Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-02
Large Fire at Chester.
DESTRUCTION OF TWO FINE STORES, THE
ODD FELLOWS HALL AND THE RAIL
ROAD PASSENGER DEPOT.

ODD FELLOW HALL AND THE RAIL
ROAD PASSENGER DEPOT.
PROBABLE WORK OF AN LEGENDARY
At about one o'clock on Wednesday
morning fire was discovered issuing from
a sort of shed or storehouse connected
with the dry goods store of l.. Bemis, on
Depot square. 1t was apparently but a
few minutes from the time Of alarm before
the fire had communicated and complete.
ly filled the entire block, which was q
large two-story frame building, and oc.
cupied by L. Bemis, dry goods, j. r. Rich
ardson, drug store, and the Odd Fellows
Hall. Mr.. Richardson saved but mere
fraction of bis stock, losing his books and
papers even. / believs nothing whatever
was saved from the stock of Mr.. Bemis
The Odd Fellows lost everything, and
their regalia was considered quite rich
and expensive. Their hall and other
rooms connected were lately fitted up at
considerable expense. No effort to speak
of was put forth to save the building OF
it's contents, as it would have been waste
of time, SO suddenly did the flames fill
every part of the building and burst
through every window and the roof al
various points, almost simultaneously
The railroad passenger depot, located
diagonally opposite, and but about 80 feet
from the banning building, was
next in order, and here we no.
ticed and hung our heads with shame
and modification, that among all our re-
cent disastrous fres, there has been none
when single fire engine, of the smallest
caibre, would have so surely stayed The
progress of the fire as at this time, but
Chester is not yet the owner of any fire
apparatus, so the depot was soon in ashes
The freight house was seriously threat
ened, as was also the extensive hardware
house of Robbins & Marsh. Nothing but
the most persistent and valoroua exertions
saved them. The vast wood pile belong
ing TO the Railroad Company, covering
several acres, bordered so close to the fire
as to be on fire in several places, but for
tunately, the wood was fully unseasoaed,
and no great exertiors were required to
keep the fire subdued in this direction.
Mr.. Spencer. the Station Agent, occu-
pied the upper part of tho depot as resi-
dence. understand he s.ved his house
hold effects entire.
I understand Mr.. Richardson is insured,
how it is with Mr. Bemis I have not asoer-
tanned A singular fatality seems to at.
tach to our enterprising citizens. Mr..
Richardson had but just shaken himself
from the cipders and ashes. as 1t were, of
the late fire which destroyed his fine
block very near the site of the present
calamity, and once more presented to the
best stocks of drugs, medicines and fancy
articles in this part of the State, when d
second disaster swept him almost clean.
The general opinion lie that the fire was
purposely set The strongest evidence, l
bslisve, being the location where it was
first discovered, and the unparalleled
swiftness with which the flames spread.
Depot square now presents sorry sight.
d.
Chester, March /, 1871.
We learn that the Agency of III. J.
Francisco of Rutland has the entire in
suranoe on the burnt property, and it is
as follows:
]. R. Richardson $4,000. divided in the
Putnam, North British and Yonkers In
suranoe Companies.
L. Bemis, $4,000 on building and stock,
divided up between Manhattan, Atlantic
and North British Companies.
The Railroad loss is covered in the
North British Insurance Company.