Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-27
MERIDEN THEATER
 BURNED DOWN
FORMERLY RUN BY THE LATE
 JEAN JACQUES.
Spectacular Fire Which Destroyed the Only Big Hall in the City and Will Handicap the Anni-
 versary of the Centennial.

Meriden, March 27.-This city was the scene of a spectacular and destructive fire early to-day when the Meriden theater, the only play house in town, was burned to the ground as a result of fire which started in the shop of the Horton Printing Co in Church street. This shop is located at the rear of a four story brick building and the theater, which was wooden structure, was just back of the brick building set ting back some distance from the street
 Both buildings were owned by the Wilcox Realty Co, the loss suffered by that company amounting to about $4O,000, while that on the theater was about s50,000, which included a large number of personal belong ings to Manager Reed, who was in New London at the time of the fire. The rear of the brick building was burned out, but the fire did not reach the front.
 It is thought that the fire started in the stock room of the printing shop and at first it didn't look seri- ous. An alarm was sounded, three hose wagons and a truck responding. Soon afterward a second alarm was sent in which was followed in a few moments by general alarm, bring ing out the entire department. There was big delay in fighting the fire at the start as the men had difficulty in making a hose connec- tion and in the meantime the fire got good headway. AS soon as the flames spread to the theater nearly all the attention of the firemenf Was turned to the saving of that build ing. Several streams of water failed to have much effect and the theater soon went up. During the height of the fire Cap tain Richard Shaw and HoseInen Thomas Waldron and James Ken worthy of hose wagon No 4 were caught under some falling timbers on the stage of the playhouse and were more or less injured. Ken worthy's injuries were so serious that he was taken to the hospital, but it is stated that he will recover. After being attended to by a physi- clan, Captain Shaw and Waldron were able to continue their fight with the flames.
 There was quite a scare among the guests in the Winthrop hotei in Colony street which is located about 30 feet from the burned theater and several of them packed their clothes and left the hotel. There was no wind and the sparks were carried but a short distance. AS the burned buildings were located in the cen- ter of the city, the fire brought out big early morning crowd. which was we'll handled. ".
 The burning of the theater, which had been counted upon as the prtnci- pal meeting place during the cen tennial celebration here next sum- mer. puts the town in tight situa- tion as far as halls are concerned. The only hall available now, and that is far too small, is Turn hall, which will have to be used. The theater was recently remodelei and was erected in 1880. On the night of its opening William H. Crane was the attraction and this same actor was billed to appear on its boards tonight in "The American Lord. !" The theater was formerly church.
 Taylor & Taylor. printers, sui fered a small loss. as their shop, which was next to that of the Horton Printing Co, was burned out.