was IN fames. The ere was srs, sen by
the wAtchman IN the Mill Of Rufus Gibs,s
ESQ. and had made such progress. that
IL was impossible TO arrest IT, Those
who were krst on the ground testify that
there Is every reason to believe from ap-
PeArances that the FIRE originated IN the
wood pile which Was in the basement Of
the building. The door Of that part used
a. n printing ofsce was found unlocked
NJ about nine o'clock IN the evening. Mr..
Phelps who occupied this Office went IN 20
procure some article, he used no light. saw
no appearance of fire, and locked the door
when he came out
The flames made astonishing progress
after they were seen. and IL was bat a
short time before they leaped forth from
every window and through the roof
They formed = magnificent spectacle. tow
erIng up against the marky sky Of night.
lt required the most strenuous exertions
90 save the house of Benz. Walker.
f.sq-, from being burned and had there
been a breeze the FIRE must have spread
extensively aud caused great destruction.
The building was built and owned by
the Sons Of Temperance. Ou the frst
noor were two large apartments very con-
venient IN their arrangement for various
kinds Of business. The basenen; had
been used a store, but was unoccupied
except that part directly under the Print
ing Ofhoe. where all the tenants keDt
their wood. A considerable amount OF
fuei was slowed here, \ part Of Il season.
Ell The upper story contained the
large and convenient room known
as Temperance Han, and two
small ofhees - one used a. a BARRIERS
shop and the other as an ante room.
The Printing Establishment which was
In one Of the rooms on the first Hoor. was
owned by A. L. Phelps. Esq. The ma
terial was worth about twelve hundred
d0llars. and was insured for seven. IL
was purchased by Mr.. Phelps, Of Caps.
H. Z Little, IN November last. Nothing
was saved not even the books, a. IL was
found impossible 20 enter any part Of the
building. The other apartment was oecu-
pied by Mr.. l. T. Barker and Mrs. Oc-
tavia Brown. as n MilliDer's Shop. All
the household furniture OF Mr.. and MrS.
Ia Il. Barker was stored here. The stock
in trade was worth about thousand dol
lars. there was no insurance on the furni-
tGrc or stock, al was consumed. This
loss falls heavy on the OEners and they
are entitled to consideration by the pub
lie. Mr. l. B. Moody. who had barber
shop in front Of the Hah, lost about one
hundred dollars worth Of various articles.
The building was worth fally fc=-
thousand dollar and was insured for six
teen hundred. The smoking ruins Of this
beautiful structure were a gloomy stecta-
Gle on the following morning. and the
whole town looked de-olate. IL is 20 be
hoped that II viii be sOoa rebuilt a. IL Is
required by increasing bushes Of the
place.
IL J. hard to believe that the destrue-
ton offhis structure cause pleasure 70 any
yet u j. eredibly reported that persons
were overheard 10 say. ~that Il was the
best thing that could be done for the
place" An maueuce had always gone
oat from u, favorable 10 virtue and NOR
atty. fSentinel.