Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1919-01-04
$5o,OOO FIRE Loss
Mi4dletews Opera Houss Total,
Destroyed Monday morning


Destroyed Monday morning
mAsONlc RELICS DESTROYED
The Town Halt and Opera House
builiine, located on Main street, in the
centre of the business section of this
town was destroyed by fire early Monday
morning. The entire stock of three
stores on the street floor of the building
was burned. Union Lodge. No. S, A.
F. and A. NJ. the oldest Masonic lodge
in the State. occupied the third floor Of
the building. Everything in the lodge
room was lost, including gr andfather's
clock, which was the pride of every
member of the lodge. This clock was
made and presented to the lodge by
Duncan Beard. a member of the order.
who died in 1899, and is thought to be
nearly $50 years old The charter grant
ed to Union Lodge. in 1916. by the
Grand Lodge, of Delaware, was also
burned. Fortunately most of the old
minutes and records, going back to 1859,
when the lodge was instituted, were
not in the room.
The fire was discovered shortly after
3 o'clock on the second floor of the
building, which was used as a ''movie"
theatre. How it started is mystery
The total loss to buildings and stock
will probably he between $40, 600 and
$50, 1000. partly covered by insurance.
S. NJ. Rosenberg, who conducted a
clothing store on the ground floor, was
the owner Of the building. His entire
stock was destroyed and the building.
which was q three STORY brick, about
100 by les feet, burned to the ground.
His loss was probably about $2O.O00,
partly covered by insurance.
The other losses were as follows: Red
grave Brothers, hardwar, store, under
the Town Hall, stock valued at about
$1,000, destroyed, partly covered by in
surance.
L. v. Kirk, general store in Town
Hall building, large stock burned, loss
not estimated.
Miss Alice Wood. owner of the frame
dwelling adjoining the Town Hall,
practically destroyed by fire and water,
loss about s2. 500.
Post office building adjoining the Town
Hall, moved slightly from foundations
when the wall of latter building fell and
was also slightly damaged by fire and
water.
1t was only a few minut,s after the
baker who discovered the fire gave the
alarm that it had gained considerat le
headway. The local firemen were call
ed out at once and an appeal made for
outside help when it was seen that the
entire building and probably adjoining
structures were in danger. The first
to arrive was the Smyrna firemen and
then three chemical engines from the
government Rockwell plant at Port
Penn. Two companies from Whining
ton the Water Witch and Liberty were
also sent here and gave valuable assist
ance. Some Delaware City firemen also
answered the call.
The fact that there was practically
no wind was all that saved the entire
business section from heing wiped OUT
The Water Witch was the first of the
Wilmington companies to arrive about
S o'clock. This company gave valuable
service in keeping the blaze away from
the postofice and other nearby build
ings. The Liberty Company arrived
later. All the firemen worked hard and
deserve much credit for keeping the fire
confined to practically the one building.
Two workm, n who came with the Rock.
well engines had narrow escape when
the wall fell over on the postoffice. f,
AS stated there is considerable mys
terry as to how the fire started. Those
who saw it first say it was in the real
of the second floor where the stage was
located. There was no stove or any
other heating apparatus in that section
of the building. The town hall wal
erected in 1865. ...-...
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