Connecticut western news., 1898-07-21
GREAT HARRINGTON.

At half past six o'clock last Thursday evening fire WAS discovered in the rear of the store in the Berkshire block which is occupied by Edward J. Malon- ey, dealer in boots and shoes, and Mrs r. O. Tillotson milliner. An alarm was sounded, the firemen brought out the steamer and as the block is quite near the engine house it was but brief time before several streams of water | from the hydrant on tho corner of Main and Railroad streets were playing on the | fire. Owing to the dense smoke in the | rooms the firemen had hard work, but | they managed to check the flames in half an hour. Out of town readers &C., quainted with this bnllding will remem- Der that the post office is located there in and that only a few years ago the same block was damaged by fire and water. At that time the post office was removed to another building but on the present occasion the flames did not reach the office though the smoke came through and Postmaster Hinman had all the mail and valuables ready for instant removal. The damage to the block is estimated at $500 and was in. sured. MT Maloney's loss is about $7OOO, insured for S4OO0. A few days before the the fire he dropped $500 of | bIs insurance. Mrs Tillotson's millin- | cry goods were valued at $500 and are insured. The cause of the fire is un- known as the store was locked at D. m. and so far as could be seen every thing was all right. Some of the fremen who were first to enter the store report that they found a burning lamp on the floor. The lamp had exploded and that desk was saturated with kerosene oil. Mrs | Tillotson claims that she left the store at o'clock and there was no lamp left burning at that hour. The upper part of the Berkshire block which for over | 50 years was the Berkshire House was burned on the morning of Jan. II, 1895 after which the whole block was thor oughly repaired This is the third time Mrs Tillotson has been burned out since she has been in business in this village. As soon the insurance can be adjusted the burned out rooms will be repaired. Adjoining the main block on the north is the Berkshire annex where I. G. Perry has jewelry store which was slightly injured by smoke and wa. ter and large plate glass window in | the rear was broken. After the fire was out Michael Maher, 8 member oi the fire company, had his right wrist severely cut with falling glass. He had it dressed at Dr Camps and is re, covering.
 Rear Admiral Erben, recently retired from the navy after several years ser. vice, arrived in town Friday as the guest of Daniel W. Morrison at "Arrow Cliff'.
 The Housatonic band gave an open air concert at the bandstand in thi, | village last Friday evening. The at tendance was large from this and adjacent towns.
 If she survives until Saturday Mrt Almira Milligan of Afford will be 10l years old. It is expected the venerable woman will have numerous callers or that day and among them will be Re, Dr W. H. Mickle, presiding elder o this district. The elder will preacl Sunday morning at the Union Metho dist church in that town.
 A nun Der of young men of tht Christian Association at Pittsfeld. whC were encamped for ten days at Lax, Buel, broke camp Friday morning ant returned to that city.
 A service of song was given at Zior church Sunday evening.
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