The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1909-09-23
TOWN SUFFERSFR0M
BAD FIRE
Three Buildings Burned
Friday Morning
Loss About $15,000-Brick Block VIII
Probably Be Built

The town OF Skowhegan again suf-
fered at the hands OF the fire fiend on
Friday morning last, when three
wooden buildings on Water and Court
streets, were badly Quilted. The alarm
was sounded at about 1.30 and when
the whistle blasts counted out "a,
there was an immediate stirring
among the sleeping residents of the
town. Box "a has not a good repu-
tation and an alarm from that box is
sure to bring out half the population
of the town. 1t was no exception Fri
day morning. Railroad Square was
packed with people almost before the
fire fighters had gotten under way.
The fire department responded as
promptly as could be expected con-
sidering the hour of the night. Those
in charge of the fire engine expert
enced considerable difficulty In get
ting 1t in good working order, and it
was fully half an hour after the first
alarm before 1t was of service.
From an examination of the burned
buildings 1t would seem that the fire
originated in the rear of the r. w.
Brown block which faces Water
street. This is a two-story building,
the street floor being occupied by S,
Russakotf, the jeweler, and by Alton
Whittemore, who conducted lunch
room. From here the fire evidently
spread to the corner building owned
by Geo. w. Cover, who occupied the
second floor for his law offices. On
the street floor of this building were
Geo. L. Cleveland, the barber, and
Provepcher & Laney. who conducted
a lunch room.
The flames from the Water street
block were communicated to the rear
and side of the large three-story
frame building facing Court street
and owned by r. w. Brown. The
street floor of this building was oc-
cupied by Nash & Viles, plumbers;
also a small Office used by o. A.
Priest, dealer in mileage books and
s. H. Swain, local representative of
the Strout Farm Agency; and i third
store occupied by Frank Pooler, deal
er in boots and shoes.
There were three tenements above
the street floor, one being unoccupied,
9Th tnyn
by Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Cullen and
Mr.. and Mrs Chas. Elwell. Just north
of the Court street block is the office
building of DR.. w. NJ. Pulsifer, and it
was thought for time that this could
not be saved.
AS soon as the crowds arrived at
the scene of the fire, assistance was
given the occupants of the several
buildings and much of the contents
were removed 1t was impossible to
confine the fire to the Water street
building, despite the splendid fight
which the fire laddies put up, and it
looked at one time as though the en-
tire corner of stores would be de-
stroyed. Fortunately there was no
wind whatever, but instead rain be-
gan falling and helped to small ex-
tent in quenching the flames.
AS a result of the fire, the Brown
buildings on Water and Court
streets were badly burned, 30 much
80 in fact that they will need to be
replaced by brick structures. The
Cover building on the corner of the
streets was not 80 badly burned but
that 1t can be repaired, although 1t
was drenched with water. 1t is un-
derstood that the buildings were In
sured. The loss Is variously estimat-
ed from $4,000 to $4,000.
On the Water street buildings r..
w. Brown carried an insurance of
$1,000, and on his Court street build
ing there was an insurance OF $500.
Geo. w. Cover carried an insurance
on his building of $500.