The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-04-09
DESTRUCTION OF A LAND MARK.


At II o'clock last Friday morning
the voice of the fire siren was heard
in the land and was speedily answer
ed by the gathering of members of the
fire department and the rushing of the
apparatus to the scene of the confla-
grafton, if so large word is permis-
sable in a description of the job the
red destroyer had in hand. There was
no mistaking the location of the fire,
as fire and smoke was rolling out Of
the roof of the New Oroville hotel, a
practically three story frame building
at the northwest corner of Main street
and Railroad avenue. A very heavy
wind was blowing from the northwest
and as the building was of very in
flammable material and as dry as pow
der it was at first feared that all of
the business houses at the south end
of Main street were doomed. Three
leads of hose were run out, two from
thehydrant at the library park corner
and one from the hydrant in front of
the Oroville Commercial company's
store, and heavy streams were soon
playing upon the fire. Hose was car
ried into the burning building and it
was not long before the firemen had
the flames under control, but not iln-
til the roof was burned off and the
two upper stories completely gutted.
Within less than two hours the chief
ordered the water cut off and the fire
was practically out.
No one seems to be able to throw
particle of light upon the cause of the
fire. 1t is mystery that no one ap-
pears to take any pains to clear up.
The statement is made that the woman
who did the chamber work in the ho-
tel reported that there was consider
able smoke in some of the bed roms
but no attention was paid to her. c. G.
Hedger and Ray Rayburn were the
first to discover the fire They were
crossing the street from the postoffice
to Bailey's store when Mr.. Hedger saw
smoke rolling out of and over the roof
of the hotel. The young men ran to the
fire station and turned in an alarm
and by that time flames as we'll as
smoke we're bursting through the roof
of the shotel. Jack Williams, who has
had charge of the hotel, was on the
lower floor and knew nothing of the
fire until the alarm was sounded, and
then was very much surprised when
he ran out to find that it was the hotel
in flames. Whatever was the cause,
the fire started under the roof and
had made much headway before it was
discovered.
The building is total loss as it Is
beyond repair and could not be re-
paired even if the owner wished to
utilize the remaining story, as the
town council will not permit the erec-
tion of frame building of that size
and character in the business section
of the town. The loss is in the neigh
borhood of $4,000 on the building.
There is an insurance Of $4,000 on the
building distributed among several
companies represented by s. B. Star
rett, Jr. Dell Hart carried $500 on
Tie llAtulcS lui liltulC Pl,cVo III
the Hartford and So 900 in the SPRING
field. The loss on fixtures and furni-
ture is not total as much of this prop
erty can be salvaged The Oroville Mo-
tor company. occupying the frame
building adjoining the hotel to the
north, suffer ed considerable loss.
When the fire was at its height it
locked as though it would be impos-
sible to save the structure and scores
of ready hands commenced to move
the auto supplies and accessories out
of the building. and these were carted
to the garage at the corner of First
avenue and Vancouver street. where
they were dumped in pile, thus mix
ing them up in endless confusion.
There was much loss and breakage.
Furthermore it will cost the company
several hundred dollars to untangle
the mess of auto parts and get them
back in order on shelving, to say moth
ing of the loss of business consequent
upon not being in shape to fill orders.
The building was owned by the heirs
of the late Mrs. Geo. Devon. The build
ing was erected about 1910, with the
coming of the railroad, and hence was
an old land mark. Mr.. Devon conduct
ed it as hotel for number OF years.
Some three years ago the building
caught fire almost identically in the
same place as where the fire was dis
covered Friday At that time very
heavy wind was blowing, but through
the exertions of the fire department
the fire at that time was confined tc
the roof and third story. The building
was reconstructed after that fire
Nearly year ago the hotel was leased
to Jack Williams and Will Green
These proprietors enjoyed a remark
able good business according to the
statments made by both parties. Mis-
understandings occurred between tn,
partners and few weeks ago they
dissolved partnership. Mr.. Williams
has had temporary charge of the hote
since the split and expected to sci