The Owosso times., 1920-12-17
oWOss0 SUFFERS
$4,000 FIRE
Haarer Block With Contents of Four
stores and Severel Offices
Destroyed.

"NSSN SApSiiSuCcu ner WORST Hf0
since the Pearce-Ward blaze in 1911.
early Sunday morning, when the
Haarer block, main and Ball streets.
was gutted, entailing loss that will
amount to $4,000. The walls are
still standing and the amount of the
loss depends considerably. on the ex-
tent to which they have been weak
ened. 1t is not believed however
that they have been damaged to an
extent that would prevent their use
again.
The blaze was discovered by sew
eral people almost simultaneously.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Doane, living
west Of the city were driving by
when they saw flames shooting from
the roof Of the Foster store, and
shouted fire.
The fire, apparently started in the
basement Of the Foster store, and
shot up through the elevator shaft,
Flames were shooting out Of the roof,
80 feet when the department arrived.
Aid was summoned from Corunna.
Chief John Elkins Of the county seat
department and several Of his men re-
sponded, and did efficient work. They
brought their apparatus to a point
half way between Owosso and Cor
unna and left it there. The reason
FOR this was that they did not dare
risk getting too far away from their
own town, and leave it unprotected.
In an almost incredibly short time
the department was on the scene. In
fact before the whistle had stopped
blowing, they had two lines of hose
laid and were throwing water.
Quickly realizing the seriousness of
the situation, Chief Howell ordered
line of hose laid to every nearby
hydrant and soon eight streams were
being played on the first. Despite
this, however, the fire burned fercely
and for time steadily gained head
way. The most intense fire seemed
to be in the rear part of the Foster
store and the dividing wall between
the Hall and Foster buildings. The
roof fell with roar that could be
heard for several blocks.
The Foster company is the heaviest
day, estimated that the company's
stock amounted to $4,000 and said
that he valued the buildings Sat $780,
900. The company purchased the
building five years ago from Mr.. Hall.
The stock was covered by insurance,
Mr.. Foster said, and the insurance on
the building. was estimated at $12,-
600 by him.
Mr.. Foster opened the company's
safe Monday morning and found the
contents undamaged, despite the ter
rife heat it went through. The COM
bination worked easily.
In announcing that he would re-
build, Mr. Foster said the store would
be extended to the alley and would
be bigger and better than before the
fire.
|, While the fire was at its height,
vcritable clouds of sparks were be-
ing carried off in northeasterly
direction by the slight wind and were
lighting on roofs of buildings for a
distance of several blocks. Volun-
teers with fire. extinguishers mounted
the roofs of these buildings and were
on the alert for any sign Of fire.
There was none, however, due to the
wet roofs.
Mr.. Foster states that the fire
could not have started from the fur
mace. He found that boards close
to the furnace had hardly been
scorched, while a shovel standing
near was not damaged He said the
only thing he could think of as the
cause of the fire was defective cleo
trio wiring. The company has had no
oils in the store for nearly a year.
The losers by the fire were:
The Foster Co., hardware and fur
niture dealers, stock valued at $685.
600 and building at $4,000 de-
stroyed.
L. C. Hall, owner of the east half
of the building, valued at $4,000.
j. Arthur Byerly, grocer, stock
and fixtures at $4,000, complete loss.
Mrs. L. S. Benson, milliner, stock
estimated value, $4,000, ruined by
fire, water and smoke.
Y. w. C.. A. club rooms ruined,
furniture worth about $500 ruined.
DR.. R. C. Mahaney, office equip
ment and instruments, and drug sup
plies, ruined, loss $4,000.
DR.. J. j. Haviland, office equip
ment, instruments and drugs, esti-
mated by the doctor to be worth
81, 900, destroyed -
Municipal Social service" depart
ment office, furniture ruined.
H. j. Stout, dry cleaner, only dam
age was done by smoke, to clothing
in store. .r,
Leitch and Stilgenbauer, automo-
bile sales company, nominal loss.
Bailey Meat Market, small front
window smashed, front of building
scorched slightly. Slight damage in
side by smoke. Jacob Barrie owns
this building.
A.. n Wh;pnla c,Nant the Nyepk