Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-22
Old Dye House Block Quilted by
Blaze Which Starts in Cloth
ing Store of Robert Goldberg
Shortly After Midnight.
INMATES OF BUILDING
FLEE IN NIGHT CLOTHES
Firemen Make Great Fight and
Confne Fire to Building in
Which It Starts-Loss Per-
haps $500


ly after midnight Sunday morning to
fight the most serious blaze which
they had encountered for a year past.
and it should be said to their credit
that though the fire had made good
start and gained considerable Roadway
before their arrival they made a good
stop and practically confined it 10
the building in which it originated.
The alarm was sent in at 1890 a. N.
from box "a near the corner of Water
and Bridge streets and was due to the
discovery of a brisk blaze in the store
of Robert Goldberg, dealer in clothing
and furnishings. located short dis
lance south of the overhead bridge o.
the Maine Central Railroad, on the
east side of Water street and in the
two-story frame building known as the
old dye block, owned by the Augusta
Real Estate Association. Other occu-
pants of the building on the street floor
were T. G. Thibodeau, who conducted
a barber shop. adjoining the Goldberg
store on the north while adjoining tins
store on the south was the store u
Levine Bros. dealers in clothing, etc.
On the second floor of the building
We're two rooms, the lease of which:
was held by Mr.. Thibodeau, tene-
ment occupied by Eugene Dionne and
family, also another tenement occu-
pied by Leander Savoie and family.
Adjoining the building in which the fire
was on the north is the Hill Macoin-
her building, three story brick strll1-
ture owned by the Augusta Real Es-
tate Association, while adjoining the
building first mentioned on the south
is the two-and-a-hal story frame
building owned by Mrs. Mary A. Hop
kins, occupied on the street floor as
store and as dwelling overhead
The fire was discovered and the
alarm pulled in by John Hopkins who
saw the smoke and the light of the fire
as he was leaving the entrance of his
home. the fire having a good start N
| te Goldberg store at that time. The
families in the tenerents overhead
had retired for the night and were
awakened barely in time to make their
escape from the burning building, some
Of them fleeing in their night clothes.
and it is wonder that some Of them
were not suffecated in the dense
smoke which filled the apartments.
The cause Of the. fire is unknown.
The IRE department was quickly on the
scene and Chief Engineer Hunt seeir 2
Inc seriousness of the situation quickly
mad six streams o. water on the burn
ing building Owing to the location OF
the building it Was impossible 10 fight
the frp from e ciG b,7- liz
OF hose was laid through the Hopkins
store to q piazza on the east side o. tine
building and in this way the flvenlea
were enabled to do good work 4 line
of hose was also taken up the stairway
lea,.ilig tp the cecond 1oor OF the Hop
sins house TO fight the fire at that point
Two lines pcurec torrents Of water into
the front Of the burning building. and
BY taking tWo more lines up into the
Hill Macomher building the naeE were
enabled to direct two more streams Of:
wafer onto the ire from the north side
The fire worked its way up from the
Goldberg store to the floor overhead and
from there lip through the walls to the
roof. where it spread in both directions
50 that the FOOT fell in, but with the
torrents of water which were being pour
ed into the building. the fire was finally
drowned out, although is vas nearly 80
Sunday morning before the boys got
the order to uncoupie the hose ard so
back to the fire stations.
The Hopkins house had q narrow es-
reach considerable figure. That on
way separated it from the building finch
the fire Quilted, ana as it was it was
somewhat damaged by the flames, but
by luck the efficient work on the part
OF the firemen ii vas saved. Mrs. Hop
kins was III in bed, but she was taken
out soon after the fire started and was
moved to place OF safety, and many
willing hands also removed the house
hold goods and carried them to the
Colonial alleys, where they were stored
until morning and then talSen away.
The loss on account of the fire will
reache a considerable figure That on
the building will probably be in the
neighborhood of 500 with insurance
enough TO cover it. The Goldberg loss
is estimated at about 5000 and is under
stood to be insured The loss on the
Levine Eros. stock is mostly due to
smoke and water. This stock is in the
hands of trustee in bankruptcy. Henry
n. Taylor OF Portland. and no estimate
has been made on the probable loss.
Mr. Thibodeau will suffer quite loss
on the fixtures Of his barber shop and
also in his rooms overhead, ond which 1t
Is understood there is no insurance.
1t was also said that hound In his
cellar was suffocated. The loss by the
Dionne and Savoie families Will be to-
tai and will reach several hundred dol
lars each The loss on the Hopkins
house is covered by insurance. In the
Hill Macomber block will be slight
loss on account of water. Lewis Lavine
fruit dealer, Mrs. Emma L. Grady,
and the Augusta Furniture Co, also