The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-05-05
NEW SHARON'S
BIG FIRE Loss
Origin a Mystery, No Fire About
Building For Days.
BUILDINGS WILL BE REPLACED
Owners Of Burned Structures While
Ruins Still SnoIdcr Announce
Erection of New Ones Of Either
Brick or Cement.

New Sharon suffered the most de-
structive fire in years this morning,
the total loss running to $4,000 or
$4,000. 1t originated about midnight
In the ware-room back OF the New
Sharon Drug Company's store, and
burned for over two hours before the
flames were gotten under control
The firemen did excellent work in
preventing the spread of the flames,
and had an unusually hard battle ow-
ing to the large amount Of paint and
oils that fed the flames.
The principal losers, together with
the amount of insurance held by each,
are about as follows: I'll
New Sharon State Bank, $1,000, COW
cred by insurance. The new brick
| building on the corner which is in
the course of construction was not
seriously damaged, the loss occurring
in the frame part used as a ware
house in the rear. The ware-rooms
were used by A. e. Rogers, who owns
|
The Concert Hall building, owned
by Tracy R. Osborne, was seriously
damaged. He had $4,000 insurance
on the building and the loss will be
about that much.
| The south room of the Osborne
building was occupied by the A. G,
Rogers Hardware Store. His loss
will be about $4,000, covered by in
surance.
The heaviest loss falls on the New
Sharon Drug Company, and its man
ager, Mr.. e. J. Nordgren. He had in
surance on the drug stock amounting
to $4,000 and this will not cover that
loss, In addition to this he lost
about $1,000 worth Of paints and oils
stored in the ware-room where the fire
originated ON which there was no in
surance. Mr.. Nordgren is also inter
ested in the New Sharon Automobile
Company which is erecting a new
garage in another block. and the com
stored in the wareroom. These also
were destroyed, and there was no in
surance on them.
The w. w. Winder building, occu
pied by the Ellwood barber shop, was
damaged some. 1t is thought that the
$500 insurance will cover, the loss
Mr.. Ellwood did not lose very much
as all his furniture and supplies were
carried out. They we're returned this
morning, and he was able to resume
business.
The knights of Pythias, who had
their lodge home in Concert Hall, lost
some of their furniture and para
Iphernalia, sustaining loss of severa
hundred dollars.
The warehouses that stood at the
rear of the main buildings were own
ed by MI. Osborne, The loss OF
these will amount to about $500.
The G. w. Dunshee restaurant
which adjoins the Ellwood barber
shop, escaped injury, and as it stood
between the building occupied by the
postoffice and the New Sharon Stal
office. both of these escaped without
any damage.
/ The origin of the fire is a mystery
1 Sc far as known there has been ne
fire about the building for days. There
was base ball benefit fair held il
Concert Hall last night, and after the
early program the floor was cleared
and dancing was INDUCED for an houl
or more. About 1890 the orchestrs
struck up Home, Sweet Home" fol
the closing number, when some one
yelled fire." At first the alarm was
treated as a joke, but when it became
known that the entire rear of the
building was in flames, the belated
, merrymakers lost no time in getting
out. A panic was imminent for 9
minute, but cooler heads prevailed
and the excited girls we're gotten out
without Incident or injury.
The oils and paint made hot and
! fierce fire, and several explosions lent
a touch of the spectacular to the
scene. The fire alarm was immedi
ately turned in and the department
responded in quick time. The flames
fed by the oil we're impossible of con.
troll and all efforts were bent on say.
ing adjoining property, ard in keep.
ing the fire from spreading. Two
streams OF water with good pressure
were brought into play, and fifty men
worked hard for over two hours.
About three o'clock all the oils and
other infiammable material had been
consumed and the flames we're
brought under control,
Announcements were made this
morning while the ruins were still
smoldering that the burned buildings
viii be replaced by either brick or
cement block structures.
oskaloosa offered to send aid, but
its assistance was not necessary.