Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-01-12
TOWN HALL BURNED,
Total Loss of About $40, 900 from Fire
Saturday Night.


chester.
Hinsdale was visited by the most
disastrous fire it has experienced for
years, on Saturday evening, when its town
hall was entirely destroyed.
Fire was discovered at about 6:45 O'Clock
in the upper story of the building, several
persons seeing it at about the same time
though perhaps the first was John Smith
The alarm was Immediately sounded and the
fire department was prompt in responding
The fire caught from new furnace recent
" placed in the basement, the lanitor hav-
ing left it at 5.15 o'clock, with only a mod
crate fire, with all the heat turned into the
room containing the public library as that
was the only room requiring heat on that
evening. Upon entering the hall all the
fire that could be seen was near the regis
ter at the right of the entrance to the main
hall.
Several fire extinguishers were used, and
it was thought for brief time that the
fire was all extinguished, and the hose which
had been carried up stairs was taken out,
and the pumps stopped, believing all dan
ger was over However the fire had been
working in the partitions, and soon broke
out in the stairway leading to the belfry,
ND which the flames leaped with the rapid
ity of lightning and swept over the build
ing until in few minutes the whole top of
the building was in blaze.
The local fremen worked hard to master
the fire and save the property, but when it
was found that their facilities were unequal
to the task help was summoned by tee-
phone from Brattleboro and Winchester.
Very soon after the fire broke out the
pump at Halle & Frost's mill broke down,
thus greatly weakening the local facilities,
as only the paper mill pumps could be work
ed after this.
When it was seen that the town hall
must 90 the efforts of the fremen were di-
rected TO the saving of adjoining or nearby
buildings, and they are deserving of great
credit for combining the fire to the building
in which it started. Fortunately there was
no wind, for had there been it would have
been impossible to have prevented much
greater disaster.
The Brattleboro steamer arrived 40 min
utes after getting the word, and the Win
chester steamer about five minutes later
they being delayed by the breaking of the
pole while on the way. The Brattleboro
steamer was located at the river just be-
low the Depot street bridge, and the Win
chester steamer in the rear of DR.. Fay S
residence. hand engine from Ashuelot
was on hand at about the same time and
placed near the Winchester steamer, while
the local machine was doing duty near the
Bratteboro steamer.
All did excellent service, but before out
side help could arrive the town hall was in
ruins, and all that could be done was tC
protect surrounding property. The town
clock a gift to the town from Geo. Fisk OF
Springfield, Mass, stopped 30 minutes
after the alarm was sounded, although the
fire from almost the first was raging below
and around it. The bell was given by
VIM. H. Halle Both were found in about
the centre of the building in clearing up.
The rooms on the first floor, west side
were occupied by the Hinsdale saving;
bank, the Office of the American EXPIRES;
company, the public library and the read
ing room, while the whole of the east side
was occupied by G.. S. Howe, genera
merchandise. This stock of goods was en-
tirely DESTROYED. The books in the library
were nearly all saved, although consider
ably damaged The furniture in the ex
press office and reading room was also
saved. The basement was occupied by +
Bergeron's shoe repairing shop, the fur
naces and storerooms.
The post-office block owned by g. G
Fisk, which stands west of the hall, wa
badly damaged by falling bricks. One o.
the heavy doors was broken in, a portion
of the piazza torn away, places charred by
the heat, etc The old Adams house in tn
rear of the hall, also owned by Mr. Fisk
had the roof stove in by falling walls, go
ing into the chambers and practically ruin
ing the side of the house next the hall.
The Whitaker building which stands OIL
the east side of Depot street, had two larg
holes broken in the roof, the piazza demol
ished, and that side of the building ruined
Hotel Ashuelot, on the opposite side o
Main street, became very hot, and man,
men were kept busy putting water on it Il
prevent it from catching fire. 1t seemed
for time that some or all of these build
ings must go, but by united effort tn
flames were controlled.
1t seems wonderful that in the falling o
the tower, walls and chimneys no one wa
seriously hurt. Several were bruised fror
falling brick, and Harry Smiths face wa
somewhat Burned in the early stages of tn
fire, when upon opening the door leading
into the gallery the flames burst out upo
him.
All of the fixtures in the post-office wer
removed, and part of the goods in tn
Goodnow company clothing store, which
in the same building. Some of the tenant
in the adjoining houses moved their furn
ture and others made ready for hast
removal, if necessary.
Very soon after Frank Boucher, VIII
was sick in bed in the Whitaker building
was removed to neighbours, the side c
the house where the bed stood was broke
in by the fall of a chimney. Mrs. f,
Robertson was also i'll in bed, and was re
moved to a neighbours. One woman
whose husband is member of the fire d,
partment, tainted on the street when tn
tower fell, which fortunately fell into tn
building and not toward the street.
The hall was built in 1878 by Mayo {
Springfield Mass, and with the furnish
ings cost about 100000 The insurance o
the building is SIS, 900. The building We
brick and granite and when built was COZ
sidered one of the best town buildings
the state. The books in the library weT
insured for $780, G. s. Howe estimate
his loss at $4,000 with an insurance {
$500. The Goodnow company's insu
ance is adjusted, but the loss was Sigh
The damage on the Adams house has bee
estimated and sum fixed upon at aboI
$500. All insurance on the property de
troyed has not been adjusted at the time {
this writing.
Many men and several teams were bus
all day Sunday cleaning up, and as far {
possible putting to rights, and much hi
been done during the week. The town