The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-12-15
FIRE DESTROYS
CENTRAL PARK
Central Park Road House
Completely Destroyed
Early Today.
RESCUE Is THRILLING

An early morning fire, featured by
the spectacular rescue Of Albert Sha-
dowski, an elderly man, from death by
the quick work of Herbert C. Millager,
completely destroyed the main build
ing of the Central Park resort on the
Lake Shore Road north Of Kenoshs this
morning. Quick work Of Are crews
summoned from Kenosha prevented the
fire from spreading to the dance hall
and to the garage Of the resort, but
the road house was burned to the
ground.
The loss was estimated by H. C. Mill
ager, the owner, at $4,000 one half
of which is covered by insurance.
Weakened by Cracking Timbers.
Millager was sleeping in one of the
front bedrooms in the second floor Of
the building and was awakened about
three o'clock this morning by the crack
ling of the timbers. He ran to the top
of the stairway where he saw the
flames leaping up a cold air duct from
the basement. He notified the Keno
sha fire department of the blaze and
then hurried to the work Of reseuing
Albert Shadowski, the janitor, who
was sleeping in back room on the
second floor of the structure.
The flames by this time had spread
SO that all of the stairways leading
to the room were cut off by smoke but
Millager secured ladder reaching the
top of the porch and by this means
10
was sleeping. He then reused the
man, half overcome by smoke, and
carried him to safety.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
The fire department answered the
call quickly and at one time seemed
almost to have the fire under control
by the use of chemicals. Because of
the wind it was impossible to secure
water from the we'll there or to pump
it from the lake and when the flames
broke out anew in the top Of the build
ing, the workers were helpless, as the
supply of chemicals was inadequate
to handle SO big a blaze.
None of the furnishings Of the build
ing was saved. 1t had been complete
ly refurnished only short time ago
at an expense of approximately $780,
900, all of which went up in the flames
A part of this loss included two pianos
and automatic violins, costing several
thousand dollars, and booths placed
in the resort recently. There was ap-
proximately $17o in cash in the cash
registers, which also went up in
smoke, but 1t is believed that some
money and valuables which were in
safe may be saved.
Started from Furnace?
The only explanation for the origin
of the fire is that it started from the
heating plant. Clarence Staten, the
barkeeper, had taken care of the furn-
ace at midnight and declares that ev-
erything was satisfactory then. There
was a motor there which at one time
had caused some trouble by throw
ing off sparks and faulty wiring for
this may also be an explanation for
the PLACE.
The fire was spectacular one and
lighted UP the countryside for miles
around, attracting scores of people
both from Kenosha and Racine.
VIII Rebuild at Once.
H. G.. Millager, owner of the resort,
announced this morning that he would
rebuilt the roadhouse at once. His
plans provide for the erection of a
brick and cement structure which will
be modern in every way and more COM
modious than the building which was
destroyed. None of the furnishings
of the road house were saved and the
new structure will be furnished new
from top to bottom. The bowling al
leys and the icehouse were also de-
stroyed by the fire and the new build
ing will also provide for these struc-
lures.