Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-11
PRESBYTERIAN BUILDING BADLY
BURNED WHILE BEING REBUILT
AND REMoDELED.
DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT
$1,000; INSURED FOR $500
Fire Catches From Furnace Smoke Pipe
Entire Floor and Some Of Base.
ment Partitions Burned-Damase to
Be Repaired as Soon as Insurance Is
Adjusted-WII Delay Dedication.

so badly burned in.the fire of Sept. -.
that broke out in the klutson lumber
yard just south OF il. again was badly
damaged by fire late Saturday night.
The building was III process of re-
building from the September fire. The
fire, which caught from a furnace, de-
stroyed much OF the rebuilt interior
especially below the floor and did dam
age estimated at about $4,000 by Coz
Jacobson. the contractor, who was in
charge Of the remodennS. The loss IS
entirely covered by insurance in SER
les OF policies cor a total Of $500. The
damage will be repaired as soon as the
insurance is adjusted.
Practically all the wood work of the
floor and basement Of the building was
so badly burned that it will have to
be torn out and renewed. The flames
broke thru the floor in one place and
set fire TO the ceiling OF the auditorium
The fire caught from the furnace that
was being plastered.
lath Fire Like finder.
A furnace used for heating the class
rooms and west part Of the building is
in a room in the northwest corner OF
the church. The smoke pipe from the
furnace passed thru a partition and
extended close under the ceiling OF
small hallway 20 the chimney. Inc
pipe was a double one. The hallway
had been lathed but not p!astered, and
heat from the smoke pipe ignited the
lath probably about 1890 or soon after
The furnace was being fred with
slack and had become clogged. The
workman who had charge OF it stoked
the furnace about 10 o'clock for the
night. Jacobson. the contractor. said
that the direct draft Of the furnace was
left open so the fire would burn.
Spreads Along Ceiling.
H. T. Mcbride. while going home
about 10: 30, passed the church and sa"
the west chimney burning out. He stood
and watched it for a time. but as the
fire in the chimney died down he went
on home, thinking there was no dan
ger. Chief Anderson believes that 1t
was at that time that the smoke pipe
caught on are, became red hot and St:
fire to the bare lath.
The flames spread along the latn,
which were very dry, and joists and
studding, thru practically all OF the
basement. in the general direction OF
the east end OF the basement. Where
the pulpit, in the east end Of the audi
toriu-,l was being built, there was
large opening IN the floor, thru which
the heated air and flames found pas
SAGE creating a roaring draugnt. Inc
department, which was called at 1850,
found the front door Of the church open
Woramen employed in the church, 1t
was explained. had not been able to
close the door Saturday night because
il had swollen so badly.
Whole floor Destroyed.
The whole floor Of the building was
so badly burned and charred that II
will have 70 be torn out and renewed.
The same is true Of some OF the paru-
lion walls Of the basement.
The flames, creeping along the lower
side Of tho floor. reached the hole
where the pulpit was to stand and
spread up up thru IT. Catching seal
folding that plasterers were usins, II
spread Up It and set fire TO the ceiling
Of the auditorium above the pulpit
Eighteen hundred yards Of green plas-
re-!ug had but recently been spread on
the walls Of the auditorium. Tho heat
and steam DESTROYED the plastering,
some of which fell off. AL OF It VIII
have to be torn off and replaced. Only
q small part Of the balcony had been
plastered. and the balcony Itself was
not damaged, neither were the up"
rights in the basement which support
ed It.
The basement was filed with hre
ard smoke when the department arrlV-
ed AS most Of the fire was on the
urder side Of the floor, the dre1nen
were able to force their way into the
basement and by working on their
knees. below the smoke. they coulo
fight the flames. Elves lines OF water
were kept on the flames for two hours.
The fire will delay the dedication OF
the renod,led church, which had been
fixed for Easter.
Another Small Fire.
4 burning cigaret that was thrown
from a window upon the roof OF an
addition Of the house at 3O3 East
Church street Sunday afternoon at $3.50
Sc. fire to the shingles but the damage
was very slight. The property IS own
cd BY Mrs. Ella Baker.
JOIN COUNTRY CLUB NOW.