Connecticut western news., 1895-10-31
GREAT HARRINGTON.
THE BIG FIRE.

tory of Great Harrington for 40 years occurred Thursday evening. destroying the block of build ngs owned by Henry w Burget and harles Watson. on Main st,ee in the business ce ter of the village It was one of the evenings when stores close at o'clock, and ss T Fra, k. brother of the proprie tor of the so-called Boston Dry Goods Store was carrying in some goods from the outside he came in contact with a large lamp which was suspended by hook from the ceiling. The lamp fell to the floor and as some oil was spilled it caught fire. John Benton and O B Coleman who We're near, rushed Tn and. assisted by the Franks, smothered the flames. But the lamp was yet burning and the junior Mir Frank. instead of throwing the lamp out of the front door rushed with 1t to the rear part of the store and the fire g.in caught in the lighti famable material. The fire was ow all in the rear of the block and as late as eight o'clock it was thought the fire could be confined to the east side but tue flames got to the attic and from the third store they gradually spread to the central and northern buildings Duri g all this time two streams of water from the hydrant on the southwest corner of Main street were being thrown on the fire in the rear of the south store. The steamer, which had arrivel on the scene at 6. 10, was also pou'i'g g two more streams up on the bu ming structure The source of water supply was from the hydrants counec ing with Lake Ma sfield, the East Mountain reservoir, the Green river pumping station and the pumps at tue Endrick uoolen mills were also operated About 9 30 o'clock the hose company from Housa' onfc arrived after 3 hard run with their carts but when they tried to make connections with the hose lines of the Great Burlington com D ny it was fou, d that the couplings would not fit and all the labor of the Housatonic company was of no avail. The steamer which had pressure of 63 pounds threw two, three inch streams, or over 750 gallons minute. By mid, fight the flames were practically extiuguished aud nothing remaired ex- cept the smouldering g ruins of the cen
 tral and northern blocks while the southern was burned out to the second story. Those who occupied the burnt blocks were Comstock & Healey, who ca ried stock of groceries and provis- io,s valued at $6 600 to $7GOO with an i, surance of $3 GOO John H Franks dry goods wer- almost entirely burned up or ruined with water Their loss is said to be $1O.OO0, sured for about two thirds of that amount John c
 Beu ton, boot and shoe dealer, who al- ways carries heavy stock of goods is wise enough to keep well insured The local reports say that he had $12, 900 worth of goods destroyed Isaac R
 Priudle, ieweler, lost about $70O, cover
 ed with insura' ce Mir Sutty, fruit dealer, loses $5O0. sured for S40O
 A. M Costello, photographer.l lost near ly all his pictures aud negatives valued at $1. LOO with no insurance. The loss of MT Costello's negatives Is matter of much regret as many of them were pie lures of persons and buildi gs which can. ot be restored The old press On which the Berkshire News was printed, though not consumed was rui"ed and will have to be broken in pieces when it IS gotten out of the second story where it hai gs suspended. The press with a lot of type, vaiunble cuts and office fixtures belonged to the Berk
 shire Courier company, but fortunately it was sured for $2 OU0. Mrs Tillott- sou had milli.ery shop in the second story of the middle block a d she saved most of her goods which were insured
 Dr T A. Holahan and Dr Benjamin oc- cupied offices on the second floors a,7d they saved most of their furniture In the third story of the south block. or in other words directly over the rooms where the Berkshire News was once published. the W H Stevenson's lodge of train meu had their headqua ters. Their loss of pictures regalia and fur niture was total Elecirician Evans lost about $200 worth of wire and other supplies. The loss on the buildings is variously estimated at from S15, GOO to $20, ,0OO, insured for $S 900. The heaviest loser is Charles Watson who tfas spent great deal of time and money the past summer and fall in put ting the buildings in good CO dition
 It is estimated that duri-g the fire up-
 wards of three thousa,d persons were deal of stealing The territory covered
 " OuTu0u UlOCh5 WAS OO lo0G lOuk and over 92 feet deep The center
 building which was of brick was much prized for its historical associations. It
 was erec, ed about 40. years ago a. d was used until recent period as the post office. In the rear part of the building
 was the office of the Registrar of Deeds and on one occasion several years ago, f when the building was threatened With
 fire, Squire Isaac Seeley had the rec.
 ords carried to safe place. IT. the
 s"co.d story of this block the District Court of Southern Berkshire was held
 a few years, aud there, the late Judge
 Increase Sumner admi istered justice.
 The contest in the Minor will case,
 which was finally carried to the court
 of last resort. was first tried in this
 room and when the suit ended, years after. there was no estate; for the ex-
 penses and lawyers fees took the whole.
 In this room a'so the Ia Biili gs Pal.
 mer had his law office and heard cases
 when they were tried before Justice
 of the Peace In conclusion it m " be
 said that Charles Watson is again mak.
 ing plans and will probably rebuild iu few months.