The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-01
NEW DECATUR HAS
A SERIOUS FIRE
Bond Block Badly Damaged By
Fire and Waite,
MAY ENLARGE BUILDING
Plans Are Being Considered to In
crease Capacity of r. r. Y. M. C. A.
at New Decatur-Will
Hold Institute.
MAY ENLARGE BUILDING

Decatur, February 2S.-(Specal.)-A fire
of unknown origin, about 10 o'clock this
morning, caused heavy loss in the Bond
block. on Second avenue, New Decatur.
1ne building was saved, but is dam
dollars, by both. fire and water. The
prompt response of the New Decatur
fire department doubtless saved the build
ing from total destruction. This block
is one of the largest and handsomest
buildings in New Decatur and was the
first business block erected in town dur
ing the days of the boom in 1887. 1t was
built by Judge Bond and named in his
honor.
The fire originated on the second floor
over the Moore Grocery company, in
acAnS room, and its cause is, therefore,
unknown, unless it was caused by rats.
The stock of the Moore Grocery COM
pany, the largest wholesale and retail
grocery house in New Decatur, is wrecked
by fire. water and smoke. This company
occupied two large store rooms. Their
stock viii. be almost a total loss j. r.
Smiths retail grocery store is badly dam
aged by smoke. John f. Lovins whole
SALE produce commission house Is badly
damaged by smoke and water. Several Of
fees on the second floor are more or
less damaged by water and smoke.
The damage Is of such a nature that
it is impossible to estimate the losses,
but IT will reach several thousand dol
lars. Something like so per cent of the
losses are covered by insurance
May Enlarge Building.
The probabilities are that third story
will soon be added to the Railroad Young
Mems Christian association building in
New Decatur. The secretary, George III.
Winslow, has just returned from trip
to Louisville, where he had conference
with the Louisville and Nashville Off
cials in regard to building a third story
to the structure. Mr.. Winslow says that
the railroad officials now have the plans
of the proposed addition before them for
consideration and feels quite. sure that
the work will be done
The plans call for about forty addi-
tiona1 bedrooms The building, as 1t now
stands Is a large two-story frame struc-
ture. containing over thirty bedrooms for
railroad men, These rooms are rented
to railroad men only at 10 cents night.
The building also contains baths, SWIM
ming pool reading room, gymnasium,
i
allie, Is now being added. In many re-
spects this is the most remarkable in
stitution of It's kind in Alabama. 1t has
the largest membership of any Young
Mems Christian association In the state,
its membership being over 1000 paid-up
m embers. 1t is one of only two Railroad
Young Mems Christian associations in
Alabama But the membership is not con-
fined exclusively to railroad men, Any
man of good character is eligible to MEM
bershp and there are several hundred
members who are not railroad men. 1t
is one of Decatur's great institutions
a pleasant home for the tired railroad
man, a charming place to spend leisure
hour.
To Hold Institute.
A two days session of the Morgan
county teachers institute will be held at
Austinville. a suburb of this city, on
March % and 30
Besides a number of papers by well
known teachers of this portion of the
st te, there will be speeches by num-
Der of prominent men on various sub
jects.
Among the prominent speakers will be
Prof ]. M. Collier. the superintendent
of the Decatur city schools: DR.. #. P.
Pettey, a prominent physician of New
Decatur; S. s. Broadus. banker of De-
oatur; Hon. J. w. Abercrombe of Flor
enc. DR.. Joseph Shackelford of Trinity.
AM. many others.