Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-08-28
GYM AND BARN BURN
AT EASTERN NORMAL
Two Fires of Unknown Origin
Entail Loss Of $15,000.O0
With Little Insurance

morning totally destroyed the OLD
gymnasium building and a barn
entailing an estimated loss of be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 at
Eastern Normal. The barn, which
caused the first alarm to be sent
in shortly before o'clock, con-
tanned an automobile and about
50 chickens, property of Presi-
dent L. j. Coates, of the institu-
tion. The gymnasium, which
had just received a new coat OF
paint and hardwood floor, was
burned at 80 o'clock, together
with piano and most of the ath-
letic paraphernalia. There was
blanket insurance on both build
ings, but this will not begin to
cover the loss.
The first fire, that of the barn,
was responded to promptly by
city firemen and the truck, i'll
charge of Nose Nelson, was soon
upon the scene. The building
seemed to be ahre on all sides.
and there was but little chance of
saving it, being frame structure,
although a line of hose was inn
mediately laid A portion of the
lower part of the structural work
was saved. However. the building
represents a total loss.
There has been no fire about
the building at any time, as far as
L-f he tt-TfN 1xr 40 n
men was made thru a drizzling
rain There was II straw or
feed in the building and quaint
tv of goods stored there some
time ago had recently been NOV
cd.
Soon after the return of the
hremen to the city at 2 o'clock.
and most of them had reached
their homes and retired, a second
alarm was sent in, from a nearby
residence The call was answer
ed and it was found that the large
gymnasium building, known as
the "old gym" was in flames. Fire
seemed to be issuing from various
portions of the building When
one portion of the lower part of
the structure had been burned.
one side of the upper part had
also been consumed.
For the first time in its history
the city fire truck pumped from
two lines of hose, both lines being
played upon the Are, and while
there was an ample pressure and
a goodly supply of water. little
headway could be made. owing to
the immensely of the building,
which was frame. The fremen
worked until daylight but were
unable to save even a portion Of
it. or even enter it for the purpose
of removing any of the contents.
Besides much of the athletic ap-
paratus, there was piano burned.
Much of the athletic equipment
together with considerable furni-
ture had been removed from the
building some time ago, for the
purpose OF having the building
improved. The work of placing
hardwood floor had been com
pleted but short time. This is
said to have represented an ex-
penditure of $500. Workmen
had been busily engaged during
the past two weeks painting the
exterior of the building. prepare
tory to having further decorating
done by Reed Juett The latter
had his tools at another building
on the grounds. and was to have
started work within a day OF
two. The ladders and scaffolds
used by the workmen who appli-
ed the first coat of paint, however
were burned.
1t is estimated that the loss as
a result of the burning of the gym
will be about $1,000 Supt. Robt
Ramsey. of the properties ant
grounds, was one of the first upor
the scene. and stated, as did 9th.
ers connected with the institution
that the origin of the fires wa.
unknown. President Coates, O
the school. who was also present
admitted the origin was a mys
terry. since there had been no fir,
whatever in the barn and none il
the gymnasium building for th'
past six months.
1t is not as yet been decided
whether the gym building will b,
replaced this year. since there i
another and smaller gymnasium
in the manual training school
however, this would not be ade
quate.
Fhe second alarm. coming as
did so closely upon the first, caus
ed considerable excitemen
among residents in the vicinity o
the Normal, and there was larg