Connecticut western news., 1900-11-01
FALLS VILLAGE FIRE.

Vivid Description of Confiasration
 Furnished the NEWS by George E.
 Frink.
 Fire broke out at about quarter of 3 Friday morning among dry goods boxes in the rear of Citizens Hall block, oc- cupied by G. W. Hall, groceries, Horn beck Bros.. dry goods, court room and town hall. It was first discovered by Hoyt Simmons who was awakened by the fire shining in his face through the window of his room at the hotel oppo- site. He immediately aroused Landlord Beach and their occupants of the hotel who quickly spread the alarm, Mir Beach and Wm. Best breaking into the M E. church and the bell soon aroused the whole village It WAS seen at once that big confagration was at hand and the only thing to do was to try to stop it from spreading. It was impos- sible to enter either of the stores on &C., count of the dense smoke. B. J. Horn- beck managed to get his books which were near the side window, those being the only things saved out of that build ing. The flames quickly spread to the sheds in the rear where was the meat market and wagon repository. Willing hands had gotten out 8 number of wag- ons, sleighs, barrels of four, etc. from these in the few minutes that elapsed before they became raging furnace. In the meantime people came pouring into the village. summoned by the local telephone and aroused by the ringing of the church bells. The fire by this ing, the contents of which he'd been re- moved, and had also reached the M. E church. By heroic efforts the large or gan which the ladies had worked 70 hard for, was saved and but slightly damaged. The church was soon mass of flames and the intense heat was scorching the house occupied by D. D. Potter and also the Methodist parson- age. Walter Kellogg. Oscar Ssbin, Geo. Ford and Dr Cobb had mounted to the roof of the latter and though the heat was fairly blistering, stnck to their posts and poured water over the roof and sides as fast as it could be gotten to them. Carpets ripped out from the church were also hung on the sides and these with the efforts of the men on the roof saved the building. Le.lie Grs- ham also remained on the parsonage roof though the whole side of hIs face was blistered. and poured water on the flames as fast as they would break out
 Everyone worked with will and the flames were kept from spreading any farther. Had there been any wind at all, especially from the west or south. the entire street would have been wiped out. As it was. in two hours the CIti- zens Hall building. the Savings Bank. meat market, post office and NJ. E.. church were a mass of charred ruins.
 Losses and insurance are about as follows: Citizens Hall building, loss $l0,000, insurance S8,000; Savings Bank, loss ST. 900 to S8, 900. insurance $5 GOO; post office, loss $500 insurance 400; NJ. E church, loss $6, 900, insur- ance S4, 500; sheds and market with contents, loss g., 800. insurance Sl,600; G W. Hall stock and groceries, loss $4. 900. insurance $3 1000; Hornbeck Bros, loss $6, 1000. insurance $4, 900
 G W. Hall has rented room in the Tucker building and has in a new stock ready for business again. The meat market also is where Andrus Bros. had their market in the same building. The post office was moved into part of Brinton's tin shop and the mail went out on time at 8 30 that morning.
 The vault door of the Savings Bank was warped by the heat so that it re quired several hours work, under the skillful direction of o. H. Weising of Lime Rock, before it could be opened. The locks, however, were all right and worked perfectly. Nearly all the furni- ture and papers outside of the vault were saved, those inside being uninjur- ed; and the bank is now doing business across the road in the Iron Bank build ing. The large plate glass windows in the Iron Bank were cracked by the heat.
 Capron's jewelrs store and the barber shop were also badly scorched while the paint on the north side of tue hotel hangs in great blisters As soon as the insurance is adjusted Mir Hall will re- build the Citizens Hall building as will also the Savings Bank and Methodist society.
 Father Ramon very kindly offer, q the Methodists the use of their church to hold services until they can rebuild, and the chapel society have also tender. ed them their building.
 There have been five fires here dur. ing the past five years and each time there has fortunately been no wind. Every thing considered it is very for sunate that the damage was not greater
 The selectmen's and town clerk'i office has been moved to the directors room of the National Iron Bank.