Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-11-29
ANOTHER LANDMARK GONE.
Complete Destruction this Morn
ing of the Old Central
Livery Stables.

mort, Ne bulihtllS au5is u"
. O'Clock a. IN. Tuesday from a de-
f~ective hue, and i'll an hour was
burned to the ground. The fire
department responded promptly
and IN a very short time three
strong streams of water were play
ing on the blaze. A stiff breeze
from the north famed the flames,
and fed by the dry, grub eaten
wood, they could not be subdued.
Tongues OF fire leapt from the
north of the building, licking the
paint from the cernlce or the Chris
tan Church and causing a blue
line of smoke to rise %ominous1y
from the roof of that building. A
line of hose was quickly run down
the alley between the buildings and
the fire made 40 further progress N
that direction. On the east, a cot
tage owned by Col. L. /Hord and
occupied by e. w. Cummings, was
in imminent danger of being sac
rificed to the fire, but the excellent
work of the department saved it.
The Globe Hotel, on the south,
was scorched, but repeated APP
plications of reservoir water pre-
vented it from catching on fire. The
burning building received applica-
lions from two lines of hose and
the fire was finally controlled, only
a few tall, blackened timbers stand
ing as reminders of the old build
ing.
The work of the fire department
was complimented on all sides as
being the finest display of fire
fighting ever witnessed in Mexico.
As a we'll known insurance agent
remarked, "The Christian Church
and the cottage stand as monu-
ments to the fire department and
our excellent system of water
works"
The old building was insured for
$500, two-thirds of which was in
the London Assurance Corporation,
Brooks & Frost, agents, the re-
mainder being held in the Niagara, !
with Kilgore & Howell.
THE BUILDING BURNED
was a landmark. It was erected in
1856 by the Christian Church Or
g%anization of the then village of
Mexico, to be used for holding di-
vine services. An altar was erect
ed in the north end and with the
Bible resting on the hewn plank
which formed its top, the pastor
directed his little flock. The reg
ular preacher of the congregation
was Elder Jacob Coons, an uncle of
J. NJ. and L. F. Coons of this city.
As a church the building was used
until the breaking out of the war,
when the soldiers took possession
of it. No more sermons were
preached from the rough altar for
q number of years, the church peo-
pie moving to a building near the
present site of Hardin College.
The house they occupied is
still on the College campus, to
the right of the main building.
When the war cloud passed away
the congregation returned to its
former headquarters and it was
again used as u meeting house.
Just after the war, owing to its
capacity, the house was used for
political meetings. In the fall of
1864, Judge ". A. Hall, of Ran
dolph county, come down to Mex
leo to make a speech. 1t was
noised about town that he would
not be allowed to talk, but the
Judge had determined, as sub
sequent events show, to have has
say. The house was full when
Judge Hall came in and climbed
up behind the altar. A hum pass
ed through the audience and every
one looked for a disturbance.
Before removing his ~overcoat, Hall
calmly reached into the pockets and
took out a brace of fine revolvers.
laying them on the walnut board
in front of him. After clearing his
throat he began his address in this
way: eff any man attempts
to disturb me while l speak, he
will not leave this hall alive"
In 1873, the Christians had erect
ed their present church building
and the old house was vacated.
After that, it was used as a
theatre, but the building of Ka-
brich's Opera House ended its use
fulness in that direction; SO, for a
number of years, the house has
been a livery stable. When burn
ed it was occupied by r. W. Me-
Clelland, mule dealer, and DR.. T.
J. Turner, V. S. All the live stock
and ether valuables in the building
were saved. The property belongs
to Col. Lewis Hord.
The Catholic Fair.
The annual Catholic fair opened