Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-07-20
FIRE AT HALLOWELL.
One Of the Dormitories of the Indus
trial School Gutted.
Loss About $4,000 Which is Fully Covered
by Insurance.

at Hallowell. This building was the home
of thirty members of the school in charge
of Miss C. NJ. Brown, matron, and he,
assistant and housekeeper; Miss Eliza
f. Brown. 1t is the Oldest Of
the two dormitory buildings which
belong to the school, and was built about
twenty years ago. When the smoke at
tracted the attention of Miss Eliza Brow n
she at once began to investigate the cause.
The kitchen was located in the northwes st
corner of the building and over it in the
third story upon the attic floor was
the large tank which supplied the
water of the building and which was
fed from an artesian well by means of a
wind mill. This tank held 25O hogsheads
and was located beside the kitchen chimney.
The room in which it was located was heated
by a register. When Miss Brown reached the
tank room the smoke was pouring out through
this register. 1t seemed to come from ne ar
the chimney. A little later it seemed to die
away only to reappear about the
cupola upon the east side of the building,
which was soon in flames. 1t is probable
that the fire originated from some
defect in the kitchen chimney. 1t
spread rapidly and soon burned through the
side of the tank liberating the water which
it contained. Fortunately it was nearly
full. This checked the progress of the fire
and was. doubtless, largely instrumental in
preventing the total destruction of the
building. The alarm of fire was promptly
given and the matron and her assistants
gave their attention to getting the girls out
of the building. This was soon accom-
plished without accident. The fire was
then gaining headway, but did not pro-
gress sufficiently fast to prevent the saving
of most of the furniture, clothing, and
household effects.
The Hallowell fire department responded
quickly to the alarm, which was rung in at
10 o'clock, and water was applied about
1890.
The steam engine was located near the
reservoir about midway of the Pleasant
street hill. This required the laying of 1900
feet of hose. The Tigers with their
hand engine took q position near the
burning building and rendered most effec-
tive service as did also the members of
the hook and ladder company. The flames
were under control about 1l.30. The third
floor was badly damaged, being completely
gutted but the two lower floors were left in
fairly good shape, and it is thought that the
total loss will not exceed $4,000. Among
the first to discover the fire was Judge
Rowell, the treasurer of the school. He
was driving into the grounds about 10
o'clock when he saw the smoke issuing from
the roof near the kitchen chimney and, a
little later, about the cupulo. He saw that
the building was on fire and promptly as
sisted in giving the alarm. His first thought
was for the safety and comfort of the girls
in the dormitory. He was greatly relieved
that no accident occurred in getting them
out of the building. He at once
thought of the unused building of
the old Hallowell Classical Institute, and
before the flames were subdued, had COM
pleted arrangements to convey the inmates
of the burning dormitory there, and set
them up in housekeeping until the work of
rebuilding. In conversation with aJoURSAL
reporter Judge Rowell said, THE fire is of
course, a great calamity for the school; but
still we have much to be tina rkful for.
The misfortune came to US in the middle
of pleasant summer day, and we have
been able to take care of the mem
bers of the school without accident.
We have also been able to make immediate
arrangements for their care and comfort"
"Wes the building insured!"
eyes, for twelve or fourteen thousand
dollars. Our loss will be fully covered
"You will rebuild of course?'
eyes, Just as soon as we can. Until we
can do 60 we shall, probably, continue to
use the building of the classical school"
"You saved most of your furniture, did
you not?"
eyes, larger part of it. There is an
insurance upon our furniture as well as
upon the building. The roof of the
dormitory was of zinc and it took
the fire nearly an hour to work
through. This helped us very much in
saving the contents of the building
Chief Kicker of the Augusta fire depart
ment, was on the ground with several as
sistants ready to call out the members of
his department had their services been
necessary. This is the first fire to occur in
the history of the school, and its friends
will cherish the hope that it may be the
last.
This was the first building erected, and the
land, valued at $4,000, was given by Charles
Dummer. A gift of $4,000 from Mrs. ].
p. Flagg of Hallowell, was valued help
to the institution. Its original cost was
sl4, 900 and the annual State appropriation