Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-22
Firenlen,S Hall.
IT'S HISTORY, FIRES AND DOOM.

IT'S HISTORY, FIRES AND DOOM.
Three times and out had a practical
Illustration Saturday night, or, rather
early Sunday morning, in the burning
of the old Village Hall, or Engine House
or, as its actual name was, Firemen's
Hall, by all of which designations it has
been known to our citizens in their con-
versation, and by each of which it has
been termed in warnings for village
meetings The building was erected in
1858, for the use of our firemen, the
lower story being occupied for an engine
ond or-upper story for village and other
public meetings. The upper room or
hall was, at one time, handsomely fitted
mp by the members of Washington En-
giue Company, No. ., the walls being
tastefully adorned with engravings,
trumpets, banners, etc, but since the
fire of 1870, its general use has been
abandoned. 1t, originally, was located
just east of its last site, on the ground
now embraced in ''Strong avenue, but
at the laying out of that street, or high
way, it was removed to lands belonging
to the Rutland railroad cOmpany-then
known as the Rutland and Burlington
railroad company-as its former site
had been. and facing down Merchants
Row, being directly opposite the tcrmini
of these streets and Washington street.
THE FIRST FIRE
occurred here September nth, 1870, at
which time, the hook and ladder com
pany no longer occupied it, their place
being taken by Killington Steamer
Company, No. 3. The fire originated
from spontaneous combustion, among
"A pile of old rags used for cleaning and
oiling the engines, and although occur
ring mt midday made such rapid Roadway,
the building being of wood, as to render
its repair for permanent use, OF more
than doubtful policy, especially as the
village had no fee in the land, and the
railroad company could re-enter into
possession at any time. Rough and I'M
slightly repairs were, however, made, SO
that the engines could be temporarily
stored therein, and public meetings were
subsequently held in the hall, to the Wis
able fear and trembling of the assembled
multitude There was an insurance
thereon of some two thousand dollars
which was probably abont the amount
of the loss.
THE SECOND FIRE
took place on the night of August goth,
1872, just as the torch light procession
of Grant & Wilson clubs was passing
through the streets. The place of the
fire was ascertained, the procession con-
tinued its march, the fire department
came to the rescue, and the building was
again saved, still more dilapidated and
unsightly than before. Whether this
fire, too had its origin in spontaneous
combustion" or was the result OF an &C
cident or design will, probably, never be
known. We come now to
THE THIRD AND LAST FIRE,
being that of yesterday morning. Just
as Saturday night was passing into Sun
day morning, a gentleman thought he
noticed the smell of smoke from the di-
rcction of the hall he, therefore, step
ped across the street and called the at
tention of others to the fact, but without
giving an alarm. The gentlemen to
whom the information was conveyed
concluded to make a personal examina-
ton of the situation before making an
outcry, perhaps because the smell OF
smoke was not unusual in the neighbor-
hood of the depot, or, perchance, for some
other good and sufficient reasons there
unto moving them. In any event, the
alarm was not given, but the examina-
ton was made, and fire was discovered
in the southwest corner of the building,
on the inside, which was rapidly work
ing its way up between the ceilings to the
floors and roof above. Thereupon the
cry of "fire" was raised, the fire alarm
whistles and bells joining in the din,
calling a portion, at least, of the fire de-
partment and some citizens from their
beds to see the last of that which was
once the glory of Rutland's firemen.
Before the engines, which arrived on the
ground, were in working order, the fire
had spread over the roof and floors and
thence, through the windows, had reach
ed the outside, enyeloping the entire
building in flames. Water, though
thrown on and into the burning build
ing, was useless in staying the consum-
ing fire, and, in short time, nothing
but black or smouldering ruins, burning
Goals and ashes marked its site. The
loss to the village was comparatively
nothing, they being unable to sell, re-
move or probably use it. The only
immediate loss connected with the build
ing was some five or six hundred dollars
worth of bridge builders tools, belonging
to parties who were engaged in framing
bridge timbers in the rear of the build
ing, the tools being deposited therein for
safe keeping when not in use. Some OF
the timber, belonging to the trustees and
managers of the Vermont Central and
Vermont and Canada railroads, was also
burned, but the value thereof is not as
yet ascertained.
Further west and north of the hall,