The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-09-16
Spectacular Blaze Early ties
day Morning Caused a
Heavy Loss.
ORIGIN OF FLAMES UNKNOWN
Final End in Keeping With all
Past History Of an Ill-Starred
Venture-Not Likely to Be
Rebuilt by Present Owners.


The Park Theatre Ia Reynoldsville
WAS totally destroyed by fire Tuesday
morning, September 18th. Shortly
after 200 o'clock the alarm was given
and by that time the rear stage end OF
the building was burning from bottom
TO roof and its extreme heighth made
1t act as great flue sucking up the
flames from the lower part Of the stage,
through the innammabe hanging
scenery, with violence which sent
them soaring sixty feet above It's roof,
rendering the fire extremely spectacular
and utterly impossible to successfully
combat.
The fire alarms were given and the
fremen from three companies respond
ed. The water pressure was excellent
and three lines OF hose played on the
burning structure and the buildings
close to IL continuously until three
o'clock. The threatre blazed like an
empty powder keg, being built totally
OF wood and everything as dry as tinder.
When the roof and walls fell in a null
titude OF sparks ascended to fall thickly
on the roofs OF the stables and homes
nearby. The residence OF x. G. Schug-
ers and barn Of Joseph Shaffer we're on
fire on the roof at different times and
it required great vigilance to prevent
other damage. In the morning only a
heap OF ashes, twisted pipes and ruined
heating apparatus remained to mark
the spot.
The Park Theatre has had a varied
history and score or more OF citizens
who had dropped good hard money In
the enterprise looked on Tuesday morn
ing with more than passing interest.
Originally II was built at a cost OF
s6,OOO.0O by a corporation OF local
stockholders known as the Reynolds
Vile Amusement Company, with John
w. Dawson, ex-superntendent OF the
silk mill, as president and manager.
Unfortunately the company early be.
came heavily involved in debt, and its
condition was not improved by de-
fective heating system installed at the
beginning, which left the building un-
comfortably cold and hurt the attend
ance at attractions greatly. First class
shows were secured during the initial
season but the financial difficulties OF
the company soon put it into the hands
OF the county sheriff and the original
stockholders lost all their holdings in
this foreclosure. At the sale in the
spring the property was bought in by
the heaviest creditors TO save them
selves, most prominent OF whom were
Lucas & Deible, Fl. T. Peters and Her.
pei Bros. These are the losers by
Tuesday nights conhagration. There
was small insurance.
Since the sale the theatre has been
managed by Warren W. Deible and Fl.
I. Peters and they had already booked
dozen attractions for the coming
season. Lucas & Deible had put in a
new and satisfactory heating system
and spent several hundred dollars and
many days time working in the build
ing, getting it 10 shape for service this
winter.
The origin Of the fire can only be
guessed. The owners OF the structure
had worked in it Monday, leaving about
4.30 10 the afternoon. The only fire
they had during the day was a small
quantity OF paper burnt in one Of the
big heaters in the dressing room under
the stage. The indications are that
the fire actually broke out in the dress
ing room ten hours later, but it Is hard-
ly possible that fire could have smoul-
dered that long, If due to the furnace
fire, before breaking out. The building
is wired for electric lights and there Is
a possibility that crossed wires or short
circuit may have caused the fire. That
is pure guesswork, however. The only
certain thing is that when twilight
dawned in the morning there wasn't
enough of Park Theatre left to photo
graph.