Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-11-11
Odd Fellow Temple Com
pletely Destroyed. Other
Property Loss
CARRIED SOME INSURANCE
Odd Fellows and Maccabees Lose all
Lodge Regalia. c. E. Byers
Heavy Looser

Last Friday morning about 2:30,
Mrs. c. +. Byers was awakened by
the cracking of flames, and immedi-
ately aroused her husband, and dis
covered that the |. O. o. +. building
next TO their blacksmith shop lover
which the Byers lived) was mass
Of flames. Mr.. Byers at once went to
the Fire Hall and the department was
soon on the spot and had four streams
of water on the fire. Because Of the
fact that the Odd Fellow building had
a case OF metal sheeting, il was almost
impossible to get any control of the
fire, which had spread almost over the
entire inside of the building before it
was discovered IL was a long build
ing, probably Is feet in length, and
was of two-story construction. The
lower floor was occupied by the Hav-
ana Cigar Company, owned and con-
Quoted by George McMullen, and the
upper was used by the Odd Fellows,
the Rebekahs, and the Knights and
Ladies of the Maccabees. The regalia
and belongings of these organizations
were entirely lost, although partly
covered by insurance
c. +. Byers was a heavy loser, he
having recently purchased the black
smith shop adjoining the Odd Fellow
building, and he and his family lived
above it. They lost all of their cloth
ing and household equipment, and
portions of the shop equipment were
also lost and damaged by the fire and
water. The building itself was in
sured for S400, which was payable to
the Barnes Estate, the place having
been sold to Byers on a contract. The
latter has purchased the Miller prop
erty opposite the Farmers Elevator,
and is now preparing to ply his trade
there, and will live above the same
His loss is estimated at $1,000
The Havana Cigar Company carried
an insurance of about $1,000, and es-
innate their loss at S2500 1t was
impossible to carry out stock, or
goods, or anything whatever, as the
fire was so hot that it was almost out
of the question. Alfred McBren, fore
man at the shop, bursted in win
dow at the front, and drew out Me
Mullen's new typewriter, but it was
melted so badly that it is of no use.
There was very heavy stock on hand
of made up goods, which makes an
exceptionally large loss to them.
The odd Fellow building was valued
at about $4,000, and the insurance was
$4,000 The contents of the Odd Eel
lows rooms were worth $l650 and
were insured for $3.50. The Ladies'
belongings were insured for $3.50, in
cluding a piano.
The above mentioned buildings were
situated just north of the Court
House square, directly north of the
Jail, and about $50, while Undersher-
iff George Lewis was putting some
water on the roof of his garage just
back of the Jail, which had caught
from flying sparks and cinders, he
noticed that the roof of the DR.. Foust
residence across the street to the
south, was in flames. lie immediate
ly sent in the alarm, and the firemen
drew two lines of hose from the first
fire and attached them TO the hydrants
near the doctors house, and shortly
had that fire extinguished. Nearly
all his household goods were taken
from the house, so he did not lose
them, although they were naturally
somewhat damaged by the heat and
water. However, the interior of the
house was so badly burned that it is
not poshible to use parts of it until
refnished. The floors and walls were
of course drenched, which added to
the damage. It was covered by ample
insurance.