St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-05-28

on Main street, and the destruction
might have gone still further The fire
company brought down 1900 feet of
hose and had to 60 down the hill oppo-
site the Congregational church for water,
800 feet away and SO feet below Main
street. The men at the pump had
hard Job, but they stuck to it until the
fire was conquered. The water came
steadily up the hill and an inch and a
quarter nozzle fired it on the east side of
the street, which was just getting ready
to follow the other side. But the fremen
soon had it in their power and the build
ings still stand, their charred and bis
tered fronts telling how near they came
to going up in smoke.
The hotel was recently purchased by
George Warner, for $4,000, of Curtis
Stevens, who was still interested to the
extent Of an $500 mortgage. No insur-
ance. Contents all saved but furniture
of four bed rooms, valued at 5000, owned
by Mr.. Warner and not insured. The
hotel was leased the first of this month
to Mr.. Brentwood who, beyond possibly
lew dollars, loses nothing. The former
proprietor, Mr.. Stevens, ran the hotel
for 20 years without insurance, but his
eyes were always on the alert for sparks,
and they would have had to work quick
to get the start of him. Hotel buildings
included besides hotel proper, carriage
room with hall overhead, large barn and
shed in the rear.
The Patterson building was bought
about two years ago by Mrs. Sturgeon
for $500. At time of fire Patterson had
become interested in it to the extent OF
1926. No insurance. Patterson carried
$500 insurance on his drugs, notions,
etc., which will cover the loss, as most OF
the stock was removed. A. 7. Hoyt
saved everything in his meat market ex-
cept the large refrigerator and some
tools. Estimates his loss at 5000. No
insurance. George Warner, who had just
moved into the tenement overhead, saved
everything but a few clothes. No insur.
ance.
Eaton & Co.'s tin-shop was originally
purchased by the firm for 81, 700 and
they carried $500 insurance. Stock
nearly all saved, was insured for $500
Ryan's dwelling was valued at about
500 and carried $500 insurance. Con
tents saved.
vi IUG OlIlGI SLUG VI Liz oIlSSI SHSiN w u
be considerable damage from moving
goods in and out and repairing the fronts
of the buildings. Herman French, dwell
ing, about $50; insured. Mrs. Hill
post office block, over 5000; insured. ]
M. Weeks, groceries, etc., considerably
damaged by water and removal; insured
for ST ,25O. Patterson, dwelling, SIS
insured Hartwell's building, SIS; in
sured. Bank block front will have to b
redressed; insured. Bank block is occu
pied by Union office. c. d. & F. M. Will
comb, general store, Grange hall, Con
, gregational vestry and La Porte's tene
: ment, all suffered slight damage fror
moving in and out.
The property loss, estimated on wha
it cost the owners, is about $4,000, bu
to replace it would cost about $4,000
Mr.. Warner is the heaviest loser, owe
; $4,000. Four out OF eleven business cor
Germs on the street were burned ou
Those remaining are the Union offic'
Wilcomb's store, bank, French's harnes
p shop, Weeks store, carriage shop an
Swett's store.
The buildings burned were all over Z
years old. The hotel was 80 years o.
this summer and for so years it was tt
a leading tavern in this part of the stat
r in the days when travelling was doi
+ with the four and six-horse stage.
r was built in 1907 and was the first fran
u house erected in the village.
During the fire Rev. P. B. Fisk, ]. n
d Weeks and one or two Others were owe
come by the heat, hard work and excit
Il ment and had to be carried away. jam
Ryan, sick for several months, W;
=. moved on stretcher from his dwellir
: to his tenement house. Mrs. P. G. Har
d well, an invalid for several years, wa
, taken to the residence of w. H. Bowke
I Though some think that the fire pu
an end to the business on that side OF ii
X street, still there is already some talk
i rebuilding. A. T. Hoyt may put up
meat market on the Ryan lot. Eaton
r. Co. are talking of putting up buildir
Of for a small tin-shop and hardware sto
lie and Patterson will probably rebuilt
The largest vacant space is the hotel 10
It Undoubtedly a small cottage hot'
n rightly managed, could be made to pa
There is no reason why it couldn't. II
old hotel paid for period of 80 year
A small hotel, of modern style, cou
-. make bid for summer boarders, accor
- modate travellers on one of the most e
- !, tensively travelled roads in this sectit
y and make good living for some or
,; No place can boast Of finer scenery
y, drives in the summer than the pretty lit
III III village of Lyndon and the right kind OF
4 4 hotel could not help but attract SUNNI
~ boarders.