Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-02-20

I DuSihNnS lolAlul VI tilc Nludgc was !
ashes. Before the flames were fairl
extinguished preparations for rebuild
ing We're made and soon new and larg
er blocks were built. Sept. IL, 1888
fire caught in the Bixby Il .Jone
store, the one first built here, and be
fore the fire could be got under contro
several blocks were burned and $50, ,00t
had been lost. A less plucky commu
nifty would have lost heart but thu
blocks were at once rebuilt. Some
people tinctured with superstition said
there would vet be another fire it vii
be ''three times and out" As fate
would havei it there was third fire anC
most disastrous one. August 30
1886, at about ten O'Clock in the even.
ing fire broke ont in large wooden
block upon one side of the principal
business street and two hours later that
street had been wiped ont of existence.
100000 had gone in smoke. Those
who had been prosperous men had left
of all that was in their stores and their
dwellings, only the clothes they had on
their backs. Was not that severe
trial for New England grit! 1t was a
terrible trial but sufficient unto the day
was the pluck of the indomitable people
found here. They had been burned
out three times. This trial by fire had
been severe one but they believed the
last trial had come and as soon as pos
sible they rebuilt the buildings they had
lost.
The buildings that were burned were
wooden in rebuilding it was decided
that more substantial and fire-proof
material should be used and to improve
the looks of the village it was determin-
ed by those concerned that no buildings
should be erected upon the south side
of the street. A part of each lot upon
that side was added 10 the public park
and the remainder was added to the
street making il wider. 4 brick block
nearly 800 feet long was built upon the
north side of the street. Beyond this
a wooden block was built by L. c.
Dickerman for store. Opposite the
station on the farther side of
the park, Henry Whitcomb built a
brick block for the post office and his
store. The Central Vt. II. II. manage
nent approaching the enterprise and
pluck of the people determined to build
4 new station here and at once did so.
The new station was built of brick and
was finished in very neat and thor
lugh manner. There is no prettier
station in the State. The large block
Is also a very pretty as well.as a sub
,tantial building. In spite of the fact
hat misfortune sat heavily upon them
he wide-awake citizens of this place
lid not stop the work of improvement
cut they invested several hundred dol
ars in the public park and they have
,ut about $1,000 into perfecting and
making efficient their fire department.
The past year the Methodists and Con-
have each expended a
,out $4,000 upon their church build |
ngs. A large two story school house
,uilt some years ago is found here and
EXCELLENT teachers are employed.
\ more enterprising community or
,etter location than this cannot be
ound. The people will give manufac-
urers every encouragement TO locate
lcre. The railroad facilities are ex-
client. abundant water power Is here,
: i also the best of hard and soft |
woods. The mills belonging to the
dams estate are for sale and the plant
: An excellent one. One Of the build
nos Is a new and large woodworking
hop. 4 description Of this properly
rill he found elsewhere.
Business Blocks and Business Men.
In the large brick block, as YOU 90
rom the railway station, you first find
he postoflice, fine one that Is presid-
4 over by Miss Helen +. Southgate.
sing the same entrance Is found Ed
,ard Foster, dealer in -four, feed, corn,
neal, nails. coal. salt and lime. He
a. a very large stock and does an ex-
.nsive business. Many thousand BUSH
Z Of corn are gronnd and sold here
,ch wear. Mr.. Foster has been in