The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-12-15
NOTORIOUS
FOR FIRES
Site Of Friday Night 5 Blaze
Famous for Many Visits
Of Fire Department.
NINE GENERAL ALARMS GIVEN

The fire last Friday night IN the
Crane building has brought to mind
the fact that on this site has been
probably more fires than in any other
Mace in Morristown. Going back to
the days of the old "Folly'' building,
which came to bear the sobriquet OF
"the only freproof building in Nor
ristown," because of the many times
it was ablaze and yet survived, down
to the Crane building and it's hres.
makes tally of nine general alarms
to say nothing of the many incipient
fires in the g Folly" for which the ire
men were not needed.
1.-THE Folly which was famous for
its fires. was built in 1850 by Peter A.
johnson for factory. Its construc-
tion was so poor that it was con-
yaemned for use as factory building
and it was fitted with stores on the
ground floor and apartments in the
upper floors. 1t is said to have re-
,ceived its nickname by a conversation
which.its owner had one day with the
late Sheriff Pierson A. Freeman in
which Mr.. johnson told Mr.. Freeman
that all he had in the world was tied
up in the building and it was failure.
/" What folly" he said, what a
folly" 1t was in 1897 the negro,
David Wilson, killed his wife in this
building and was later hanged for the
crime.
Through the kindness Of James R.
VOORHEES, we are able to give resume
of the fires ia this section of Speed
well avenue by reference to Mr.. VOor-
hees' scrap book.
The first fire in the Folly for
which the fire department. responded
was on August 18th, 1891. The blaze
started in clothing store in the
building and, although the stock was
destroyed, the building was little
damaged.
September 18th, 1892, fire started
in George Hirshman's store and did
little damage. 1t was caused by the
building of bake oven on wooden
foundation, the boards igniting from
the heat from the oven.
September 18th, 1898, fire started at
ten O'Clock in the morning in the dry
ing room of a laundry in the T" Folly
building. The interior of the ground
and second floors was badly burned,
but no serious damage was done the
building.
1t was on May 7, 1899, that the
"Follyn was finally destroyed. Many
times had fires broken out in the
building at all hours of the day and
night, but it renamed for fire that
started at 7l5 on that Sunday even
ing to do the trick. This fire was the
initial run of the newly organized
First Ward Hose company, the new
members of the department beating
the Washington Engine company to
the fire. The water supply was in
sufficient and the First Warders were
ordered back to their house soon after
the blaze was under control, but many
of the members stayed and fought the
flames with the other companies.
The fire destroyed the " Folly and
the row of frame buildings adjoining
belonging to B. j. Crane, but the
flames were stayed at Genung & He'd
ges's shop. The FolIy'' at that time
was occupied by George Hirschman,
who had a grocery ana a pool room on
the ground floor and with his family
lived upstairs; Joseph Pagano, shoe
dealer, also on the ground floor Tony
Farino, Michael Holly and Dennis
Holly on the second floor; and Will
liam Randolph, George Purdue and
Israel Williams on the third floor
The building was owned by the Cutler
estate. 1t was said at this time that
fires in the " Folly" had cost the town
in the neighborhood Of $780,
On May 18th, 1899, workmen clean
ing away the ruins of the fire set the
debris ablaze and the department. was
called to extinguish the fire.
The first fire in the Crane building,
which succeeded the row of frame
structures burned out with the I" Fol
ly," was on January 26th, 1904. The
blaze started from an over-heated
stove. The extreme cold made it hard
for the firemen, their clothing freez-
ing and the water congealing upon the
ladders, making the work exceedingly
dangerous.
August 18th, 1906, the Crane build
ing was ablaze for the second time,
the losses of the owner of the building
and tenants aggregating $4,000.
Court RidgedaIe ElecrA Officers.