Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-06
ABOUT $4,000
Loss by Fire in Pythian Block,
Hallowell, Saturday.
Handsome New Pthian Hall Destroyed
Before Being Dedicated.
B. f. Warmers Dry Goods Stock Badly Dam.
aged by the Water.

The second fire in I1allowell with three
Pythian block, Saturday morning, and
the losses, by fire and water to the
building and the occupants will figure
nearly $4,000. Fire was discovered in
one of the anterooms of knights of
Pythias hall at about SIS o'clock, A.
NJ, and an apparently incipient blaze
soon developed into a fire that threat
ened to consume the entire block. The
new Pythian hall was nearing compile
ton and some Of the last items of work
including the laying the carpets and
some painting, We're under way, Satur-
day morning. A fairly hot fire had
been built in the anteroom, and some
minutes later the presence of smoke III
the rooms indicated that fire was in
progress in the partition and ceiling.
No time was lost in sounding an
alarm, and the fire department was
prompt in responding. a line of hose
from the Chemical engine was laid but
the fire had gained great Roadway in
lii- diy ltttIDCio VI tlit t'tht eiei'ii' 40
well as in the inaccessible space over
the ceiling of the lodge room. so it
seems that the work of the chemical
was not equal to the eXtinguishing of
the fire which had So quickly comm,ln-
icated to various parts and water was
at once turned into the lines of hose
which had been laid from the hy-
drantS.
one line was laid from the hydrant
at the foot of Central street, and two
lines from the hydrant at the foot of
Union street. No water works in the
country were capable of better service,
AT full pressure the pipemen were al
most unable to control the streams
| and the half pressure furnished all the
water that could be conveniently ham
| died. One line of hose was carried into
| the building from the entrance TO the
| hail, two were carried to the roof of
Fraternity block, adjoining, and later
another line was laid from hydrant
on Second street.
| For nearly an hour the fire ragged in
| the hall and the attic above. The four
streams of water were sending lots of
water into the building and the fire
was under control by 10 o'clock, al
though not entirely extinguished for
some time later
Granite Lodge, X. of P. occupies the
entire third floor and the ground floors
are occupied by the HallOwell National
Bank and 3. F. Warner. dry goods
| merchant. All of the office effects of
the bank were removed and much of
the stock of Mr.. Warner was taken in
| loc h,1rriaG To a
cant store across the street. Mr.. War
ner carried very large stock of dry
goods and while the greater part was
removed from the ground floor, all OF
the vast amount on the second floor
was damaged by water.
The south half of the block is owned
by the Hallowell National Bank and
the north half by the estate of Mrs. e.
A. Mason of Augusta. the *. of +. hall
being owned Jointly by both. The APP
proXimate losses are given as follows:
Equipments. Improvements and lodge
room furniture, Granite Lodge, X. OF
p, $500, insurance $1,000; damage to
building between $4,000 and $4,000, COW
cred by policies of $1500, held by the
Hallowell National Bank, and $4,000,
held by the Mason estate: Mr. War
ner's loss may reach $4,000 or more, with
$4,000 insurance. Mr.. Warmers stock
was valued at about $4,000 and he is
really able to state only approximately
the extent of his loss.
Among the recent improvements to
X. of p. hall was 4 hard wood floor,
which. being constructed In most APP
proved manner, proved to be water
tight and the water damage to the
bank property was in consequence
much lessened. The anteroom above
the Warner store was not provided
with floor of this sort and this half
of the building was flooded with water.
The loss to Granite Lodge was total.
The beautiful lodge room is thing of
the past and all the members who
have especially within the last few
months. manifested great interest in
the repairs which were to make the
auartments comfortable and cosy, re-
gard the calamity Il personal loss.
They are n wide awake. progressive
body, however, and not much time will
elapse before definite plans are laid for
the future. At an early installation the
hall was to have been thrown open for
public inspection, SO that only few
1du Dtch - fiietNt W ii'tN WV
changes.
The Office of the bank was damaged
SO very little. that it is possible that
Cashier Perry will be doing business in
the same place as usual. Monday morn
ing. r. F. Warmers stock, or a por-
ton of it was placed In the store for
merly occupied by S. G. Mckinney.
but he is undecided whether or not be
open for business prior to the repair
ing of his store.
Electric car service was interrupted
for short time. Saturday morning,
the power being shut off to prevent all
danger from charged wires.
The mayor and board of aldermen
were in session. Saturday evening, as
board of inquiry into the causes of
the fires at the Industrial School and
the Phthian block. Touching upnn the
circumstances surrounding the first
fire, Miss Charlotte NJ. Brown, matron
of the school. Mr.. Walton and J. w
: church testified. Not much evidence
: of a nature tending to enlighten as to
the cause was available, and the case