Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-16
OYER IL BUILDINGS BURNED.
Principal Structures Destroyed with
Exception Of Historic Church-No
Likelihood OF Rebuilding-Im-
pOvcri~hcd People Moving
Little saved Away.

TINS morning. A dozen or more buildings
were destroyed IN less than three hours,
including the only hotel, the general
store and postoflice, causing loss OF
between s2o"o ana s3o,oco with insurance
OF niue more than half That any Of
ah,o 'a,'' $50 m'. -, =" ,epun. Is lnprop-
| are moving what few things they were
able to save to other localities and there
will be nothing to induce rebuilding
Rockingham is located four miles north
OF Bellows Falls, and Of late years has
consisted Of only about 20 buildings.
nan century or more ago II was the CEN
ter OF activity in this town and was n
fourishing village but when the town
offices and business was moved to Bel
lows rams fockinsham settled down
| INTO Sleeping country town. a general
s'"''' ""iVH mas p'en run ny the plVoll
fanny lor years suppled thc wants or
'"e , ,' o',an,S put p'Eoho '"'S 'n're
was nun ""S'"'SS' Io-u"E more IMAM
""' VI ,''' low" ooi9'S'S VI "t"pS III
| Sl"ou'u'r''lR '''oerS anu P''cS OF ori'N'
'o,n,ne mains VNo.p' " "oIe" ~ 80
""u '"' famous 'ia '..". !"
| - P"'" VI
""' 90, -: - W." n 80,
|
.,,,,
rar,d,,v " sor,o ,,s,aroos e. ,ras ~,
ross,,,o - s,,.a o,,..h,,o o,.on norso,,,
croc,s tho occrn,rts osca,i,g viii, yba :
! to,. ,,,,ro, .ho,.' oo,,,a ,,rob 49,.
|
''''o ''AN II i lNoi hi'ANM'
The first Indication of any trouble came
from the barking Of dogs. John Harris.
|
roo,, f,,1 ~ s,,oro I1a ror o,,t oxnac.,r.,
to see his own place abazc. but found
clouds of smoke pouring out from the
windows of the store two blocks above.
| He ran down the street crying the alarm,
and arousing all the Inhabitants by
this time the store was roaring fur
mace. clouds OF burning brands few in
every direction, carried many feet by the
wind. Almost before the occupants could
get out other buildings were on fire.
That the whole town was doomed was
at once evident. There was nothing to
stop the flames. The few hand chemical
extinguisbers being nothing against the
onrrsh of thu fire. Showers of sparks
flew. clouds of smoke arose and sheets
of flames flied the only street. While a
few formed bucket ,r,gadc 10 save
what they could the others with cool
calmness worked with fury TO get out
all the furnishings possible. The hotel
and hall occupiod by the Grange adioined
the store and from these buildings a
consideranie LOT or FURNITURE was saved
| men, women anu i"'o" t"'ei'hs '"e
burning ou''oinRS uh''i orivth ou''
sha'c"'ns up 'Se'y''i'"S p'7s'"Ic "''"e
burning ''''oers zen "'oN"u ''''i''
| INVAIIDS CARRIED TO SAFETY.
- ,, n,. ar
~" Wv -, .,, -,
.,7s u -. pa,,an,s rous
Wv '1 n , e., a .o,,o,.aa v,i,h
mrio,,,,,. ha,,r ,,,,,,.,,,irg r. leave ber
roon, Chor,a. prnc+or ,.bo owned one
-. ~. ,ouo., 80 ,ho au.,,irgs hurrea
,s oI,o an ,,,ol,d and had IN no carried
% s,t.ty An erntv house across tho
rood ou.re1 by W u Griswo,d NJ Roll
,ous E,alIs was one OF the first to go.
tho DANES leaning across and setting
tho -binp,es ~, fire a bir harm nearby
WAS saved with difficulty. The Divo,l
Mace. over 100 years old and located by
the store. then caught and In quick sue
cession the Proctor place, two houses
owned by n l.. Divoll several barns.
the hotel, hall stables and clubhouse,
were on fire. This made the entire
length of the street one one side a mass
OF flames.
HISTORIC CHURCH SAVED
rA a., oh,,,h ,,r,o,,s throu,bout
-, =, ,h 1a,,
marks of the state. was saved with
difficulty. 1t is located on an eleva-
ton. Inc mousse beside u was u's
troyed and the grass IN the church
yard was on fire many times
Two and half hours after the fire
was discovered the flames We're
checked The wind died down and
the few houses on the opposite side
of the road were saved.
There were many thrilling Incl
dents A tank containing ESQ gallons
of Kerosene in the store exploded
sending flames many feet into the air
and the burning oil fying in all di.
rections. The report was heard a
Hong distance Considerable live stock
was loo, h,, a,,sorort nort,es ana coz.
oro, ,oroo nuos % ,ur,hor uyora aos
tro,oa MA cro,ro suoooodo, t.,
so,,,rg tho ,,i,no ord tho chor,or 49,,
~ 80, ,r,,, ,as
ana - - Wv