The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-04-14
NuI,rl. Iow>,I

pie bloch In Which was the Eldre
and slavery general store. the lam
tinshop, aud the old whipple stor,
and ,he 1rownell building on II
FIRST fleor 81 which Was the la'
office % Thos nrownell and icae
uentg, on the second floor the Ma
sauio isll we're NIL totally destroy
"a The fire Was discovered abou
nine o'clock /, having started. /
Is supposed, near the oil room ii
the Eldred aud slavery store an,
~ an Incredibly short time IN,
building was completely wrapped IL
flames The villagers were arouse,
by the ringing of the church bel
and the blowing OF the min whlstl,
and soon several hundred pcopl,
were on the spot There was but
little saved In the Eldred a sayery
store, and nothing from the tinshop
The Whipple store for a few years
past had been used as store
house and only that day Clarence
Whipple OF Boston had moved two
car loads OF goods into Il, and all
Of which were destroyed. many OF
them being very valuable. Mr.. VIII,
pie and family arrived last Thurs
day 20 make their home with his
mother, he being travelling sales
man for II. w. Clark OF North Adj
ans Goods were TO have been taken
from the store house and placed
in the Whipple homestead at an
early date h. q. Jacques OF Chi
cago had $4,000 worth OF goods In
the storehouse also. Mr.. Jacques
and his wife spent last year here.
Owing 10 the lack OF fire pro-
lection at that end OF the vii
lage but little could be done to
check the rapid spread
although the men worked heroically
arrest the spread of the flames and
the Congregational church was soon
on fire. All the furniture, with the
exception of some OF the pews and
the dishes. owned by the Ladies
Aid Society were saved. Tn
church had only recently been rem
ovated and repaired at great ex-
pense, being refltted throughout IN
the iltciior. seldom is more
beautiful interior seen In country
II was a historic edifice,
James Il, Hunter. years ago attend
ed school In its basement which was
used as an academy James A. Gar
field, while student at Williams
College taught writing school
there and Chester A. Arthur also
taught there while a student at Will
lIams. Arthur's father often oc-
cupied the pulpit of the church
The building was a long time going
and there were tears In many eyes
when the tower finally fell, and the |
bell, which had for 80 many years |
sounded over the Pownal hills, and |
which did such valiant service in
the fire, came down Will
sickening thud sounding It's own
Heath knell. Long before Its walls
collapsed the Brownel building was
IN fire.
All the time the air was filled
With hugh cinders and sparks and |
hese were continually falling on
he roofs of houses and other build
ngs. Only for the close watchful-
less and hard work of men, women
md boys who carried water and
iept the roofs wet these would have
zone.
All the furnishings OF the Masonic
iall were saved as was the valua-
lie law library and oldclock OF Mr..
'rownell's. The furniture OF those
the tenements was saw
d also.
For long time 1t seemed as II
he old Whipple homestead must 70.
Ire kept continually breaking out
nder and on the roof, but a hun
red men fought valiantly and saw
d 1t. The building was of brick
nd one of the Oldest In the COM
unity.
The furniture could not be taken
ito the house that night, and Miss
.atrina O'Connor, Mrs. Whipples
laid, sat in the street during the
light caring for 1t. The furni-
Ire alone was insured for $4,000.
he fire ragged until nearly morn
10 although danger was practical
over at 1880, and the villagers
nring this time were wrought to
he highest pitch of excitement.
ysterical women and children
DIVIDED the streets or stood guard
yer their possessions. The scene
hieh presented itself Wednesday
ornlng was pitiful and beggars de- Z
but spirit OF thankful Il
sss was felt everywhere that no 4
ore was gone. Many people re- Q
aimed on the street all night a
clip came from North Adams, VII. v
imstown and Bennington but too b
te TO be of assistance. The mill 2
ID of the village has fire protec- 4
IN but the hose was far from
ling long enough 20 reach the
her section
The loss TO the Congregational !.
urch Is 10000 with $4,000 in
surance; the Browncll building
',00g. Pownal Lodge, r. a. A. NJ, =
90. Eldred a. Slavery $4,000: f.
HE $500: Whipple Store $4,000; "
@. jacques OF Chicago, goods.
900; G. l.. Whipple $1,000; Mrs. "