Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-08-28
BIG FIRE MONDAY NIGHT.
National Highway Garage Burned and
Seven Cars Destroyed.

One of the most disastrous fires
that has occurred in Shepherdstown
in a long time began last Monday night
soon after midnight and utterly de-
stroyed the extensive plant of the Ma
tional Highway Garage, owned by
Chas. B. VanMetre and VIM B. Sny-
der. This establishment, which was
located at the corner of Princess and
Washington streets, was one OF the
largest and most complete garages in
this section. 1t was built of cor
rugated iron on a frame of woodwork,
| and part of it was two stories high,
the second story being used as work.
shop. 1t had 10000 square feet of
storage space.
| The fire was first discovered by
persons living near about quarter
past II o'clock, and seemed TO have
started in one corner of the work shop
on the second floor. An alarm was
given at once, and the vigorous ring
ing of the fire bell soon attracted a
large crowd to the scene. Those who
and efficient in running the auto
mobiles out of the garage, and before
the fire got too hot for them they saved
about forty-five of the cars. A couple
Of automobiles in one corner Of the
garage had to be abandoned because OF
| the heat and flames and several that
were in the shop on the second floor
could not be reached. Seven cars in
all were burned. They were those
belonging to w. P. Licklider, S. l..
Cooley, Rev. |. D. Woman, a small
Saxon owned by E. L. Goldsberough,
J. w. Wells, an old car belonging to
the garage and big Auburn belonging
to man from Washington who had
had trouble a couple of days before
and placed the automobile in the ga
rage. The intelligent and heroic work
of the volunteer helpers saved many
thousands of dollars worth of cars for
automobile owners, and they cannot be
too highly commended. The garage
was very conveniently arranged as to
exits, and this enabled the cars to be
run out in hurry. The streets around
the place were filled with machines
Two new cars in the show room were
quickly hustled to safety. None of
the cars that were burned were in
sured.
The flremen got streams of water
upon the burning structure as soon as
they could from both the fire engine
and the town system, but the flames
by this time were beyond control, and
there was little chance to save the
building and its contents. Several
streams of water were kept flowing
however, and adjoining property was
protected. There was some fear that
the gasoline in the three big tanks
two in the building and one just out
side-might explode, but fortunately
this did not take place.
The residence of Mrs. Kate Kee-
seeker, just north of the garage, was
considerably damaged by fire. The
back building caught and was prac-
tically ruined, though the front part
of the house was harmed but little.
The furniture was all taken out with
but little damage. Mrs. Keesecker and
her daughter,N Miss Bette Keesecker,
who occupied the house, found refuge
in the home of Mrs. Keesecker's SON.
in-law, VIM. c. Link.
There was practically no wind, and
the fact that the building was sheathed
with iron kept the sparks down to
minimum. The Shepherdstown Ca
rage, just across the street, was dam.
aged to some extent, the plate glass
in its front being cracked by the heat.
Fortunately it did not catch fire. The
big Whiting -four mill, across the road,
was bit too close for comfort, but was
not damaged.
The loss to the National Highway
Garage will be between $4,000 and
$4,000, not counting the additional
loss to the owners of the cars that
were destroyed. The firm had an in
surance of $4,000, placed by Harrison
Schley's agency and by Washington,
Alexander & Cooke through its agent
here, Joseph H. Trout. The garage
carried large stock of tires and &C
cessories, and had full supply of
Ford parts on hand, which are now
junk. Some of the tires were saved
from the stock room. The books and
accounts and Office furniture were also
saved. Mrs. Keesecker had 5000 in
surance on her property.
The owners Of the garage are taking
their loss philosophically and are al
ready planning for bigger and better
establishment, which they hope to have
completed at the earliest possible date,
They are at work right now on tenn
porary quarters and will rebuild
permanently, as soon as materials can
be assembled. 1t is a great incon-
venience to be iout of home Just at
this time, for their business is an ex-
tenSive one and naturally requires a
good deal of room. They are hoping,
however, that their friends will stand
by them in their time of trouble and
promise to be ready with better &C
commodations just as soon as pos
sible.
No one has any idea how the fire
originated. There was no fire about
the work room when it was closed for
the day, and persons about the garage
up to late hour saw nothing sus-
picious. The most likely theory is
that a crossed wire must have start
ed the blaze, though the electrical wiz
ing had recently been inspected and
found all right.
BY advertisement in another column
it may be seen that the hustling pro-
prietors of the garage will be ready
for business Friday of this week. A
temporary budding has already been
erected and they are selling supplies
and doing other work in their line.
Quick work and some enterprise!
Notes of the Churches.
The members of the Shepherdstown
Presbyterian Church have raised more
than a thousand dollars, which will be
used in repainting the interior Of the
church, putting the organ in good or