The Oskaloosa herald., 1911-08-10
COLD STORAGE BURNED.
Hamm Building on Sixth Avenue
Destroyed by Fire.

Fire of unknown origin destroyed
the cold storage and office building
formerly occupied by the Hamm
Brewery agency, and operated under
the agency OF Tom Williams until a
few years ago and located east of the
Iowa Central tracks on Sixth avenue
west.
An alarm was turned in about
twelve o'clock, midnight and quick
response was made to the call. When
the fire department arrived on the
scene the building was all well afiame
and the loss of the cold storage prop
erty is complete. The company ice
house, standing to the north was saw
ed.
Attention was given to adjoining
buildings several time. 1t was a hot
fire and the flames were communicate
ed to surrounding property. The
Iowa Central ice house, standing
across the track to the west, was
ablaze several times and other near
by buildings took fire. Three lines
of hose were laid and played upon
tho fire. ..
Several alarms were sent in about
the same time by residents who say
that the fire started in the southeast
corner of the first floor. The fire
spread with almost incredible swift
ness and within a short time the
whole inside of the building was in
volved
Considerable mystery surrounds the
origin of the fire. The house was not
in use and it has been a general rem
rezvous for tramps almost since it
was abandoned as a business place.
Someone was sleeping in the building
almost nightly. Several cars of ltal-
ian laborers were stationed on a sid.
ing that was built west of the house
and it is said that these laborers
have been making their home in the
building. The fire might be laid to
someone smoking or carelessly drop
ping lighted match. The cars of
burned and two of them were well
ablaze when pulled from their danger
Gus position by the switch engine.
The building was erected in the
winter of 10000 for the Hamm Brew
ing company and was substantially
made. Some of the timbers were
ten by ten inches and two by skies
were used through the building in
| lieu of two by fours, and was con-
sidered one of the best cold storage
places in town. The abandonment of
the place was made necessary by a
supreme court decision and the mulct
law and has noe been in use for sew.
eral years. The loss is total as no
insurance on the place was carried.
Box Factory AbIaze.
Fire was discovered about five
o'clock Sunday afternoon at the plant
of the Oskaloosa Manufacturing Co.,
on Ninth avenue esat, near Seventh
street. Flames were started on the
roof by some faulty wiring, but the
trouble was quickly handled by means
of patent eXtinguishers before the ar.
rival of the department. The fire did
little damage, only small place on
the roof being burned through.
Causes Trouble.
Difficulty was experienced in con.
trolling the fire in the debris and re-
fuse in the ravine on South Market
street near the August Gootschlich
foundry Saturday afternoon. The
flames blazed so fiercely at times that
fear for the safety of the metal GOV,
cred buildings was entertained. The
fire roared and blazed and sent great
clouds of smoke across the southwest
corner of town. The fire company
made two trips to the place to con,
troll the fire Saturday afternoon. But
for the timely appearance of the de
! partment damege to surrounding
property would have resulted.
1t has been impossible to put the
fire out and it is still burning today
in spite of the work of the fire de
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