Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-15
Flames Sweep Through
Town Of SpringvaIe, Ne.
Factories, Business Buildings
and Residences Burned.
Great Blow to the Town of Sanford
Insurance $4,000.

factories 20 business buildings and Is
were burned, early Friday,
by a fire that swept through the prin-
cipal streets of this village.
The total loss approximately was
s3OO.OO on the buildings while the loss
to the town of Sanford of which
SprinSvale is IL portion will be severe
by reason of the destruction of the fac
tory buildings, causing the removal of
practically the entire population of
Springvalc.
The Insurance was estimated at one
half the loss.
One of the factories was owned and
operated by Usher & Son of Newbury-
port, Mass, and employed 200 people
and it is considered doubtful if they re-
build. although the site may be used
for some other manufacturing purpose.
The other factory owned by the Spring
vale Co. has been idle since two years
ago when it was vacated by the Shaw
Cooling Shoe Co. to whom it was leased.
These are the only shoe factories in
Springvalc and the Usher factory with
the exception of the Maine-Alpaca Co.
was the leading industry.
The territory burned over included
both sides of Bridge street from Pleas
ant and Main street Il distance of $50
yards, a small portion of Pleasant
street; on the westerly side of Main
street, IS yards south of Bridge street
and on both sides $50 yards north and
Il short distance on Oak street.
The fire started in the boiler room of
the Usher factory and although it was
discovered by patrolman and an
alarm promptly sounded it travelled so
rapidly that the efforts of the local de-
partment We're entirely inadequate to
cope with it and assistance was sum-
moned from Sanford, Rochester and
Portland.
In an hour and Il half the two factO-
ries winch weer located on opposite
sides of the Mousam river had burned
10 the ground and several business
blocks were burning.
In five hours the business section and
a portion of the residences of one Of
the most attractive villages in York
county, had been nearly obliterated.
lures. From the Usher factory the fire
crossed to the Springvale shoe factory
and the residence of John w. Goodwin
on Pleasant street, that being the eE-
tent of the damage on the SOutherly
side of the river. The wind. which was
from the south, carried the embers to
buildings on Bridge street. of which
Oak street is an extension beyond Main
street and swept through Bridge street
to Main street, taking structure after
structure while the firemen were pow
erles3 with their small apparatus and
hydrnnt streams to prevent it until the
arrival of Engine 4 and hose COM
pany bv special train from Portland. 1t
had practically burned itself out then.
The Springvale hotel was saved by
blowing up with dynamite building
owned by \. T. FOgg and occupied as
"A harness shop.
The Town hall and the churches were
saved. although they repeatedly caught
fire and surrounding residences were
burned.
Amonp those burned out were the
Masonic, Odd Fellows and Grand Army
halls. the Advocate, Belts Hotel and
numerous large stores.
Communication by telephone and
I elegraph was broken early by the
burni,,r of the stores i'll which the Of
fees were located.
When the storekeepers were aware of
the extent of the conflagration they be-
o.n to remove their stocks of goods
and much was saved in this way.
There we're no accidents due to the
fire except for the temporary illness of
p,y SkiIIings. who was overcome by
tho boat while fighting the flames at
close range.
,rhe principal losses and insurance
follows:
w r. Usher & Som. shoe factory.
Lose si9O 600: including stock on hand;
covered by insurance.
cn,;ppvaIe Shoe Co. unOccuDied fac
torv loss $4,000 on building. and $4,000
~ machinery. no insurance.
Iohr w Goodwin. residence. loss
s,.n,. Insurance $500: Dirigo block
r,od NV w. A. Fogg. loss $4,000: COW
AVOID bv insurance; Chas. Pierce. drug
r;st loss 5000; no insurance: Roy
sfo"hnr grocer. loss $1,000; Friendship
q. G.. F.. and Fluellan Tribe.
O r. NJ. loss $500; Fogg block,
1901 nv w. A. Fogg, $4,000; partially
Continued on Page Three.)