The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-04
And Excelsior Granite Plant
in Montpelier Near
Destruction
FIRE CHIEF PATTEE
BLAMES A FIREBUG
This Is Seventh Big Stone
shed Fire in Fifteen Years
in Montpelier

The destruction Of Sweeney Bros.
granite plant and the threatened de-
pany's plant off Barre street, in
Montpelier by fire early this morning is
laid to a firebug by Chief Pattee of the
Montpelier fire department. Incidental.
| ly, il may be stated that this is The
seventh big stoneshed fire in Montpelier
in fifteen years. The loss this morning
was between $4,000 and $4,000.
1t was 3:46 o'clock when the alarm
was rung in from box 36 and the fire.
men responded The alarm was rung in
| by William Gauld, who resides at IL Sib-
ley avenue on the opposite side of Barre
street. He was awakened by the refec-
tion OF the flames and as soon as pos
sible he gave the warning. The fire
teams made as good time to the scene
as the icy conditions of the streets would
allow, and within short time FIVE
streams of water were being turned on
the burning structure However, within
twenty minutes the Sweeney plant was
seen to be doomed as the fire spread with
great rapidity under the driving OF
heavy wind. and the whole large build
ing was soon enyeloped in fire.
Meanwhile the wind was driving the
flames toward the plant of the Excelsior
Granite company which was located
twenty feet away from the Sweeney
plant. The firemen made good fight az
this point and although the side Of the
Excelsior plant was scorched along its
entire length and the roof was damaged
to considerable extent the fire was pre-
vented from gaining a commanding hold
here. Lying between the two plants was
quantity of rough granite stock. over
which the flames swept, and some of
these stones were damaged by the in
tense heat.
The burning Sweeney plant made a
dense smoke which hindered the work Of |
the ilremen, as did the danger from live |
electric wires At the height of the fire |
sweep the travelling crane in the |
Sweeney plant fell with crash |
running il probably beyond repair. Sim
liar total loss was done to most OF the +
other machinery equipment of the stone
shed, and it is not expected that much
can be salvaged from the ruins.
The Sweeney plant was part of the
old Charles ii. More stoneshed, which,
when bought by Sweeney Bros, was d.
yided into three sections and turned
a about, the new owners disposing of all
but the section which they occupied, to-
gether with two other firms, Solano 4
Canalles and the Abair business. The
firm of Sweeney Bros. is composed Of
Edward A. and Dennis j. Sweeney, who
have conducted granite business in
for some years The other
two are newer firms, Mr.. Abair having
moved his business from the DeCollaines
,toneshed. The owners of the Excelsior
liant which was damaged, are A. Fa /,
ola, G. Calcagni and G. Perolini. /,
In speaking of his loss, Mr.. Fasola of
he Excelsior company, to-day said that !, ,
wo thirds of the ell would have to he :
ebuilt large part OF the roof would
AVE to be repaired and some of the !
eavy timbers replaced many windows
yill have to be reset; new betting will =
ave to be put through the entire plant; :
ONE machinery was damaged but he
oped the motor and air-compressor will e
uined by water and the office furniture
fas damaged. MIR. Fasola said his com. e
any's loss was between $1,000 and 81
90. a
The Excelsior company carried $l2.500 s.
,s,,r,,,oo a,d NJ EasoIa Ia ~ e., B
'oud resume business Just as soon as a.
he insurance had been adjusted as they
ad considerable work on hand which
L., taI H.
anys insurance was carried in the fol- S
wing companies: Vermont Mutual 81
DO Granite Mutual 81 900, Burlington
Iutual 81 600. Palatine r. g. Robin
ms agencyl 81 600. Orient $500 and "a
ish-American $1,000, both in 6. :.
erbert Pape's agency. Hartford 81 600 p'
w. G. Washburns agency. Oil y
olony and Aaehen & Munich 1000 -, ~
10Th i'm b. A. summers agency.l ,
Sweeney Bros estimated their loss 1s .. -.
tween $4,000 and $4,000 They had - :"
1000 insurance. as follows: Vermont y
utual $1,000. Granite Mutual 81 900 ~
Mutual, Queens and Frank - -
! $1,000 each lall in the b. A. Sumner az
,eneyl, ROYAL $1,000, Hartford 81 900
III Phoenix of London 81 900 tall in the az
. C. Washburn agency.l ~
No arrests have been made in con ~,
ction with the fire but Chief Pattec ~
ates that he has strong suspicion as TO -
e offenders; and the matter is being Ie
vestigated. During the past fifteen ~.
ars. a. six other stoncsheds have begn d
stroyed. there has been suspicion that ~,
firebug was at work in the Montpelier "a,
ante belt The other plants burned. -,
in the night, were Dillon & Haley. ~,
bert Fraser. Thomas Eagan. National -,
ante company. Jellyman & Jones and IA,
2 DeCollsines plant. And now i ad- ~,
the Sweeney Bros. stoneshed lR,-