The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-20
A
NEW TOWN.

Laurel. Del, Oct l9.-SloWly DuG suroly
this town is rising from its ashes. Tho
sound of the hammer and saw is heard or
every side.
A new Laurel has spr;lng up, but the II
sidents of this place will not soon forget
tho fire that broke out in Horsey's Block
early OH the morning Of juno "a, lickiug
uu not les, than fifty business places and
sixty dwelling ,entailing loss approach
iny II quarter of million dollars. aud
his in a town Of less than three thousand
inhabitants The great Chicago fire OF Is
II was hut u trifling blaze along side tho
Ire that nearly wiped out this place, when
you get right down to proportions ana
comparisons.
Market street, the chief thoroughfare Of
the iowa, and on which the blaze orlginat-
ed. to-day presents busy scene. frame
orehcuses that fell an easy prey to the
fierce flame that broke out that iuemor-
able Saturday morning have given plac 0
to substantial brick structure-the bank
which, however, went tue way OF other
buildings. but on the site was soon reared
a modem banking house.
A stranger dropping into the village
would gather the impression that new
town springing up-,olnething on the Or
der Of Il bustIing Western settlement,
where big gold strike had hsen made
Here and therein the fire district. OF
which Central avenue and Market street
Is the centre, are to DO seen many squatty
frame buildings. These were erected right
after the fire, some serving the purpose OF
8 ;ores, while olbsr buildings aro 60
ing up, and others being used to
shelter goods that were saved from the
flames. In tho midst OF the frame build
ings which hardly approach ihs dignity
of shanties, modsrn brick buildings are
assuming shape. Ask 10 be directed to the
principal hotel of town and you nre poin :
eliout u franc house that was put to-geth
er almost in one night 1t would hardly
answer the purpose of aSussex county far
mer for corn crib, yet it is the hotel Of
the town and is doing business on the
stand occupied by the zig franc building
that was licked up by the flames. Soon
an up-to-dute brick hotel will be erested
on the :site. These little frame shantlos
indicate that when the town OF Laurel
was nearly wiped out people didn't give
up in despair, but Immediately set about
to yet on their feet once more, and that
they arc surely doing.
Market street, which the flames Lett TO
look almost like country road, Is now al.
most impossible in consequence of active
building operations. Greut piles Of brick,
lumber and other building material are
Dlled up in tho street, which Is linod with
charred trunk, of treets aud which appear
to stand Us monuments to the big blaze.
What will bs IL decided ornament to the
town Is what will be known as tho j. I.
Moore bloc,, L. is being erected by d. j.
Fooks and will be taken up with stores
aid Offices Another substantial block Is
l,ru IN tha "A ma
side Of the street Is the Bacon block, ana
ueurLy is Il row of substantial brick storo,
erected by w. $. Torbert. o hers who
have erected buildings on the site of the
frame structures wiped out by the flames
or who have them in course Of erection,
are n. b. Kitchens. Charles Otwell,
George II, Smith, d. J. Marvel, Hastings
Brothers and Il. ]. Richardson.
Many residents of Lnutel were made
homeless, by the fire or course it was
an awful blow, but they gathered them.
selves together, pul up temporary frame
where they took the few things
they were able to save, then set about 10
build better and wiser than before. As u
result the town bristius with scores OF
pretty dwellings houses, such rs did not
udorn the town:pruyious to tho fire.
The disaster caught the town withOu
any great amount of insurance This Wa
duo to the fact that n high rate was placed
on Insurance here in consequence OF III
town bclng composed en- ,irely of tram,
buildings, and there bOing no protection
against fro. A water systom was undo
way at tn timc OF the fire. which destroyed
the plant then approaching completion.
While, as before stated, the insurance W.
light, it Is all the mora to the credit Of IL
people of Laurel that they wore able
o got on their fe,t aI speedily as appear
ances Indicate. However, there were som
who suffered loss from which they wi!
not b, able to recovcr foc years' Ihls Il
indicated by numerous places marked b
timhers where no attempt Ia
been mado to rebuild, Then there AZ
other places filed with debri, just as tn.
flames loft them where there are no indl.
cations of improvement. hut new brick
buildings will W erected thereon Just
soon rs heir character can be determined
Tho fire has been the means of giving
employment TO large number OF peoult
in Laure!. Possibly 200 men en-carpentsrs,
lnaso ls and others In tho building trade
ARE at work on the new operations here,
and In a tow months tho village Will havyy
taken on the appearance OF new and
iyinp TOWN.