The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-07-03
The Sanford Fire.

The disastrous fire at Sanford Corner Mon
day evening was caused by defective CHM
ney in the block built two years ago and
owned by NOVEL; and Bennett. 1t was a two
story frame structure with Mansard roof.
Its occupants were Novel; and Libby, gen.
eral merchants, Stiles and Hersom, manufac-
turers of clothing, on the first floor
and the second floor was used by the
Masons and Knights of Pythias as hail.
Though the air was upcommoply calm at the
time the fire was first discovered the flames
spread rapidly and the building was ia blaze
before anything could be saved of the effects of
the secret societies. Novel; & Libby and
Stiles & Hersom were more fortunate and
much of their valuable stocks were rescued
There was on this building an insurance of
$3.50 with the Home Company and $3.50 with
the German American. NOVEL; & Libby had
insurance with the North American on their
stock to the amount of $500. Stiles & Her
som had stock valued at from $4,000 to $4,000.
Their loss was but $500 or $500, and the r in
surance is placed with the Connecticut, $500,
and the Hartford, $1,000 The Masons saved
their charter and records; the Pythians moth
ing Insurance $500 in the Springfield Fire
and Marine. The building is burned entirely
to the ground. From this block the flames
spread rapidly in both directions, finding fuel
on the south in small story and a half build
ing owned by Novel; & Bennett and used as
bakery by Emery & Bodwell. There was an
insurance of $500 on the bnilding in the
Springfield. Emery & Bodwell's loss is about
$500 without insurance. Next south was the
Rantist m rob mi oh ont; rnlv
Uninsured. North of the Novel; & Bennett
block where the fire started, was the large tin
shop and general hardware store of Prescott
Emery, and large barn filed with rags, etc
Mr. Emery estimates his loss at from $4,000 to
$4,000. The insurance of $32OOis equally divided
between theEtna and Franklin companies. The
building was new two years ago and is entirely
destroyed. Mr.. Emery will probably rebuild.
North of these premises was the neat cottage
residence of William Miller, valued at $1,000.
Entirely destroyed with an insurance of $1,000
in the Home of New York.
The Congregational church was next,
an ancient building, but recently repaired and
supposed to be worth with the organ and bell
about $4,000. The vestry was rented to the
Messrs. Goodall for storage purposes and
about $4,000 in goods were placed there. All
OF these were saved but about $4,000, which is
probably insured, though the ewnerz were un-
able to state definitely, owing to the fact that
the insurance, if any, was placed by the Boston
selling agents of the Sanford Mills. While
the Miller house was burning an attempt was
made to save the church by exploding
a keg of powder in the burning |
Miller house, but with no other effect |
than to frighten those at work getting out the |
Goodall goods from sthe church vestry, The |
church was uninsured The further spread of |
the fife was stopped by tearing down a small |
tenement belonging to Thomas Goodall. AT an !
earlier stage of the confsgration the flames |
the house and barn known as the dr. Weld'' |
estate, but owned by l. S. .Kimbal, valued at |
$4,000 and without insurance. On this side of |
the street no other damage was done save bad |
ly scorching Daniel Clark's house and killing |
some very fine elm trees The injury to the |
Clark property is about $500, which is covered |
by insurance with the Spring field Company. |
Had there been westerly wind nothing could |
have prevented the destruction of much prop |
erty on the east side of the main village street.
The working Of the small hand engine in the |
village appears to have been very efficient and |
without its aid the fire could hardly have been |
been controlled. The work of the flames was
as completely destructive as 10 the great Port |
land fire, hardly timber remaining. Most of |
the insurance was placed in the local agency of |
Mr.. Allen.