The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-02-07

Unfortunate, indeed, has been
Princeton during the past two weeks
the fire fend has wrought much de-
struction to it's business section. The
first mercantile house to be destroyed
was that conducted by Sjoblom &
Olson, reported in last weeks
Union, and this was. followed on
Saturday morning, February 2, about
one week later, by the total demoli-
ton of the Banner Cash Store and
the Jesmer opera house. The fire re-
sulting in the greatest loss of prop
erty, however, was that which oc-
Cured on Sunday night and wiped
out the whole of the Townsend block,
one of the finest brick structures in
the village. Luckily no lives we're
lost in either of the fires and but two
men, j. G. Herdliska and Herbert An
derson, we're slightly injured from
falling walls and flying glass.
The Jesmer Fire.
On Saturday morning at about l:3O
fire was discovered issuing from the
cupola of the Jesmer opera house and
an alarm was Immediately turned in.
How long the fire had been burning or
the cause of it's origin is impossible
to determine, but it is believed that it
started between the ceiling and roof
near the main chimney. At the time
OF the conhagration a strong wind
was blowing and it was therefore i'm
possible for the fire department to
check the flames. With great ra pidity
the fire spread and consumed the
whole building and the greater part
of it's contents. Below the opera
house was located the Banner Cash
store, the most capacious mercantile
establishment in town. L. G. Prescott
also conducted jewelry business in
the store. Some of the goods in this
emporium we're saved. but it was i'm
possible to remove a very large
amount in consequence OF the fierce
heat.
n. e. Jesmer's block was one of the
costliest in the county. 1t was con-
structed in a very substantial manner
and had heavy fire walls. Had it not
been for this protection it is safe to
say that many other buildings would
have been wiped out. These fire walls
checked the spread of the flames to
adjacent buildings.
Upon the evening of the fire the
Rebekah Dramatic company pre-
sented play at the opera house and
the heat in the hall toward the latter
part Of the evening was so intense
that the people could scarcely with
stand it. Hence it is believed that the
lire had been smoldering in the cupola
for q considerable time. Had the fire
made itself manifest during the per-
Torrance the results would likely
have proven disastrous not only to
property but to life.
Mr.. Jesmer built the opera house
block in 1894. It was valued 1925, 900
and carried an insurance of only
$4,000, $4,000 of which was in the
Phenix company and So, 900 in the
Liverpool, London & Globe. On the
stock, which consisted of high grade
dry goods and easily worth 100000,
there was an insurance of $4,000,
as follows: National Fire Insurance
company of Hartford, Conn.,, $4,000;
Hartford Fire Insurance company,
$4,000: North British & Mercantile
Insurance company, $4,000; Spring
field Fire & Marine Insurance CON-
pany. So, 500; Retail Merchants Mu-
tual Fire Insurance company of Min
nesota, $4,000; National Mutual In
surance company of Omaha, Ne
braska, $4,000: Minnesota Mutual
Fire Insurance company of St. Paul.
$1,000.
On the steam plant and fixtures an
insurance of So, 900 was carried, viz:
National Mutual Insurance COMPANY
Of Omaha, Neb., on steam plant.
$1,000; Hartford Fire Insurance CON-
pany of Hartford, Conn.,, 81, 300.
L. G. Prescott carried an insurance
in the Detroit Fire & Marine for $3.50.
Mr.. Jesmer cOntemplates REBUILDING