The Portland daily press., 1899-07-03
KEBo VALLEY CLUB HOUSE.
Bar Harbor's Famous structure Burned
and Entire Town In Danger.

anu Enttre IoNm IN hanger
Bar Harbor Me-, July 1.-THE heauti-
full Kebo Valley club house, where all the
large social functions on Mount Desert
have been held during the past 10 years,
was destroyed by fire tonight with a loss
which IL estimated at over $4,000. This
destruction OF the club house viii be Sc
yerely felt by the summer residents, VINO
have used the great building for recsp-
tions, balls and theAtricals, ne well as for
a general meeting place, both day and
night. The structure burned like finder,
md very little OF the Interior furnishings
was saved, while several prominent socie-
ty young men narrowly escaped suffeca-
tion in endeavoring to get out some of
the properly.
There was no fire main near the club
house 80 that little could be done towards
staying the progress Of the flames. In
fact, the surrounding woods caught fire
and it was only by very hard work that a
number of handsome summer residences
were saved. The building was over 200
feet long and two stories in height and
contained a theatre. ball room, banquet
room and large reception room, and
Charles Riley, Philadelphia caterer,
whoGwas to have charge Of the club
during the coming season, had the en-
tire editice ready for opening this eve,
ming. The origin of the fire IL still D
mystery. but when 1t was first discovered
shortly before eight o'clock, it was burn
ing briskly In corner Of the banquet
room. 1t isIsuppossd the electric wires be-
came CROSSED and sst the Ore.
The fire spread with marvellous rap idi-
ty, the flames being almost blown
through the building by the high wind
that prevailed at the time SO that the em-
ployes of the club were barely enabled to
escape with their lives and were unable
TO save any of their belongings. The
little theatre adjoining the banquet rooin
burned very quickly and within ten
minutes the entire building seemed to
be a mass Of flames. A number of barrels
Of oil in the cellar exploded and aided
materially in the rapid destruction Of the
building. The entire valley was Lighted
| by the fire and within half an hour Gear
ly all the society people within three
miles had assembled and were watching
the progress of the flames The fire COM
pany from the town was despatched to
the.scene. but the engine could render no
assistance. The fire company, however,
had..plenty Of work. for the woods near the
building, which were very dry, soon
txaa xl
ness. A large number of men turned out
to help the tre company, and after two
hours work managed to stay the progress
OF the flames.
The Kebo Valley Stub b ouse was built
ir 1885 by a number of prominent sum.
mer visitors, the building alone costing
I, $25 900. 1t was sumptuously furnished
and had every convenience for the enter
tainment OF the fashionable society
people Of Mount Desert. A few years age
it passed by mortgage into the hands OF
the Arcadia Park company who leased IL
this summer for three years to the Kebo
Valley club.
The club WAS to be formally opened on
July 10 bat was ready for business today.
While it lie early to get an expression
from the members as to their future
course, 1t Is believed that the building
will not be rebuilt although the golf club
may put up some sort of structure. All
the golf events for the coming summer
will DE carried out as planned. 1t is
thought that tbs destruction of the club
house will result In the building OF ca.
sino in the village On the Same plan at
that at Newport.
A HEAVY LOSS.
Bar Harbor, July s.-The burning OF
the Kebo club house last night will fall
a heavy loss on the owners, the Acadis
Park company, for the insurance policies
as far as known at present only total
S14, 900, and on the contents $500.
4