Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-05
BIG FACTORY BURNS.
THE STOCKS or CRUMP q co. AND
HARDcROvE & co. CONSUMED.
Covered by Insurance--The Build.
Ing Originally "a Church.

f.. 7. Crump s. Co., on Twenty seventh
stroyed by fire about o'clock yesterday
morning. The damage probably amounted
TO $500, though the exact figures could
not be ascertained yesterday, and Is prac-
tically covered by insurance. Besides the
stock OF Msssrs. Crump & Co.. that OF
Messrs. Har1grove & Co, consisting Of
manufactured tobacco. stored in the
building. was consumed.
An alarm was sounied from Box Sl2
at i:i5 O'Clock. but the department was
somewhat misiel by the signal. and there
fore there WAS slight delay In reaching
the scene. When the apparatus did reach
the ground. however the fremen did
valiant work and did much to prevent
the flames from spreading. The build
Ing Is one OF the Oldest In the city, and
a part OF IL was once used as a Catholic
church-the first house OF worship of that
faith this city had ever seen. II IS
thought that this portion Of the house
was built more than a hundred years ago
DETAIL OF INSURANCE
MessTs. Hlr1grove K CO. were pre-
pairing to retire from business and an in
ventory taken January lst showed the
stock on hand al that time 10 amount to
$l3,C2L They were we'll insured. carrying
policies as follows: Richmond Mutual
800; Northern Assurance Company Oh.
Swineforl, agent, 500; Virginia State
Insurance Company. $500: Phoenix In
surance Company, lB. c. Wherry, ageno,
$1,000.
Messrs. Crump & Co. stated yesterday
81. = -. .1.sf
mate of their losses or insurance. They
carried policy for $3.50 in one of the
L.oyds This concern worked about fifty
hands, and Will resume operations in
few days.
The building. which was owned by Mr..
J. 6. Williams. was insured In the Mutual
Assurance Society of Virginia for 1890.
Chief Fuller seems to think that the fire
originated from the stove in the factory
of Messrs. Crump x Co.
TWO FIREMEN HURT.
The flremcn worked brayely, and had
many obstacles to contend with, the chief
OF which was the lack Of water The g.
inch pipe on Main street would not begin
TO supply what was needed, and one
engine was pat 70 work at the dock
nearly quarter Of mile away BY
heroic efforts the wing Of the structure
which runs parallel with the river was
saved, being only slightly damaged by
water. but the main wing, which ran
from north TO south, was entirely de-
etroycd.
Captain Dorset. Of Truck Company No.
T. fell through hatchway and was pain
fully hurt. but remained Of his post Mr..
James Gary. Of Engine Company No. /.
was slightly hurt by piece OF timber
falling on him.
HISTORY OF THE BUILDING.
The Hardgrove building was one Of the
Oldest In the city and had quite an In
teresting history. Ii was erected for the
Presbyterians In 1872 as a house OF wor-
ship. and Rev. Or. John Holt Rice was
installed as pastor on October Eth of that
year. The late Or. Moses Hoge pre-
sided at the installation. In 1915 the con-
gregation. which had outgrown the little
chapel, and IS now known as the First
Presbyterian church. decided to move
further up town. ana built what was
known as the old Pineapple church that
stood for many years on Seventeenth
street
The Catholics also leased and occupied
the chapel for several years. Mr. Joseph
Galego. founder Of the Gallego Mills, IN
a codicil TO his will. dated June IS,
1918. directed his executor. II the Ro-
man Catholic chapel should be continued
II the time Of his death. to apply N,0OO
toward IT'S support. Father James Walsh
in lS2l. finding the chapel too large for
the congregation. rented room in the
S0uthgate building, on north Eleventh
street.
After the building ceased to be used for
religious purposes IL was rented ana occu-
pied by Messrs. Alfred and b. c. Wherry
eacle and father Of The present r. c.
Nherry. as tObaccO-factory. The last
named gentleman said yesterday that he
thought his relatives entered the building
Immediately upon its being vacated by
the Presbyterians. but Mr.. j. II. Witty
who has been looking up the history OF
the Catholics in Richmond. is satisfied
that il was in this house that the first
Catholic congregation wOrshipped He
thinks his position is sustained by Nor
decai In his book, Richmond in BygOne
Days" as well as by Maxwelrs life OF
Dr. Rice, and Judge a. NJ. Keily's
writings.
The Wherrys were succeeded in the oc-
cupancy Of the building by Messrs. Z. &
). Hardgrove. they in turn by w. H.
Hardgroye. and he by HardgrOve Il Co
The original building was undoubtedly
constructed as Il church. The windows
and ceiling showed this. There have since
been two additions 10 ii. greatly increas-
Ing its size.