The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-12-28
ELKO'S GRAMMAR
SCHOOL BUILDING

Elko's magnificent grammar school
building, erected in 1908 at a cost of
$4,000, was totally destroyed by fire
the afternoon of Christmas day. and
today but the bare walls are standing.
But little of the fixtures were saved.
outside of the records of the princi-
pals Office and its contents, and the
entire building and all its contents
can be considered a total loss. There
was $4,000 of insurance carried.
The origin of the fire is a mystery,
but as far as can be determined IL
was probably caused by a defective
fiue which may have become over
heated and ignited the adjoining wood
work, the flames spreading to the ad-
joining room with such rapidity that
soon the whole structure was en-
veloped in flame.
Smoke was seen pouring from the
windows shortly after 3 o'clock and
an alarm was telephoned in, and in
few minutes the fire engine and
department had two streams of water
playing on the building. But it was
seen Immediately that there was no
hcpe, and word was given to save the
records in the principals office. which
was done. A few desks and chairs
also were taken out from the base
ment in the west end OF the building.
but the total saved amounted to but
little.
The cold was intense, the water
freezing on the coats of the firemen
in spite Of the intense heat from the
burning building. In less than an
hour after the alarm had been turned
in the building was entirely consumed
Janitor Goblin, who had been in the
building all day. left between and
o'clock. and claims that he turned
the fire out from under the boilers.
But a year ago an oil heating plant
was installed in the building, taking
the place of the coal furnaces. and
some think the fire was due to a leak
in the oil pipes; but as the oil is fed
to the furnace by means of a pump,
this could not have happened if the
fire had been extinguished under the
boilers and the pumps stopped Mr.
Goblin says that he had been away
from the building less than an hour
when the fire alarm sounded. and that
there was no other fire iu the building
not even an oil stove.
There has been no school held for
more than two months past, but the
building has been kept warm. fire
being used under the boilers each day
TO keep the building at an even tenn
perature.
This building was modern in every
respect and was erected in 1908 at a
cost of $4,000. Later on an addi-
tional wing was built at cost Of
$500. which, together with the cost
OF furnishings. brought the cost of
the school plant up to approximately
s55.000. 1t will cost considerable
more TO erect the same building now
as building material is higher.
School was to have been opened
Immediately after the first of the year
but until quarters have been secured
no definite date can be announced.
No doubt the old high school buildine
will be used for the higher grades
and there is the building used as 2
manual training room, which stands
just west of the public school, which
will house a couple of grades. II may
be that the Baptist church can be
secured, as there are no services be
ing held there, and If so then this
VIII be the solution.
Otto T. Williams, president Of The
school board. is in San Francisco and
viii he home tomorrow, and until he
arrives no action will be taken; but
Principal Welday is today making out
list OF the necessary furniture and
hooks TO continue school so that os
soon as they arrive school can be
opened in the buildings 20 he secured
II is not only the monetary loss TO
the community. but the breaking up
of the public studies. which is to he
regretted. We have had but few
weeks of school this year. due to the
closing of the schools from the in
fuenza epidemic. and with the grades
scattered about the city in different
buildings, the teachers cannot WORK
TO the best advantage-LFree Press