The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-02-03
FIRE IN WELLINGTON
Entire Loss Of Three Business
Houses.
Serious Damage to Four More.
A. n. Palmer's Building Totally
Destroyed, and j. n. Wooney's
Brick Hardware Store
Nearly Ruined.

Many Wellington people who had at
tended church Sunday evening and
fingered by the fireside an hour or two
pillows when, about IL O'Clock, the cry
of "Fire" was heard, and an Ominous
and rapid ringing of bells, followed by
messengers calling those whose bust
ness houses were in danger to come
quickly. Hurried toilets were made,
but before those living nearest could
get to their doors, the fire, which was
first discovered at the rear corner of s.
E. Peters clothing and grocery store
on the west side of the Public Square,
had mounted to the roof, and was pour
ing flame and sparks in a volume that
indicated certain destruction of that
building and serious work If tie fire
was not a sweeping'one.
There were four Larrels of coal oil in
the cellar, and the wooden building,
filed with combustible material, burn
ed so quickly that no one could enter to
save anything. All of Mr.. Peters
stock of clothing and groceries, and the
entire contents of the dressmaking and
millinery rooms above, owned by Mrs.
A. III. Palmer, together with the build
ing owned by MIR. Palmer, was a conf
plete loss. MIR. Bunce's candy stand,
filling a little niche between that build
ing aud the hardware store of j. II.
Woolley was an institution whose
steaming sweetness school-children
snuffed from afar, and where small
coin was exchanged for freshly made
taffy and roasted nuts in. not insignifi-
cant sums; 60 that that unpre;entious
business house, for the amount of capi-
tai invested, afforded as safe and sure
an income as any one in town. We
have not learned whether the proprie-
tor will rebuild or not, or tn e amount of
his loss. The stairway between the
post office building and one in which the
fire started was the only means of egress
from the upper story of Ogden's brick
building, which rooms were occupied
by Dr. Holbrook, dentist-the front for
official aud the middle and rear for liv-
ing apartments. The wife and child
escaped from bed with only the hastiest
preparation, and not being strong, were
made ill from the exposure. DR.. Hol-
brook and his brother-in-law, DIR.
Seeley, who VAS here on visit, fought
the flames beyond the point of personal
safety, and DIR. Holbrook was twice
overcome by the heat and smoke. They
kept wet carpets before the door-the
only opening on that side-and by that
means saved the contents of the second
story and prevented the destruction of
the Post office building. j. II. woolley's
store, on the other side. was cleared of
its contents, but so injured in the roof,
walls and entire front, that it Is the
opinion, at ttiis writing, that it must be
rebuilt to be occupied; and from their
exposures that night, Woolley and son
have been too nearly i'll to decide what
TO do or where TO put their stock to re-
sumo business.
The loss of J. +. Odgen, post master
is particularly unfortunate. The effect
of the intense heat, and the water
thrown upon the walls, has so cracked
them that it is feared they will have to
be taken down and rebuilt. In addi-
ton, large stock of postal cards and
stamped envelopes, besides the coin of
the post office, was stolen during the
fire.
j. w. Houghton's drug and book
store, three-story brick building next
to ]. II. woolley's, seemed Tor a great
part Of the time, in imminent danger
and almost certain of destruction. The
basement, with steam boiler, alcohol,
oils and coal, and the awning, windows,
and shingle roof which was several
times on fire, Offering good material to
feed the livid monster. The stock of
drugs and books, the show cases, glass
doors, book cases, Office desks, chande-
liei S, counters, all of j. II. Wighl's
jewelry and silver, with show cases,
and safe, with ell its solid contents,
were dragged, carried, or thrown into
the street or taken in the direction Of
the park. The ENTERPRISE office on
the second floor, was partially. emptied,
some type pied in the carrying, and
part of the paper and ] b stock taken
out to its destruction. The damage to
goods, building and furniture-inevi-
table in such hasiy removal, was more
than can be easily estimated, but grave
as it was TO all concerned, it was for the
town less unfortunate that it for long
time promised. A high wind with the
scarcity of water, would have IN ide the