The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-08-09
A Serious Fire at Garden Grove.

Grove had narrow escape from having
the entire business section of the town
destroyed by fire last Friday night.
About 10 o'clock fire was discovered in
a COW shed which was on the south
side of the warehouse back of Connor
Bros. store, and as the wind was from
the southwest it was but minute until
the big warehouse was all on fire and
had spread to the large barn owned by
G. S. Stearns, just back of the First
National Bank, and was threatening the
grocery store of j. l.. Still and the
Commercial hotel. Just then the wind
veered to the southeast and the fire
started the other way and caught Ira
Miller's barn which was across the
alley to the south and also the ware
house south of the New York clothing
house which was filled with material
owned by the Alcoln Road Grader Co..
Ted Culver's dray barn also burned but
here the fire was gotten under control.
For time it looked as if the entire
business portion of the town would be
destroyed, as the town has no fire en-
CINE, and word was phoned to Leon for
help. The new engine was too heavy
to be hauled across country, but an
effort was made to secure the engine
which is kept at Davis City over night.
While this was being done it was de-
cided to take the small engine across
the country. Charley Axes had team
hitched to it, and the phone line was
put in use, waking up the farmers along
the road and arranging to have fresh
teams ready to haul the engine mile
or two at full speed. Just as they were
ready to start on the wild ride word
was received that the fire was under
control. The Leon boys are always
ready to do anything 10 their power to
help any town in the county in time Of
need.
The following is list of the loss
sustained.
Frazes warehouse, loss $500, no in
surance.
Conner Bros. goods in warehouse, loss
500, no insurance.
Fraze's flour house, loss 500, no in
surance.
G. S. Stearns barn, loss 5000, insur-
ance $500.
Fisher & Daniel hay and grain in
barn $500, no insurance.
Knapp's warehouse, loss $500, in
surance $3.50.
Alcorn Road Machine Co. loss $500,
no insurance.
Culver's dray barn, loss 5000, insur-
ance 5000.
Ira Miller, barn and contents, loss
5000, with some insurance.
Damage to rear of National Bank $25,
insured.
Damage to Craigo building, $50, in
sured.
Damage to K. P. hall and rear of
Knapp store room, 5000, fully insured.
Ted Culver, contents of barn $90,fully
insured.
The largest loss sustained was by
W. A. Williams of the New York Cloth
ing store, as his entire stock was car
ried out when it looked as if it would
be impossible to save the stores, and
the stock was damaged considerably in
being carried out and moving back.
ing was also stolen. Mr.. Williams car
ance of $4,000.
The merry-go-round which was To-
Gated in the street just west of the
burned buildings, was hastily taken
down all but the lower frame and this
was kept wet and moving so that their
loss did not amount to anything. 1t
was new machine, this being the
second place it had been set up. They
are at Davis City reunion with it this
week. The origin of the fire is not
known, but it is thought to have been
the work of an incendiary, as there was
no fire in any of the buildings, but it
may have been caused by lighted
match being dropped in hay or some
com hnstihle material