Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-05-19
THE. FIRE IN WOODSTOCK.

For the benefit of our absent citi-
zens, We give . more detailed account
Of the fire which took place last week
lust as we were ready to go to press
The fire started in the barn 81 Mr..
Charles Burner Immediately on
Spring street distant about seventy
yards west OF the Reformed Church.
It has been said that ashes had been
thrown out near the barn and fire had
thus been communicated. This report
has been denied.
Burners barn seemed to be burn
ing on all sides and the fire had ex-
tended to Golladay's barn on the lot
formerly belonging to the late Geo.
r. Fravel, before the fire companies
had made the necessary connections
The Will residence was within 60 feet
of the two barns. Small buildings on
on the Bum property, now occupied
by Mr.. Clyde Walton end all the out
buildings on the Will property were
destroyed. The barn of Mr.. M. L.
Bauserman was afire number OF
times as was the residence OF Mr.. X.
C. win. TIE gardens of Messrs.
Walton, Lewis, Will and Stickley were
injured or entirely destroyed by the
heat aud tramping OF those fighting
the fire. A large number of chickens
were roasted in the yards of Messrs.
r. C. Will, Thomas Lewis and Clyde
Walton.
There was brisk South-we wind
and the FIRE was carried toward the
center of the town on line between,
and parallel to Main and Muhlenberg
streets.
Straw about the barn OF Mr.. Frank
Fravel caught, but the fire was ex-
tinguished before it reached the barn,
next the roof of Capt. S. H. Bow
mans large stable on the lot recently
purchased of Mr.. VIM. Hite was
ablaze; the fremen were called from
the other fire and stream of water
thrown upon it. This stable was
saved, with the loss of the roof. A
few shingles on the house of Miss
Fanny OFT caught fire. Mr.. Jas.
Wickham was soon on the roof and
stopped the fire by tearing off shingles.
While thus engaged the alarm was
given that his own house near the
court house and over four hundred
yards from the Burner barn had
caught. He at once hurried home and
had put out theire Oil his roof before
the hose reached it.
In number of yards, the straw
about the stables caught fire, but it was
quickly extinguished by parties on
guard.
That the greater part OF the town
did not burn is due to our excellent
water works system and the efficient
service of the firemen and citizens of
the town and near by country. The
faculty and students of the Massa.
nutter Academy were in the front and
were instrumental in saving much
property.
There were small insurance policies
on the harms of Burner and Golladay.
We have four hose houses, one on
North Main street, one on South Main
street, one on West Spring, and one
on Court street Would it not be
we'll, in addition to the old Shenan-
doah Fire Company, 10 have reel
teams organized for each of the four
stations?
We have an excellent engine which
has not been used or tested for years.
Would it not be we'll to have this en-
CINE kept in working order and have
hose for it. A fire might break out
whep the water from the reservoir
might oe interrupted from breakage
or other cause. We would then not
be entirely without fire protection
The fact that our reservoirs are two
miles from the town shows the neces-
sity of having other means OF fighting
fire. We have large fle cistelns
located at different points, which a g
entirely useless SO long as the engine
is not in condition to use them. AS
| it is, few towns are so we'll prepared
to fight fire as Woodstock. I'VE have
plenty of water for the present ard
are now constructing another reser-
voir which will hold one million
g lllons. The pressure in the center
Of the town is ITO lbs. to the square
inch and is sufficient to reach the
houses on the highest points.