Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1917-09-12
The Warren Steam Laundry, Kennedy's
Restaurant and Holmgren's Bowling
Alley Are Destroyed By Fire This
Forsle6n.
TOTAL Loss ABOUT $4,000.
Fire Originates From Gasoline Ex.
plosion in Laundry Building
Aid Called From Argyle.

the work room and spread so rapidly
that the employees had barely time to
escape with their lives. w. +. Cong
don, brother-in-law of the proprietor,
was badly, but not seriously burned on
his arms and face before he was able
to get out of the building. A fire alarm
was turned in Immediately and in
minute or two the fire department was
on the scene, but even then the whole
interior was mass Of flames and
flames were also bursting out from the
front Of the building Streams Of
water we're quickly turned on, but it
was impossible to prevent the spread
of the fire to the adjoining buildings,
namely the G. j. Pihlstrom building on
the south side and the building owned
by the Schmidt Brewing Company on
the north side of the laundry building.
z For a time it looked as If the whole
row Of buildings in the block, north;
of the laundry would be destroyed.
The Schmidt building was occupied by,
the bowling alley Of Axel Holmgren
and in the Pihlstrom building was To-
Gated the restaurant Of w. r. Kennedy.
From both Of these buildings the occu-
pants were able. to remove most of
their personal property cent aimed
therein
The fact thatsit was possible to con-
fine the fire to the three buildings,
sisssks well for the promptness and
efficiency the Warren Fire Depa,t
mellt Itwas fortunate OF course, that
the fire occurred in the day time, when
there was only a light breeze blowing.
Had there been strong wind blowing,
the damage would undoubtedly have
been much greater.
Heavy Losses.
Charles S. Barker estimates his loss
on the laundry machinery at $4,000
and on his household goods at about
$4,000, and he carried not dollar of
insurance. The building was owned by
L. NJ. Olson and was worth perhaps
$4,000, his loss was no doubt partly
covered by insurance. w. r. Kennedy
succeeded in removing, most of his
Household goods and effects. his loss be- E
ing partly covered by insurance. Axel
/ Holmgren succeeded in saving some of
his fixtures, but his loss on the bowling
alley will probably come close to
$1,000. The Schmidt Brewing Com
Z pany very likely carried ample insur-
ance on the building.
The insurance on the Pihlstrom
building has expired just a few days
previous to the fire and as it had not
been renewed, his loss will be total
one.
Jake Juyeland, who occupied the sec
ond story Of the Schmidt building with
his family, lost all his household goods,
his loss amounting to about $500.
"a. Buildings Are Landmarks.
The three buildings destroyed are
old land marks of the town. The
laundry building was originally built
for a creamery and stood for a number
a wars out by the cemetery. After
wards Il Va was son. to ". p. Wood, who
showed .llt Into the city ans. renoueie.'
it FOR IN opera house, iii when
capacity it served the people Of this
city Tor many years. Mr.. Wood sold
the building to the NJ. w. "a. Lodge,
hence 1t was also used as a meeting
place for this order. When the new
opera house was built, the building was
traded to. the Bernard Bros, who In
turn sold it to North Star College, said
institution being housed there for.
couple OF years. Later i. M. Olson be-:
came the owner Of the building and he
sold 1t on contract to Mr.. Grossman.
who moved the building to it's present
position and remodeled it for use as a
moving picture theater, giving it the
highsounding name Of "The Unique.''
But the life Of The Unique, like that
OF some opera stars, was very short.
Next It was, used as basket ball hall
by the High School, but most Of the
time it stood idle. Mr.. Olson about
two years ago leased the building to
Charles s. Barker for a laundry, and
now its somewhat checkered career is
ended.
g. ]. Pihlstrom' building was built
BY him forsa but shop. For years
was the only meat market In town.
3fany different renters have occupied
the building since It ceased to be used
for that purpose. Lately Mr. Ken
nedy's restaurant has been housed
there,
The other building destroyed was
the Did Mort estern Hotel and Saloon, I