Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-26
THE GUILFoRD FIRE.
$. A. Smith d Co.'s Factories, Lumber
Shed and Store House and Il. =.
squires's Barn Burned and House


shed and Store House and Il. p.
squIres's Barn Burned and House
Damaged.
" The two factory buildings, a lumber she'd
and small house attached used as a store
house, all owned by s. A. Smith IL Co:
and the barns and sheds of f. p. Squires
at the Old Boyden place in Guilford we're
burned last night with all the contents, and
Mr.. Squires's house was badly damaged by
the fire, but was saved by steamer company
No. of Bratteboro. But for the assist
ance of the Bratteboro firemen practically
the whole village of Guilford would be in
ruins this morning. The wind was blow
ing he flames toward another storehouse
owned by Smith IL Co., and from there
they would have leaped to the Congrega
tional parsonage and thence to the other
buildings.
The fire broke out about 10 o'clock in
what was formerly small dwelling house
attached to the lumber shed. This house
was all ablaze when the fire was first seen
by Mrs f. p. Squires, who was at home
alone with her children. She shouted an
alarm, and the people of the village were
soon on the scene. The village was with
out fire protection, however, and nothing
could be done to stay the progress of the
flames, which swept through the lumber
shed, and from there leaped north to Mr..
Squires's barn and south to the large two
story building which was formerly the
blacksmith shop and ironing department
of Smith Il Hunt, before the business was
moved to Brattleboro - years ago.
The main factory building could have
been saved, but for an immense pile of
slab wood between it and the blacksmith
shop. This wood caught fire and then the
flames spread through it to the factory, a
large structure, with saw-mill on the first
floor, two upper floors where many hands
were formerly employed, and with addi-
lions which formerly contained machine
shop and dry loom. An attempt was
made to stop the fire in the slab wood by
the use of buckets. A single line of hose
would have protected the main building
from the fire.
Aid was summoned from Brattleboro by
telephone, and the steamer company re-
sponded as soon as possible, arriving at
Guilford probably in three-fourths of an
hour from the time the alarm was given.
The heat was intense. and few thought that
Mr.. Squres's house could be saved. The
steamer was placed TO the west side of the
main road which runs through the village
and water was taken from the grist mill
pond The fire which was in the upper
part of the SquiTes' house was soon under
control, although at one time it seemed as
if the firemen must relax their efforts on
account of the heat. The hose proved too
short and a second supply was brought
from Brattleboro in two-horse team.
The firemen continued their work until
about o'clock. A large number of Brat
tleboro people were attracted by the bright
light, and with teams, bicycles and nature S
propellers made their way to Guilford.
When the advance guard from Brattleboro
reached there the main building was not
on fire.
The buildings cost Smith & Co. at least
$4,000, and the contents were valued at
$500. The buildings were not desirable
property today and probably would not
have sold for over $1,000 or $4,000. The
shed was filled with lumber and the black
smith shop contained large quantity OF
sawed material intended for use at the
Brattleboro factory, and seven sleds for
winter trucking. The saw mill in the
main shop was complete for use, and on
the other floors were planer, saws, and
other machinery. The town road machine
in the lower part of the shop was burned
The firm carry only $500 insurance, in the
Vermont Mutual, on all the property.
A reaper and horse power farming
tools, etc, were burned in Mr.. Squires'.
barn. His stock was all saved, but his
hens were burned. His house was quite
badly damaged and soaked with water, anC
large part of the furniture was carried
out.
Mr.. Squires's loss is probably upwards
of $500. He was insured.
Two men entered the building where tn,
fire started about $50 to get some material
One theory is that they may have dropped
a match in lighting pipe and another il
that the fire was incendiary. All tn,
| buildings and the contents were very DIR,
and of highly combustible nature.
S. A. Smith was at Spofford lake
asleep on the island, when he was arouse,
and told of the fire. He drove TO his HON
: in an hour and five minutes. Mr.. Squire
was also away, attending an entertainment
at Gulford Centre.
! Guilford has been singularly unfortunat,
, in the matter of fires. The building
burned last night were on the east side o
the main road. In former years a larg
factory, dry house, grist mill and tw
barns on the other side of the road wer
destroyed.
SPORTING