The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-01-19

THE Rifles have leased quarters in the
third story of the Opera House block,
and will have it fitted up at once. This
completes the occupancy of that build
ing. The Rifles quarters will be in
keeping with the Red Men, the Odd Eel
lows, the Sixth Corps Post and others.
The old, reliable Northwestern Life
Insurance Company, represented in Yer
mont by l.. p. & L. S. Norton, with an
Office in the Opera House block. is en-
joying a season of prosperity despite
the times. Read what the Messrs. Nor
ton have to say in another column to-
day. Their offer is made in good faith
THE Young Woman's Club is prepar-
ing to give an entertainment within a
week or two. 1t will be the first time
that the Club appears publicly, The
members are endeavoring to have their
evening a successful one, and moreover,
are taking pride in the fact that the pro-
gramme, although varied, will be CON
fined to club talent. The townspeople
by coming will show their in terest in
this growing organization.
OUR readers should remember the
City Bands entertainment at the Opera
House, Saturday, January 9th. The
handsome bills give full particulars.
The whole is to be under the direction
of Jas. H. Whitney, who will be sup
ported in song and dance specialties by
80 people, chosen from our own folks.
The stage manager is j. |. Loomis.
Goldsmith's full orchestra will furnish
the music. Among the numbers is a
splendid drill and statue clog, by IL first
class dancers, introducing six stage
pictures, life-like and grand. The clos
ing piece is a funny burlesque: 'The
Darktown Circus" There will be a
grand street parade at noon. You
should attend.
A VERY enjoyable whist party was
given Thursday evening, January 18th,
by Miss Sadie Carney, 10S Spring street.
Instrumental and vocal music was worry
nicely rendered by Misses Lizzie Leahy,
and Mamie Sullivan, and NJ. J. Healy,
Jr. There were ten couples in the game
who were all striving for the first prizes
and to steer clear of the BOBBY prizes.
Miss Sullivan won the ladies' first prize,
a pair of silk garters; Miss N. Green,
won the ladies' BOBBY prize, a japanese
doll. The first prize for the gentlemen
was cup and saucer, and was tie be-
tween P. J. " hitney and Jas. Grennan.
1t was decided by cutting the cards, Mr..
Whitney winning. The gentlemen's
BOBBY prize was captured by Geo. Har-
per. 1t was tin horn. Lunch and re-
freshmeuts were served during the even
ing. The party broke up about 1890,
and all reported an enjoyable time.
THE fire at Mechanicville, N. Y,
Wednesday morning, resulted in the loss
of the Opera house. John Reeves's hotel,
etc. The Opera house was operated by
Mr.. Reeves in company with Mr.. Shelter.
The Times report SAYS: The fire was
first discovered by Mrs. Reeves, land
lady of the Mechanicyille house, who
was awakened by smoke in her room in
the hotel, which aGjained the opera
house. The fire department was soon
on the scene, and Chief Engineer Miller
and his men found they had the most
stubborn fire to fight they ever handled.
The flames, which had broken out in
Straits boot and shoe and gentlemen's
furnishing goods store, were like roar
ing furnace. The flames crept through
into the opera house, which had seat
ing capacity of 900, and then up
through the other parts of the large
three-story frame building. Eating east,
the fire spread to the Joyce block, a
three-stOry frame building, which was
soon a sheet of fire. This, with the
Mechanicville house on the west, which
was on fire, made it look rs though the
fire was beyond the control of the de-
partment, which now had five streams
on the fire from the water works and one
from the steamer. The chief asked for
aid from Saltwater aud the +. |. Wood
company with the steamer came, but
their services were not needed as at
Il. IN. the fire was under control. The
loss on buildings and stock will amount
to S2j, 600. The burned buildings were
occupied as follows: Mechanicville
house, John G. Reeves loss $4,000, in
surance, $1,000; opera house, Shelter &
Reeves, loss $4,000, insurance $4,000;
Lewis Boucher's store, first floor of opera
house, loss 81 200, insurance $500; Strait
& Ensign, loss $1,000, no insurance.
The third floor was occupied by the
printing machinery and stock of the de-
funct Mechanicvilie Mail, owned by
Shepard Tappen of Troy The loss was
$500, and there was no insurance. The
loss on the Joyce block was $1,000 and
the insurance $1,000. William Reevess
saloon and dwelling in this block were
damaged to the amount of $1,000, and
there is no insurance. Thomas Joyce
lost $500 on furniture, John Lesson $500
and L. Wilsey $500. There was no in
surance covering these losses"