St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-02-04
VERMONT NEWS
Main Building OF State Industrial
School at Vergennes Destroyed.


The Vermont State Industrial
school at Vergennes suffered heavy
loss by fire, the main building be-
ing practically destroyed Saturday
afternoon. In 1871 the destruction
by fire of the building at Waterbury
lead to the removal of the institu-
ton to Vergennes. The fire 0rigi-
mated in the tower of the north wing
and was first discovered by some of
the boys of the school as they were
coming from luncheon. The alarm
was given at 100 p. m. and in a
short time the local fire department
had three streams playing on the
| fire. The firemen fought the flames
with stubbornness but it was a hard
fire to get at, owing to the height
and the Roadway it had gained when
the firemen arrived. Mayor Har-
rington when notified of the fire, Of
fered the use of the city hall to the
school authorities. The use of the
Baptist church was also offered.
Mayor Harrington also at the request
of superintendent Barss sent a squad
of special police under Chief of Po-
lice Fred Lebeau to watch the boys
and prevent their escape. The
building burned was erected for the
school when it was moved from Wat
erbury. A fire wall between the
building burned and the addition
erected a few years ago was the
means of saving the addition. The
burned portion of the building was
occupied by superintendent j. n.
Barss and some of the officers of the
institution and about 1870 of the
older boys. The addition saved was
occupied by the kitchen, printing Of
fee, laundry, boilers and dynamo
for the electric plant. A large part
of the contents is reported saved.
The loss is estimated at from $780,
900 to $4,000. The property is
fully insured. Nearly $50 boys,
whose ages range from to 10,
were made homeless. Although not
organized for systematic fire fight
ing, the boys worked valiantly and
through their efforts practically all
the contents of the building were re-
moved before the flames could reach |
them. The fire is believed to have |
been caused by a spark from an cleo.
trio wire. Low pressure hampered |
the firemen. The structure was of
brick, three stories in height. 1t |
contained a dormitOry, dining room, |
executive building and chapel. The |
smaller buildings of the school were
not endangered. None of the boys |
or their keepers was injured, al /
though a thick snowstorm and fall
ling temperature caused them con-
discomfort. The lads are
kept on their honor at all times and
none attempted to leave the grounds
while the fire was burning. They were
given temporary lodgings in the city
hall. Contrary to the rumor that so
or IS boys of the industrial school
were not accounted for, it has been
ascertained that practically all of
them were given proper shelter Sat
urday night. The institution will
continue it's work caring for the pu
pills in the new building and hospi
tai and the the addition to the old
Miss Sarah Osgood Boyden, age II,
of Brattleboro, was found dead by
her bed January 81. 1t is probable
that she had been dead "a hours.
She had been subject to epileptic
attacks for the last year, and it was
probably as a result of one of these
that she died. She owned
quite a lot of real estate in Brattle-
boro at one time, but having lost
this property she took a course in
and manicuring and had
a profitable business. She
Is survived by several cousins.
Courses in agriculture and domes-
tic science have been added to the
at the st. Adams High
school.
John c. Brennan of Barre pleaded
lot guilty to a charge of intoXica-
ion before Judge H. w. Scott,
'ormer pupil of his, January 81. Mr..
Brennan has had. a strange career.
After graduating from college he
a seminary and studied for '
he priesthood, but later prepared for
he bar, never taking the examina- I
ions, however. He became en- |
)loyed as an accountant for a /
brewery. One night he /
losed his duties there and entered v
strange existence for two years. c
lie can tell nothing of what happened t
o him during that time. The doc i
ors called it aphasia. For the last t
ew years, Brennan has been content S
o live as a wood chopper in the out a
kirts of the city. a
1t is thought that the date of the c
rutland Fair will be September Z to I
1 instead of the first week of Sep @
ember as first planned. The Rut- Il
and Horse Show and. Breeders AS e
and the Interstate Poultry '
nd Pet Stock Association will be I
invited to hold their next meetings p
nth the Fair.
Owing to the shortage of water in
Essex Junction, the school buildings
Ocated at the highest elevation in
he town could get no water. 1t has Y
cen necessary to close the schools 4
n that account. Even the pumps
hat have been at work for two q
yeeks are unable to relieve the situa- ]
ion.
Leon Vass, age 20, of Westminster T
Vest was seriously hurt January Is. T
lie was trying to remove belt from
pulley by means of an iron bar. a
hen the bar was caught and hurled v
Oward him striking him between il
he eyes, and knocking him TO the
COR unconscious. Medical aid was i,
and Mr.. Vass is on the
Dad to recovery.
At a meeting of the committee on
y-laWs WAYS and means publicity II