The Somerset reporter., 1900-11-29
A $4,000 Fire.

Fairfield Manufacturing Co and Purinton,
Pratt Co. Lose Entire Plants.
Fairfield received another set back in
a disastrous fire, Saturday morning
Since the first lumber mill was estab-
lished in Kendall's Mills up to the pres
ent time industry after industry has
been swept away by fire.
The census of this year shows
growth IL the towns population of 369
and the citizens began to see brighter
prospect ahead, when fire wipes out
$50. 600 worth of property and throws
IS hands out of employment.
Atll.30 Saturday morning, hot box
in the basement of the Fairfield Furni-
tnre Co, ignited large mass of infiamma
bile material and in few moments the
entire building was ablaze. The fire
was discovered by one of the boys en-
ployed about the engine room who at
once FASTENED for the small hose con
nected with the building but for some
reason could not get head OF water.
The alarm was at once sounded and the
EMPLOYEES began TO leave the mill The
fire sped with such rapidity moreover,
that those on the second floor barely
ESCAPED with their lives. Ruel L..
Branch and Ned Kenrick were cut off
bv the fire but beat their way to the
front of the building and dropped into
waiting arms Mr.. Branch in falling
cut bis head and was carried away IN
falnting condition, while kenrick es'
capped with sprained ankle. The FAR
field Fire Department turned out
promptly but by the time the company
arrived the main Building was blazing
furnace The fire quickly extended to
the dry house and from there to the
second factory Of the company, standing
about 25 feet south of the main building
This building about 100 TT. long by
so TT. front was beyond the control of
the fire department. Meanwhile on the
north side the building of the Maine
Manufacturing Co which was occupied
by the Purinton Pratt Manufacturing
Co. burst into flames The fire steadily
increased in force until at IL 30 1t had
about burnt itself out.
The Kenrjck Manufacturing Co. was
burnt out in 1882 and suffered loss of
about $50, coo in round numbers. since
that time they have rebuilt their plant.
The two buildings each 120x50 1T. to-
pether with their machinery we're valued
at $4,000 while the company had on
hand the largest and most valuable
stock of furniture they ever manufact.
ured. A small amount OF this was
saved but the most of the goods were
total loss. The Kendrick I o carried an
insurance of only about one half OF the
value. The Purinton, Pratt GO was
more fortunate the stock of the company
being stoi ed in another building which
was somewhat removed from the fire,
also part of the machinery of the plant
was saved. The loss of the Purinton
Pratt Mfg Co. is estimated at 5000
and the loss of the building owned by
the Maine Manufacturing Go. at $4,000
The Fairfield men Interested in this
company are Frank Purinton, Geo.
Pratt and Frank Vickery.
The insurance of the Purinton, Pratt
Co. amounts to $500 placed with the
l.. T. Boothby & Sons agency of Water
Vile, j. G. Griffin of Skowhegan, and F.
c. Fl Bragg OF Fairfield.
The owners of the fairfield Furniture
Co are E P. Kenrick and the heirs of
J.F. Kendrck, who carried an insur-
ance of $13 800 placed with the agencies
of [. r. Boothby & Son Co, G. X.
Mathews, and J. 9. Griffin of Skowhe'