Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-02
FIRE AT SYLVAN
HEIGHTS ORPHANAGE
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within a few minutes the fire had
eaten its way between the floors and
walls to the second floor. From there
il spread TO the roof where flremen
found II impossible to combat IL.
There IL alternately smouldered and
broke out in fitful gusts, spreading in
all directions.
The library containing many Nalu-
able books. the kitchen. the sisters
dormitories, laundry and diningroom,
where breakfast was on the tables tor
the children were burned out. IN the
middle, of the building we're the chill
dren's dormitories. They were Hooded
with water.
Many of the beds and furnishings
were saved by volunteers who tlocked
to the scene when the fire broke.
Two Alarms Sent In
Two alarms were sounded when il
was found that the fire was attending
dangerous proportions F'iremen said
it was the most stubborn fire they
fought in years. Everything appear
ed TO combine to thwart them. The
height of the building which is 800
feet above street level. its long, ramb-
ling construction and bursting hose
all contributed to make it difficult, to
get strong streams on the blaze.
Fireman Hurt
While fighting the fire in the front
hart of the building, Charles Wolford.
s25 South Cameron street, of The
Shamrock Fire Company, was struck
above. the left eye by the nozzle of a
hose. which was forced from another
fireman's hand by the pressure of the
water. Wolford received a deep cash
which was treated at the Harrisburg
hospital.
Historic Old Building
Tho OrnhaOapA mas IOpr bppn one of
the architectural features of Harris
burg. Crowning the bluff Immediately
south of Market street 1T is visible
from almost every part of the city,
and the glittering gold cross can be
seen for miles. Part of 1t was of
massive construction, being built of
native limestone, but the rest was
frame and brick.
The building was constructed about
1857 by John II. Brant, who had
amassed a fortune in the canal packet
business, and who. also built Brant's S
Hall. where the Commonwealth Trust
Company's building now stands. Brant
built it as a home for himself and
at the same time built on the bluff
just north of Market street a curious
frame structure filled with pinnacles
and gables. which, like his own in
tended palace" was later converted
into an orphanage. having been bought
about fifteen or twenty years ago by
the Brethren.
War Held Up Work
The stone building was a long time
in building, work being stopped dur
ing the Civil War. and Brant lived in
it only occasionally. In 1870, upon
the formation of the diocese of Har-
risburg, it was purchased as an epis-
copal residence and the late Bishop
Jeremiah F. Shanahan. first bishop Of
Harrisburg, occupied it until his death.
1t was remodeled during the service
OF his successor. Bishop Thomas f.
McGoVern, but when Bishop John w.
Shanahan came he determined that it
'W3S TOO spacious for residence and
suggested its use for charity. Through
his initiative the orphanage was
founded. having been opened in 1901
From the grounds of the orphanage
there is obtained a magnificent view
of the city and the Susquehanna val
ley. One of the ornaments of the
property is the cupola of the first
Courthouse, which is placed on the
bluff just above Derry street and is
used as a summer house.
Thousands of people viewed the
blaze from points all over the CITY.
Office buildings in the business district
were crowded while scores congregated
on the lawns and terraces about the
Home. Immediately after the news
of the fire was received at the St.
Francis parochial school, all of the
pupils were excused from sessions.
Many of the boys went over to the
Home and helped to remove articles
of furniture. books and decorations
from the rooms before the flames had
spread.
In the meantime the crowd increas-
ed by hundreds. Houses in the vicinity
were filled with curious persons on
roofs, and at windows on the upper
floors. Jitneys brought many people
from the West and East End of the
city.
Children Sheltered
The children Immediately after
they left the Home, were sheltered
by neighbors in the vicinity, and later
were taken to the st. Francis school
for the remainder of the day.
An invitation was extended from the
Children's Industrial Home. Nine
teenth and Swatara streets, Offering to
provide quarters for forty of the little
girls.
Harry A. Krieder, aged II, of
Chestnut street was on his way TO
school when he saw the smoke He
turned in an alarm from box %,
Crescent and Mulberry streets.
II is the belief of John c. Kinder,
fire. chief that the fire started from
crossed wires. The flames may have
been burning between the partitions
for som etime. AS soon as they had
burned through-the walls to the stair
way. which runs to the top of the
building they spread rapidly. Reach
ing the roof the flames had a clean
sweep.
Someone not knowing that an
alarm had been sent in from Box 25,