The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-05-12
THE FOLLY
BURNED
Buildings Hitherto "Fire Proof
Destroyed Sunday Night.

Famous Row on SpeedweII Avenue
Reduced to Ashes-LOss to Own
ers, A. w. Cutler Estate $4,000
and B. j. Crane 2,OOO-Tenants
Lose Property and Some Were
Made Homeless Origin of Fire a
Mystery-FIremen Worked Hard.
After an idleness Of about three
months, members of the Fire Depart
ment were called out Sunday night to
fight condagration that was worthy
their best efforts and although the fire.
men worked increasingly for three hours
it was impossible to save the hitherto
''ireproof'' buildings So now where
the Folly" and row of little shops ad-
joining on Speedwell avenue were
formerly located, a mass of debris
remains.
The alarm was sent in at 7;15 from
Box 90 by officer Campbell but Fred
Ayers claims to have discovered the
flames and he sent a boyto Police Head
quarters. The Fire Department was
soon at the scene of the blaze Resolute
Truck arriving first with Humane Com
pany second. The latter did not wait
for horses but pulled the hose carriage
from their house and by sodoing secured
first water Independent Hose was
early on the scene and the First Ward
Hose Company made record on its
initial run, getting to the fire ahead of
the Washes" But the latter company
was on hand in good time and did
effective work.
The building were frame and very old,
and proved a veritable tinder- box for the
flames. While it was impossible to gain
control of the fire members of the de
partment worked faithfully and succeeded
in saving two small stores and Genung
& Hedges house and shop which ad-
joined the building that was burned.
The water supply was not sufficient to
admit of connection being made by the
First Ward boys and their carriage was
ordered back to the house shortly after
nine o'clock, but the members remained
and worked with other companies.
Washington had stream on the blaze
until after midnight and Humanes
stream was kept on until morning. Mem
bers of all the companies except Resolute
Trnck were ordered to the respective
houses shortly after midnight
Foreman Cobbett's men remained until
1.45 A. M. clearing away debris. Smoke
continued to issue from the ruins until
| yesterdays rain
The crowd that gathered at the
| junction of Spring street and Speedwell
avenue literally filled these thorougfares
and the wardens were kept busy main
tanning the lines The roof of Sires Bros
barn caught fire from spark at $50
but the blaze was put out with Resolute' g
eXtinguisher. The telephone wires on
the line crossing the burned building
were out of service for about five hours
before new connections were made.
The buildings were owned by the A. w.
Cutler estate and B. j. Crane. The loss
on the "Folly" and one store adjoining
was $4,000 half of which amount was
covered by insurance and Mr. Crane lost
81. 600 fully insured. Fire has been dis
covered in the Folly" ON several occa-
sions but each time it was extinguished
and the old building has been jocularly
called "tireproof." 1t is said that fires
at the Folly" responded to by the de-
partment have cost the city $500. This
structure was built about so years
ago by Peter A. johnson for factory.
1t was condemned for this purpose owing
to poor construction. He is said to have
been looking at the building one day and
telling Pierson A. Freeman, former
sheriff that the structure represented
about all he owned and it was a failure.
Then he made the exclamation "What a
folly; What folly" and this is the origin
of the ename by which the place has since
been known. In it have been harbored
people of many nationalties. 1t was
here that the negro David Wilson killed
his wife three years ago and for which
crime he was afterward hanged.
George Hirschman conducted a gro
Gerry on the first floor and he lost 81 900
with insurance for half that amount.
Mr.. Hirschman also owned pool room
next door and rented a shoe shop to
Joseph Pagano. The latter lost stock
and tools valued at about $50.
Adjoining the Folly" was shop built
by the Cutler estate about a month ago
and occupied by Ogden & Johnson. but
chers. Shavings had been left by the
carpenters under the shop and it is here
the blaze is thought to have had its
origin. Benjamin Sire, however, fail
ed to see any fire in this shop when he
arrived on the scene and burst open the
door.
On the second floor of the "Folly"
lived Mr.. Hirschmans family in the
front, and Tony Farino had the back
part Michael Holly and Dennis Haley
each had room on this floor, and lost
their belongings, each valued at
about $25.
On the third floor William Randolph
and family had three rooms, George
Purdue one room and Israel Williams
three rooms. The latter had boarded
with Mrs. Jane Bonds, who died there
only few days ago. The loss to each
of these tenants was not more than $50.
The tenants in the Crane building
were Conrod CatIra, a barber, who
claims to have lost $l,000 Charles Tri-
olo, shoe dealer, whose loss will not ex,
ceed 5000. Neither Catira or Triolo had
any insurance.
T. Perry Skellinger had a coal and
wood office, and lived in the rear. His
loss was about $500; no insurance.
Tony Farino's stock and fixtures in
his confectionery store were insured for
81, 100, which will cover the loss. Above
Farino's place was the Italian Mission,
which was opened nearly two years ago
A piano and the fixtures represent its
loss.
rrI,osa Ex,;no, ,,DaAa;ra xx,ara Ta,,ae