The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-04-10
WALLINGFORD HAPPENINGS
INSURANCE ON CENTER STREET
PROPERTY D1MAGED BY FIRE
Total Loss Estimated at $40, OOO-The
Origin of the Fire is Unknown-Fire-
borough Items.

borough Items.
The insurance on the property on
Center street which was damaged by
fire early Saturday morning was as fol-
lows:
F. L. Leighton, the owner of the
buildings, had $3,OOO divided as fol-
lows: Washington, Providence r. l.,
$1,250; Germania, New York, $780,
Westchester New York, $500. In the
agency of ]. A. Martin the Alderige
Art company was insured for $500. In
ii. L. Davis agency Peter Cullen had
$500 in the Agricultural Of WATERFOWL,
N. Y, $500 in the American of New
York, in j.. A. Martins agency, and
$500 in the Archer Munich, in j. G.
Roachs agency. John Bartek had ST.
900 in the American Central of st. Lou
is, in ]. G. Roach's agency.
F. L. Leighton estimates his loss at
$4,000; j. w. Alderige estimates his loss
at $1,400; John Bartek estimates his
loss at over $1,000; Peter Cullen thinks
he is damaged fully $4,000.
Hubert Chamberlain, whose family
were living over Alderige's store, lost
all of his household goods and had no
insurance. Mr.. Chamberlain was in
Waterbury and was notified by tele-
phone of the fire before o'clock Satur-
day morning and came home as soon as
possible, to find nearly everything de-
stroyed. His wife and children had
very narrow escape from death. The
Beri family, who lived over Culen's,
lost everything and narrowly escaped
death themselves. There was no insur-
ance on their goods
The origin of the fire is not known,
but it is thought that defective flue
in the rear of Alderige's store was the
cause Of the blaze. The fact that there
was a downpour of rain at the time the
fire was raging prevented the worst
conflagration this town has ever known,
as owing to the high east wind blow
ing at the time burning cinders were
carried for over a quarter of a mile and
dropped on several of the roofs in the
vicinity, but did no damage, as every
s thing was thoroughly drenched with
the torrents Of rain falling. One large
cinder fell in yard near Washington
street and was of sufficient size to have
set fire to any roof in ordinary dry
weather One piece of burning mate
rial fell on the roof of a house on Hall
avenue, but no damage was done, as
the roof was so wet.
The property owners near the scene
of the fire were badly worried for fear
of their property being absorbed by the
flames, but the prompt work done by
the firemen, together with the pouring
rain, prevented any damage except to
the two buildings and contents. The
firemen, who were enjoying themselves
at their annual ball in the armory,
rushed to the fire in their best clothes
and worked like beavers. 1t was a
queer sight to see firemen working at
q fire with patent leather dancing shoes
on The alarm of fire broke up the
dance.
man and woman returning from
the armory came down by the scene
lust as two of the firemen on the nozzle
were changing the direction Of the
stream of water, and owing to the
heavy pressure it was hard to manage.
The water struck near the WomanS
head and carried her hat far into the
air besides giving it's owner a bad
fright. The roofs of the two buildings
were burned off, but the sides and floors
were left standing, although badly
burned and charred. The tremendous
force and quantity of the streams OF
water thrown into the buildings COM
pletely drowned out the fire and drench-
ed and ruined all the stock that was
not burned.
Saturdays recorded real estate
change was: Bernard j. Ames to Otto
August Larson, a house and lot 45Xl20
feet on Orchard street.
Chicken thieves were abroad Friday
night. and Mrs. William Condor Of
Cherry street lost thirty-f1ve of her
choice fowls
j.. H. Mccormack is to soon build an
eight-room cottage house on the prop
erty recently purchased on South Main
street
Phelan of New Haven will be the cos
tuner at Company KS masquerade on
Friday night
Miss Juliet D. McGaughey is now Wis
sting in Greenville, Tenn, and is ex-
pected to arrive home here next Satur-
day.
Mrs F. E. Marble of Brattleboro, VT,
is the guest of her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. D. E. Morris of South Main
street.
Over an inch of rain fell here during
Friday night.