Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-01-16
FIRE AT ROCKY RIDGE.
StOre-house, Stock of Goods and
Dwelling Reduced to Ashes.
Excitement Causes Death.

Excitement Causes Death.
On Saturday night, January 18th, the
citizens of Rocky Ridge were aroused
from their slumbers by the cry Of fire.
the blaze being discovered in the store
conducted by Black & Company by Mr..
Clarence OFT, who was on his way home
from 1hurmont.
The building which was burned was
used as storeroom and dwelling, Mr..
VIM. A. Black and his family residing
therein. The fire, from what we learn,
started at the west end of the building
and in that portion which was used for
warehouse purposes, the oils and other
highly infamable articles being kept
therein. So great was the progress OF
the fire that nothing could be saved from
the store or dwelling, the occupants es-
Gaping in their night clothes. The great
er portion of the building was built of
logs and weatherboarded and the fire is
said to have been an unusually hot one.
The iron safe in the store was destroyed.
A dwelling house on the opposite side of
the road was saved by hard work on the
part of those who were first on the scene.
The building burned was one of the
old landmarks of Rocky Ridge, having
been built by one BAIL Wood, great
grandfather of Mr.. William Wood who
resides near Rocky R idge, and is proba-
bly, the third oldest at that place-the
dwelling on the opposite corner having
been built several years prior and the
one occupied by Mr.. j. B. Black being
the oldest of the three, it having served
as home for school teachers about 70
years ago and yet remains the property
of Frederick county.
The business was conducted under the
firm name of Black & Co., the company
consisting of Mr.. and Mrs. William A.
Black and Mr. Ira Valentine. Although
the property was insured, the loss will
be considerable.
While the fire was burning fiercely,
Mr.. J. b. Black, who lived on the south
west corner of the crossroads and opposite
the fire, was taken suddenly i'll and be-
fore medical aid could reach him he died.
For sometime Mr.. Black has had weak
heart and the excitement was more than
he could withstand. Mr.. Black was one
of the prominent citizens of Rocky Ridge,
he having lived there many years. AS a
member of Mt. Tabor Reformed church,
he labored arduously for it's welfare. He
served as postmaster for the community
for many years and also conducted gen.
eral merchandise business for a time.
He and the Mr.. Black who was interest
ed in the store which burned, are not re-
lated.
Mr.. J. B. Black was veteran of the
Civil War and for many years past has
been commander of Arthur Post No. al
G. A. R., of Emmitsburg, and was an
Assistant Deputy Inspector of G. A. r.
Posts of the Department of Maryland,
having visited Jason Damuth Post No.
so at Thurmont several weeks ago.
Mr.. Black is survived by his wife and
one son, Mr.. Dunn Black, now a student
at Franklin and Marshall College, Lam
caster, Pa. Funeral services were hesd
Tuesday afternoon, his pastor, Rev. P.
E. Heimer officiating. Services at the
grave We're held by members of Arthur
Post G. A. R. of Emmitsburg, assisted
by comrades of Jason Damuth Post G.
A. r. of Thurmont.