The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-03
$4,000 DAMAGE
CAUSED BY WEST
ALEXANDRIA FIRE

WEST ALEXANDRIA, O., Jan. s.
West Alexandria narrowly escaped
complete destruction by fire late yes
terday. Three buildings were burned
to the ground with an estimated loss
Of $50 1000. Several others were more
or less seriously damaged. One man.
Harold JeAison, volunteer member OF
the fire department, who heroically
fought the wind-swept flames, was
overcome by smoke. 1t Is believed the
loss will climb to the neighborhood OF
$4,000 when water damage has been
added to the fire loss,
George Ehler's furniture store, the
largest in Preble county, containing
$4,000 worth Of furniture, and ware
house which was being stocked with
new goods, were completely destroyed.
The loss placed on the destruction OF
these two buildings, one two-story
frame and the other a single story
brick structure, is approximately
$4,000.
Ray Stivers' garage adjoining the
Ehler furniture store on Dayton street
between Main and Smith streets. was
wiped out. The loss on this building
and its contents was estimated at
$4,000. Ray Kings butcher shop, west
Of the garage and the Small garage on
the opposite side, were considerably
damaged by fire and water.
Partly Insured.
Insurance on Ehler's property COW
cred only one-third Of the losst, while
more than half of Stivers' loss is COW
cred by insurance.
The fire is believed to have started
on the second floor Of the Suvers'
garage where the Twin Valley Rifle
club maintains it's quarters. 1t spread
rapidly, augmented by high wind. and
soon consumed the upper floor Of the
Ehler furniture store.
James Lucas and Ralph Ehler, boys,
discovered the fire while it was still!
within the bounds of the Stivers gar
age and heroic efforts were made to
check it's advance. Treva SWihart,
9-year-old daughter Of Sherman Swi-
hart, saw the fire and turned in the
alarm that brought out West Alex
andria's man-power fire department.
Flames soon enveloped that entire
section of the business distrist. It
was feared tina the high wind and
low temperature. which froze water
as 1t was forced from the nozzles,
would lower the entire village of
5000 nhabitants.
Call for Aid
Mary Voge, telephone operator,
who remained at her post of duty
across the street, flashed word to
Eaton and Lewisburg that West Alex
ander was in danger of complete des-
truction without their aid. Lewis
burg Immediately dispatched chemi-
cal wagon and Eaton sent truck
loaded with hose.
The heroic work of the West Alex
andria ''fireboys" checked the blaze
before the neighboring city fire de-
partments arrived. While portion
of West Alexandria's business dis
trict was completely wiped out, it is
sure the local organization prevented
further spread of the flames.
1t was reported that more than q
dozen residences throughout the town
were ablaze simultaneously with the
Ehler store and the Stivers garage.
These fires, however, were quickly
extinguished.
Heaviest Loss In Years
Not in nearly 20 years has West
Alexandria experienced a seriousfire.
Eighteen years ago, according to resi-
dents of that community, the Ehler
Furniture Company was partially des-
troyed by fire. Ten years ago the
West Alexandria Lumber company
plant was swept away by fire of an
incendiary nature, according to re-
ports, and five years ago the local
post office was burned.
Every resident of the little town
turned out to assist in preventing
further spread of the fire Friday
afternoon, which is reported to have
started about 2:30 o'clock. Women
and girls made coffee and distributed
it among the fire fighters of the
town as they labored with axe and
hose in streams of water and ponds
of ice Mrs. Monica Hornback, wife
of Mayor Hornback waded in water
to her knees in the basement Of the
Ehler store. serving the "fireboys"
with hot coffee, and her bravery will
long be remembered.
Mr.. Ehler has been in the furniture
business Of West Alexandra for
more than 20 years.