Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-19
ENOLA SCHOOL is
BURNED TO GROUND

LAVOLA ONI1OOL AO
BURNED TO GROUND
| CONTINUED From First Page1
on the second floor by the smoke and
flames. but was rescued just as she
was about to climb down Il rainspout
to the ground
The damage to the big school build
ing and nearby properties is more
than 100000, most of which is covered
| by insurance.
Sparks FLYING Everywhere
Famed by high winds, the entire
two STORY brick structure was a mass
! of flames before the Friendship en-
gine and chemical truck arrived on
| the scene. At times the flames shot
up in the air fifty feet, sending show
ers of sparks on the tops of surround
| ing buildings. Enola iiremen realiZ-
ing at once that the big school was
doomed, kept busy checking the spread
| OF the blaze, which proved the worst
in the history of the town.
At 4.55 o'clock the Friendship COM
| pany left the city, and after a record
run had water on the fire from a
pump stream in 20 minutes time. This
was big help in saving adjoining
! properties and it is believed that If
aid would have been delayed short
time longer, a large part of the town
would have been destroyed.
The blaze started, it is believed, un-
der the steps in the basement, but it's
origin is unknown. A report that boys
had been smoking in the basement al
though partially discredited was in
Vestigated That the fire started near
the furnace was the theory advanced
by number of persons, but Assistant
Fire Chief Marion Nerbeke was unable
tn TOT -. Il. ..,.s.,
because shortly after his arrival with
the Friendship company, the roof of
the school crashed in and later all of
the walls fell.
The Citizen company No. ., of Me-
chanicsburg made a record run of II
miles over the rough roads, in - min
utes, and offered much aid together
with the Hope and Washington COM
panies from Harrisburg, both of these
arriving after the Friendship COM
pany had been summoned.
Situated Oh the top of a high cliff
overlooking the thickly populated
parts of the town. sparks from the
Summit street building blaze were
carried by the gale to many neighbor-
ing homes, and in some instances
caused much damage before the small
er fires were eXtinguished. The dou-
bic frame house occupied by b. j.
Passmore and c. Kautz, directly oppo-
site the school, was badly damaged,
Mr.. Passmore estimating his loss at
$1,000, fully insured. and Mr.. Kautz,
his loss at $500, also insured. Other
property owners whose houses were
damaged were: Mrs. j. II. Weaver,
across the street from the building,
loss $50; insured; j. q. Bitner, and the
storN of j. w. Harm, loss $3.50, par
TALLY insured; EnOla Realty company
properties adjoining the st. Matthews
Rlfnrn0n1 ipe
This property was occupied by Philip
Forcluey and much of his furniture
was broken, this loss not being covered
by insurance. Mrs. Forcluey was ill
at the time the fire broke out and was
carried from her home to a house
nearby.
The big Brick school building in
Summit street, is one of three in the
town, and this morning 400 pupils who
were having examinations, were sent
to the High school building in York
street, and to the Adams street build
ing. Miss Wagner, of the Summit
street school, just before she left her
room, grabbed all of the examination
papers that are being used this week,
and saved them. All attendance rec
ords. books, supplies and articles of
furniture in the school were totally
destroyed and this morning the build
ing is mass of smoldering ruins. The
corners were pulled down last evening,
tc prevent any danger of some one
being injured should they topple over.
School Loss Estimated at $25,OOO
The school was built in 1909 at
cost of $4,000 and last Fall the extern
sion to the building was completed; at
an additional cost of $4,000. The
books and furniture was valued at
$4,000, making the total value of the
property about $4,000, on which
there is $4,000 insurance.
The board of directors will hold a
special meeting tonight to start ar
rangementS Tor the erection of an
other building which it is believed will
be made fireproof throughout. Citi-
zens of the town appreciating the big
aid of the companies from this city
and Mechanicsburg, served sandwich
es and coffee to the firemen just before
they left Enola last night.
Shortly after o'clock Assistant Fire
Chief Verbeke of this city ordered the
local companies to leave and left the
Enola firefghters to guard against an
other outbreak.
While the flames were at their
height in the school, a second fire
caused by sparks from the blaze,
broke out in the coal yards of w. A.
Miller along the Enola road, five
squares away. causing $3.50 damages
before it was extinguished.
AS the school term will end in the
town on Friday, the directors will
make every effort to provide quarters
before the reopening in sep
tember. Arrangements were made
quickly this morning for the accom-
modation of the pupils. all of whom
were in classes below the high school
grades.