Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-21

III clO oSSuPiSo ny 80 ~ DNA"S 80 -
general grocery business and the dwell
ing house owned by the Shawmut Man
ufacturing Co. and occupied by William
Chatfield and family. at Shawmut, a
part Of Fairfield, were totally Destroy
ed by fire early Monday morning. at
an estimated loss of SIC, 800 when fire
started in the Burke store from an I'M
known cause and spread to the adjoin-
ing building. Nothing whatever was
saved from the Burke building with
the exception of a few valuable papers
from the safe in the back part Of the
store. From the Chatfleld home prac-
tically everything in the line of furni-
ture and house furnishings was saved
by being dragged out before the house
was caught on fire.
The fire was discovered about 6.43
Monday morning by Eleaza y. Emery
and Mr.. Cook At the time Of the dis
covery the fire was confined to the rear
part Of the Burke store. on the side
towards the railroad station. Mr..
Burke was at once notified. When he
arrived on the scene the store was en-
veloped in clouds of smoke with the
flames shooting out Of the windows
Realizing at once that nothing could
be done to stop the burning Of the
Burke store the efforts of the men were
turned toward hindering the fire in
spreading. Despite their efforts the
Chatfeld house, which is separated
from the Burke store by a driveway,
caught fire. The flames from the
Burke building reached over, assisted
by the high wind. and ignited the
Chatfeld house razing 1T to the ground.
The Fairfield Fire department re-
sponded to a call and the work Of the
fremen was mostly in keeping the
flames in check and protecting the sur
rounding buildings. It was found that
one of the hydrants was clogged by
the frozen water. and that took some
time for regulation. The pressure at
the Shawmut hydrants is very low
which was another hindrance in the
work.
The safe in the Burke store was TAX
en- from the burning building by Mr.
Burke and others in rather a unique
manner. Long wires were thrown
about the safe and by means Of these
it was dragged out of doors. The
knob on the safe door had melted off.
Mr.. Burke had not locked the safe the
night before and so with the aid of
a crow bar pried open the door and
saved some valuable papers. The safe
was so thoroughly heated that the in
terrier had reached high degree Of
heat and number Of the papers were
burned.
The building owned by Mr.. Burke
was two-story wooden structure and
set very near the railroad line. The
upstairs part of the building was
known as Burke's hall, where enter
ta!nments and socials were held. The
building was 100 feet long and 90 feet
across the front.
Judging from his first sight of the
fire Mr.. Burke is of the opinion that
the fire must have originally started
fully IS feet from the store which is
used to heat the downstairs part, and
near the oil tanks. The cause might be
accredited to defective wiring or in
tense heat from the store. The oil
tanks which have a capacity of 14o
gallons. We're filled on Monday. March
10. and very little had been used.
After the fire Mr.. Burke looked at
the smouldering remains and said:
Fifteen years to build and but few
minutes to Destroy" Mr.. Burke is in
tending to rent vacant store q short
distance from his former place OF
business. He will have q new stock of
goods arrive sometime Tuesday and
will be already for business on We'd
nesday He plans to take orders as
usual Tuesday afternoon.
The Burke building was valued at
81, 900 and was partly covered by in
surance. The other place. which is
owned by the Shawmut Manufacture
me- Co. is valued at about $4,000.
The Women's Relief Corps Sewing
Circle will meet Tuesday afternoon at
he Grand Army hall. The ladies will
pass the time in sewing. A picnic sup
GER will be served. In the evening a
'ehearsal Of e. P. Pratt Corps will be
1eld.
On Saturday afternoon, April 1, the
;electmen Of the town Of Fairfield will
,e in session at their Office for the
purpose Of receiving lists Of the polls |
md estates taxable in the town.
Miss Bertha Towle Of Dexter has !
,een a guest in town recently of Mr..
md Mrs. Charles A. Lawry, Winches-
er street.
Mrs. Stillman Sawyer of High street. |
Who has been seriously ill and required |
he attention of a trained nurse. is
,aining rapidly. She was able to sit up |
Monday.
Miss Mary Fitzpatrick left Saturday
morning for a several days visit AT |
and vicinity with friends and
elatives. Miss fitzpatrick stopped off |
It the Capitol City to visit Miss
Blanche Webster.
Otto Totman. Z. Of NJ, 10. has ar
ived in town to pass his vacation with |
lis parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur II.
rotman, Lawrence avenue.
Norman McPhee will leave Tuesday |
morning for Sandy Stream, where he |
rill be employed for an indefinite |
ime.
Ralph A. Bramhall, sub-master at
lawrence High school. left Monday |
morning for his home in Belfast where |