Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1918-01-16
Wall Paper
Factory Burns
Building Totally Destroyed
Last Friday
Newark and Wilmington Firemen
Work Valiantly to Soue
adjoining Property
$3.50, 900 Loss Reported

DA)O,OOO LOSS NcDOTteQ
The second disastrous fire to
visit Newark since the cold wealth
er set in, occurred last Friday
morning when the Jacob Thomas
Wall Paper Factory, one of New.
ark'S largest industrial plants, was
totally destroyed. The loss, large
" covered by insurance, is estimat-
ed at $250,000. The plant employ
ed, at the time, 40 persons, most
" men, although a number of
women worked there.
The entire plant was wrecked by
the flames, nothing remaining but .
the walls and tangled and burned |
machinery. 1t occupied a brick
building 350x200 feet, which rang
ed from one TO three stories in
height It was located at North !
College and Cleveland avenues, on
the north side of the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad nearly opposite
Delaware College, and practically
in the heart of Newark.
The fire, which started about
$40, originated in the ash pit out
side the boiler room, where some
boards which accidentally got
there caught fire. The blaze quick
ly communicated to woodwork on
the building and spread rapidly
throughout the plant, because of
the infiammable material in the
different departments. Harry John
son, the night watchman, discover
ed the fire soon after it started and
made an effort to extinguish it be-
fore it could spread to the build
ing, but was unable to do so,
whereupon he sounded an alarm on
the whistle. This brought the local
fire company, but as the blaze was
menacing from the outset, aid was
sought from Wilmington and the
Water Witch Fire Co. responded,
with it's pumping engine. 1t made
the run to Newark in Is minutes,
the distance being II miles. Both
companies worked valiantly to con-
fine the fire to the factory which
was doomed from the start. Dur
ing the morning there were a doz-
en- fires in the H. w. McNeal lum-
Der yard. A house adjoining the
factory was also at one time IN
flames. Live Goals and burning
timber fell in yards throughout
Newark, and a wild wind, which
came up after sundown made the
night a terrifying one in this
vicinity. All during the day the
air was filled with the filmy sub
stance of burned paper, and large
pieces of charred decorated border
papers were found as far distant
as the 'Kells' grounds.
Firemen continued the fight un
til three o'clock Friday. Coffee ant
sandwiches were served by Mrs
Evans, Mrs. Tyson, Mrs. W. Il
Steele. Miss Martha Wilson, ant
Mrs. McKelvey.
Originally An Organ Factory
The burned building, one OF tn.
landmarks of this neighborhood
was originally erected in 1889 10
an organ factory for the knaut
Organ Co. In 1897 Thomas Davl
started wall paper factory ther
and in 1898 Jacob Thomas becam
partner. A few years later MI
Davis retired, Mr.. Thomas con
Quoting the business alone unt.
three years ago, when New 4or
capital acquired a controlling IN
terest. The present officers are
follows: James G.. Prayer OF NeN
York, president; Hugo Prayer o
New York, vice-president; Jaco
Thomas of Newark, treasurer
George N. Brown, representing th
New York interests, auditor an
manager.
The main building had bee
added to from time to time, Tn
latest addition, which was tlnlshe
last year, being an embosslng a.
partment, that structure beih
80X150 feet in area.
The Messers Prayer OF Ne
York, visited Newark on Saturoa
and went into conference VII
Messrs Brown and Thomas. En-
ployees of the Company saved a
the records and books from the o
flee, the fire originating, fortunat
ly, at the other end of the bull
ing. Whether or not the Compai
will rebuild has not yet been mac