Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-22
Nallomell zoral Nems.

The fire on Water street Tuesday nj ;ht, Il
brief account of which / sent you by tee-
graph, was not so destructive to buildings and
goods as at first anticipated. When dis
covered, little before ten O'Clock, the flames
were bursting from the windows of the third
story of the wooden building occupied as
hat, cap and fur store by Miss Sarah Bick-
nell. The dJoining store on the south was
of brick, owned and occupied by II. l'obcy,
which at one time appeared doomed to de-
struction, as the wind, though light, was in
the direction to spread the confiagration in
that direction. The attention of the fire De,
partment was at once directed to checking
further progress of the fire southwark; and
by the most strenuous exertions a successful
stand was here made. Mounting the roof OF
Tobey's store with discharge pipe the fire.
men accomplished their purpose; thus saving
not only the store of Mr.. Tobey bat also the
adjoining block owned by Mr. Il. w. Bal.
lard, ANA the new and elegant hall recently
built by Mr.. Charles Wilson, and occupied
on the ground floor by Jones 8, Getchell as a
meat store and j. w. Brock as dining sa-
loon. In fact it is. probable that the entire
square bounded by Water. Central, Second
and Winthrop streets would have been laid
in ruins had the fire gained Roadway in a
southerly direction. The next store north OF
Miss Bcknell was owned by Mr.. Jacob King,
and occupied by Mr.. James A. Woodbury., as
a grocery store. Mrs. Manson's saloon fol-
lowed next in order, and then the building
occupied by ID. W. Packard as a saloon, and
by Madison Tuck ham curing establish
ment. Here the progress northward was
stayed; leaving small wooden building on
the corner of Water and Winthrop streets,
and occupied by the Messrs. Jewell as a hair
dressing saloon, practically unframed; also
the old and dilapdated wooded buildings on
Winthrop street, that at one time seemed
doomed, with but few TO regret their exit.
There could not have been a more favorable
night for fire, as there was scarcely a breath
of wind, and the night was comparatively
mild for the season. The steamer Cushnoc
arrived from Augusta in season to do excel
lent service in preventing the further spread
of the fire, and especially in extinguishing
the burning ruins thus relieving our hand
engines from Protracted labor, with firemen
already exhausted by their arduous excrtons
We learn that the building and stock OF Miss
Bicknell were insured to the amount of
twelve or thirteen hundred dollars, and
Mrs. Manson and Mr. Tuck had five
hundred dollars each on their buildings.
Mr.. Woodbury. also was insured five
hundred dollars on his stock. Mr.. King
was absent from home. and we cannot learn
definitely as to his insurance, but hear it
stated that his store was PROBABLY uninsured.
Mr.. Tobey's damage to buildings and goods
will be comparatively slight; fully covered by
Insurance. Most Of the goods in the stores
burned were saved in damaged condition.
The entire loss will probably not exceed five
thousand dollars. As TO the origin of the
fire, we cannot furnish definite solution.
Various theories have been suggested; but
the probability is that there was some defect
in the chimney by which fire was co:hmuni-
Gated to the dry combus,lbles in the upper
story of the building
Now that the corner of Water and Wiz
throp streets has provdentially been cleared
of the old wooden buildings that have for so
long time outliyed their usefulness, there will
undoubtedly be a movement inaugurated to
replace them with a substantial block of gran
lite stores, with offices and hall on the second
and third floors, somewhat after the style of
Granite Hall in Augusta. 1t might be well
for the city TO take into consideration the
propriety of disposing of some OF their public
buildings and uniting with private parties in
the erection of structure that would be an
ornament to the city, and suitable for city
ms, hall, SC. The stores might be built
and owned by ore or more individuals or
corporations, while the city would find abund
ant and capacious room for all needtul pur
poses required. The present is the propitious
time for carrying out some feasible plan for
the present and future growth and prosperity
of our vide awake city; and should 1t not be
deemed advisable to have a public partner
ship in the matter, we doubt not private
parties will find it for their interest to engage
in the enterprise without aid from the MUM