Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-11-29
FIRE DESTROYS
CHURCH BUILDING
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
sUsTAINs HEAVY LOSS In
FRIDAY NIGHTS FIRE.
NEW BUILDING TO De ERECTED
Beautiful Memorial Pipe Organ Is
Destroyed BY Destructive
Blake.

AA ttup CUmVl0L6 ueStIUCllOu OI Tic
First Congregational church Friday
evening. November Gath, 1916, Man
chester suffered one of the largest
and most distressing fires in It's his
tory. The once beautiful church edi-
ice lies in heap Of smoking ruins. the
salvage not worth the work of clearing
It away. The chimneys and high
walls that remained standing after
the fire were overturned the next day
BY the fire department, as measure
Of public safety.
An Overheated furnace pipe is be-
lieved to have been the cause of the
blaze, which was first discovered in
the south east corner of the basement
near the pipe from the new furnace,
which had been installed in the
church and connected up with its
heating system only few weeks
ago. The fire was first discovered
about $3.50 p. m. by some young peo-
pie who were rehearsing for an en-
tertainment, which was to have been
given In the church that evening.
The fire alarm was at once turned
In and the fire in the basement was
soon under control and apparently
entirely out. Although It could not be
seen the fire undoubtedly crept up,
wards between the partition walls and
set the roof on fire. Suddenly and
unexpectedly the flames burst through
the roof In several places. The high
wind that was blowing at the time
famed the fire to high pitch and 1t
was at once evident that the building
was doomed to entire destruction. The
fire boys worked heroically. but were
hampered by the fact that they could
not get water onto the roof when the,
fire first broke out Before the roof
fell In considerable property, in the
way OF rugs, chairs and movable
articles were taken out Of the base
ment and first floor.
The building was valued at s20, 900;
1t was insured for $4,000. The beau
itiful pipe organ, a gift to the society
from the LoInis and Hoyt families in
memory of Mrs. Etna Hoyt, was COM
pletely destroyed. The amount Of in
surance carried on the pipe organ was
$1,6O000. The total line of insurance
carried was very conservative and will
doubtless be paid by the companies
without question,
The Congregational society will
start at once to plan for the building
OF a new church as soon as weather
conditions will permit next spring.
At a meeting held Monday evening
definite plans were formulated along,
these lines.
1t was decided to perfect the plans
and specifications and raise the ne
cessary money during the coming win
ter months. so that everything will
be in readiness to start building oper-
ations the first thing next spring,
: A finance committee was appointed
To sdpsrintend the raising Of the fund
Tor the building OF the new church.
The Committee Is composed .6i Judge
Geo. W. DunhaSn VI. N. wolcott and
"A. w. Stearns.
Several Of the other churches OF
Manchester very generously offered
to share their church quarters witt
the Congregational seeiety, until the
new church II built. Definite plans
have not ID yet been made with refer
ence to the place Of holding the
meetings. Suitable quarters will be
provided and all meetings will be
held as usual.
IA WORD no THE MEMBERS AND