The Press., 1912-07-03

| GOEy O4 UAOASOn OCCuII0O u1OIA-
 ing, when the big Heimann & Lichten plant was burned. The loss is esti-
 mated at $25O, GOO, and there is in
 surance for less amount. The most important question connected with
 the calamity is whether it will be re-
 built. MT. Heimann, who has been
 here since Wednesday, said this morn
 ing: "After a few weeks I plan to
 go to Europe for couple of months
 and let somebody else attend to the
 bother of rebuilding. There is
 hardly family in town that is not
 affected to greater or less extent by
 the loss of this prosperous industry
 In the busy sesaon it employs about
 400 hands and the pay roll is an inn
 portant factor in the life of the town. The remark about rebuilding by MT.
 Heimann is therefore of much com fort at this time, and there is univer- sal hope that no conditions will arise
 to change such a plan. The alarm
 from box IT was rung in about 2 o'clock by Watchman Michael Ken nedy. Before the alarm was through
 rinigng the fire had gained such head
 way that all hope of saving the factory
 was over, so rapidly did it burn. It
 is thought that the fire started around
 the elevator shaft near the middle of
 the plant. The buildings were all of
 wood and burned like finder. The flames shot high in the air and made terrifying and melancholy spectacle.
 So fast did it burn that Watchman Kennedy had difficulty in getting back
 into the building after ringing the alarm. Fortunately there was but little wind, or many more buildings would probably have gone. The de-! partment arrived promptly, and while nothing could be done to save the plant, the we'll directed efforts of the fire fighters saved much adjoining property. The houses of A. N. Ga ouette and the Misses Eaton caught and the barn of B. D. Cushman, but all were extinguished without much
 loss. The old national bank buildnig is badly burned inside in spite of it's granite walls, and the roof is almost a total loss. The old boarding house
 building, next door to the office, is also badly damaged. This buHldings1 was occpuied by two families-Wm.
 Kennedy and John Dustan. Both families removed their furniture. \ There was some breakage, but neithera family loses heavily. A mix-up ofsl electric wires incident to the fired started a blaze in the residence ofa Miss Hattie C1shman, but it was dis covered in time to avert serious loss. It was so hot that the windows in theI upper part of the new Norcross block were cracked and the paint is badlys| damaged. o. J. Leary's building is close by, but was not injured, as it is but one story high and was partiallysI protected by some trees. The cause of the fire is unknown. When the watchman made his last rounds every thing was all right apparently, and soon after he noticed the odor of smoke. Investigating, he found the factory so full of smoke that breath- ing was difficult When the fire was at it's height and the danger to other property seemed imminent, word was sent to Palmer for help. The auto truck was sent down, but when it arr rived the situation was so well in hand that it was not necessary to use it. The local department at one time had II streams on the blaze. In spite of the amount of water used the town we'll was lowered but about four feet. Men were ready at thel we'll to turn on the reserve from Con- ants brook had it been necessary. Th6d firm of Heimann & Lichten took oveF1 the local property 22 years ago. h the time the firm has done business here they have won an enviable posi-
 tion in the line they represent. As they prospered they increased the1 local plant, building addition afterl addition, until they had big fael4 equipped plant, with every facility for transacting their growing. business with efficiency and despatch. In ad- dition to complete and convenient plant, Heimann 6 Lichten have formed splendid organization of men and women. Fair and. liberal treat- ment on tIie part of employers has been met by the best efforts of em- ployes, and the old shop has been a big, happy family. Julius Heimann is the member of the firm who has been in active touch with this end of the business. He has spent muchl time in Monson and has won the wafidn regard of those with whom heil comes in contact for his qualities as al gentleman, as we'll as admiration for his acumen as a business man and manufacturer. He has been an inde- I fatigab1e worker, and to him much credit is due for the success of the en- terprise. The plant was busy nearlyl the whole year through, making feltsi in summer and straw goods in the winter. A fine line of sample felts had just been completed and there was bound to have been active business but for the fire One season will have to be lost, and possibly two, if the factory is rebuilt.
 Work on the new wooden bridge on