The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-11-18

between eleven anu JWelNo o'oiooh
Monday morning, Nov. 10th, fire leveled
to the ground the public school build
ing In West Reynoldsville. There was
time for the students to secure most
lof their books and personal property,
and for the removal OF a large quantity
OF supplies and equipment, but there
was still property loss 10 an amount
roughly estimated at $4,000. The
school board carried $1,000 insurance
.on the building.
There were about 1856 students in
the building when the alarm was given
and, though they had never been put
through fire drill, they obeyed i'm
.plicitly the orders of the various teach
.ers and the building was emptied In
a very few minutes. Miss Emma Davis,
;teacher OF Room No. 3, first detected
the fire along the ceiling of her room
on the side adjoining the library, and
notified the principal, Prof. j. W.
Summerville. These rooms were To-
Gated on the second floor aud the fire
apparently originated in the garrett,
The chimneys were located at the ex-
treme ends OF the building and II a
defective lue caused the trouble, as
is supposed, the flames must have crept
along joists to the center of the build
ing before being detected,
When the fire companies arrived two
lines OF hose were attached and played
on the exterior of the burning building
keeping the flames we'll in check
There was not force enough behind the
water to fight fire which had gained
go much headway and after half hour
OF work the building was so thoroughly
gutted that it was deemed useless to
waste any more wafer on 1t. The
supply was then shut off and the big
crowd assembled saw hot and furious
finish to the conhagration. The wooden
structure was dry as tinder and fire,
famed by high wind, roared forth
in an immense writhing rosette.
The burned building was erected by
the directors OF Winslow township
about twenty-five years ago, while
West Reynoldsville was still known as
Ohiotown, and formed part of Wins
low township. 1t had been used con-
'tinually ever since. There were two
rooms on first and two rooms on second
floor.
1t had no modern heating system,
separate stoves being used In each
room The building did good service
In its day, but from one point OF view
its destruction will not be greatly re-
GREETED. The school board was con-
templating the erection of new and
better building next year, with equip
ment more In keeping with the de-
mands of modern educational methods.
A resolution had been prepared and
would have been acted on at the next
meeting Of the West Reynoldsville
scuOOl UOdTu ior prooohbiuR w euo
voters Of that borough at the next
February election the proposition to
bond the borough for purpose of erect
ing a new school building.
A joint meeting Of the school board
and town council was held in the town
hall Monday evening to make provision
for the schools for balance Of present
term. The town hall will be seated
for two rooms and two vacant dwelling
houses, with folding doors between two
large rooms in each house, have been
rented for the other two rooms. The
school board expects to have the rooms
ready for opening OF school tomorrow
morning.
The school board is composed Of fol-
lowing members: W. P. Woodring, o.
n. Johnston, T. D. Brewer, Harry
Bryan, n. M. Stiles, w. A. Leech.