The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-29
DEERING.

Several families observed Christmas at
home and number of we'll Laden trees
made happy the hearts of the little ones,
while the older ones were not forgotten.
On Tuesday evening a neighborhood
tree was filled with presents useful and
pretty, and very well arranged pro-
gramme was carried out in charge OF
Mrs. J. f. Barrett. -Four young ladies
served ice cream and cake in pretty
decorated booths and the evening was
filled with pleasure to the large number
present. g
The children who are shut up with
scarlet fever are doing well and there
are no new cases.
Several cases of grippe are reported.
Among our Holiday visitors at Stroud
water we note with pleasure the erect
form and kindly face of Mr.. Eben Sturg-
is of Westbrook. Although past his
eighty-sixth birthday he is still promi-
nent in social and business life, and his
anecdotes Of youthful adventures are
strikingly illustrative of his love for the
humorous. He has visited the fish hous-
es on the ice, angling for the shiny smelt
with all the eagerness of youth. We
hope to see him often with us.
The annual Christmas festival of the
Stroudwater Sunday school was held at
Quinby Hall Saturday evening, Dec. Esd.
The attendance was unusually large.
The entertainment consisted of solo by
the Rev. G. E. Bean, of Vaughan street
nj mol sir, l. H. atx%T,, q
dialogue, and REGULATIONS, by the child
rem, two Christmas trees, were heavily
laden with presents, for the children
and their elders, making it a merry
Christmas for all present.
Residence of w. p. Goss Burned Yesterday
Early yesterday morning Deering
suffered loss by fire that will be gener-
ally deplored in the young city. The two
large mansions, built exactly alike, con-
spicuous for their tall towers and
situated very near together in the maple
lot south of the entrance to Evergreen
Cemetery on Stevens Plains avenue, have
long attracted attention, as among the
most costly residences In Deering. They
were originally called the "Stevens
houses" having been built years ago
by two brothers, Messrs. Granville and
Frank Stevens In their day they were
very costly houses, and have still been
counted among the best residences of
Deering.
Not long ago the house nearest the en-
trance was bought by Mr.. W. P. Goss, the
shoe dealer. He expended considerable
sum in repairs and furnishings, making
a very elegantSsresidence.
The fire occurred in the absence OF all
the household. Mr. and Mrs. Goss with
their younger son, have been spending
the holidays in Marblehead Mr.. Arthur
Goss, the older son, did not go with his
parents. In his charge were left the
fires, but he did not stay at home We'd
nesday night he went out as usual and
| arranged the fires in the furnace and
stove. He says he left the draughts
| closed, in just the way they are always
placed, and he cannot understand how
the fire could have communicated to the
wood work from either stove or furnace.
1t was about three O'Clock yesterday
morning that the house was discovered
to be on fire. Mr.. Frank H. Holding, the
baker, lives in the other Of the twin
houses; and as he arose at that very
early hour to begin his baking for the
day, he discovered the fire. He gave an
| alarm at once; but before many of the
neigh bors had arrived the fire was be-
You'd control. By the time line of
hose was available the flames were eat
ing away the front door, and it was i'm
possible to get into the house. Through
the efforts of Messrs. William and George
Stevens hose was brought from the
houses at Deering Centre and Morrill's
Corner, and with. this hose Mr.. Holdings
house was saved. This was pretty good
piece of work, as the two houses were
very near together.
There was stable back of the burning
house, and from this the horse, carriages
and pig weress removed. The pig rode
out in state on wheel barrow. Strange
to say, this stable did not burn, although
exposed completely to destruction.
The alarm was not given at Woodfords
until late in the morning, and the engine
did not arrive in time to take any i'm
portant part.
The loss on the house and furniture
was total.
Mr.. Holdings house was saved,
although little scorched Fears that it
would burn were so great, however, that
all his furniture was moved out Mr..
Holden was protected by insurance of
$4,000 on his furniture, placed in the
agency of Dow & Pink ham, and $4,000
on his house, placed with Palmer,