The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-02
FULLY
INSURED
Main Building at Vermont
Industrial School
Burned
NO LIVES LOST;
BOYS FOUGHT FIRE
Nearly $50 Boys Were Made
Homeless Satur-
day

Vergennes, Feb. 2.--For the second
time in its history the Vermont state
industrial school Saturday suffered heavy
loss by fire, the main building being
practically destroyed. In 1871 the de-
struction by fire of the building at Wa
terbury led to the removal of the in
stitution to Vergennes.
The fire originated 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 1880 p. m. and in a
short time the local fire, department had
three streams playing on the fire. The
firemen fought the flames with stub
borness but it was hard fire to get
at, owing to the height and the head
way it had gained when the firemen
arrived.
Supt. j. N. Barss was on a trip to
the east side of the state and was in
tercepted at Rutland by telegram. He
arrived here on the $40 train. John
4. Weeks of Middlebury, a trustee of
the school, was also notified, arriving
on the same train. Mayor Harrington
when notified of the fire offered the use
of the city hall TO the school authori-
ties. The use of the Baptist church was
also offered.
Mayor Harrington also at the request
of Supt. Barss sent a squad of special
police under Chief of Police Fred Lebeau
to watch the boys and prevent their
escape.
The building burned was erected for
the school when it was moved from Wa
terbury. A fire wall between the build
ing burned and the addition erected
few years ago was the means of saving
the addition. The burned portion of the
building was occupied by Supt. j. n.
Barss and some of the officers of the
institution and about 100 of the older
boys. The addition saved was occupied
by the kitchen, printing Office, laundry,
boilers and dynamo for the electric plant.
A large part of the contents is reported
saved. The loss is estimated at from
$4,000 to $4,000. The property is fully
insured.
Nearly 1870 boys, whose ages range
from seven to 10, were made homeless.
Although not organized for systematic
fire fighting, 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 spark from an electric wire. Low
presume hampered the tiremen.
The structure was OF brick, three
stories in height, 1t contained dormi-
tory, dining room, executive building
and chapel. The smaller buildings of the
school were not endangered.
None of the boys or their keepers was
injured, although thick snowstorm and
falling 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 rimor that so or rs
boys of the industrial school we're not
for, it has been ascertained
that practically all of them were given
proper shelter Saturday night. The in
,titution viii continue its work caring
Tor the pupils in the new building and |
hospital and the addition to the old |
building.