The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-03-21
Howard Shaw's Butter Box
Factory, Grist Mill and
Two Houses Burned
ENTIRE VI = AGE WAS
PLACE \ IN DANGER
Morris xy, and Waterbury
Ser cg ,sistance-Flames
: Fought All Day

Stowe, March 2I--Lghtning started
a fire which threatened to destroy the
entire village OF Stowe yesterday and
which was stopped after the butter box
factory, gristmill and two dwelling
houses of Howard Shaw on lower Main
Street had been wiped out, causing
loss of $25 600 Local firemen, aided by
volunteer workers and by firemen from
Morrisville and Waterbury, worked all
day in extinguishing the flames, 1t was
Stoves worst fire since 1880 when the
Mt Mansfield hotel was burned. Mr..
Shaw's loss is well covered by insur-'
ance.
in addition to the buildings burned,
there was a large quantity of lumber,
grain, farming implements, machinery,
hay and other property, all the proper
ty OF Mr. Shaw, which wrs destroyed.
The fire broke out at o'clock Sun
day morning during the second of two
electrical storms. A bolt of lightning
was seen to strike near the mill only
few minutes before the flames broke
out The fire made rapid headway, and
in short time the country for miles
around. was lighted up by the glare.
The Stowe fire company responded To
the alarm, as did many men who were
reached by telephone. The high wind
made the work of fighting the fire diff
cult. and for a time the safety of the
entire village was feared for. Fortu
nately showers helped to avert the
greater disaster.
When the fire was at its height
truck came from Alorrisville with %
FIRE fighters and a trolley car was sent
to Waterbury for more firemen to cope
with the flames. 1t was necessary to
pour water on the fire throughout the
entire day and last night three shifts of
firemen were placed in charge of the
ruins to prevent further outbreak.
Elmer f. Shaw and family, who oc-
cupied one OF the tenements in the
mill house" were able to save most of
their furniture. Mrs. Shaw. who is an
invalid, wde assisted TO place of safe
ty with considerable difficulty She was
placed in wheel chair and then the
chair was set in lumber wagon, after
which the wagon was drawn through
the field TO reach the street.
Bert Wedge occupied the brick dwell
ing house Mrs. Wedge is al the hospi-
tai. but her parents MFR. and Mrs. A.
f. Horner, were with Mr. Wedge and
they and the latters children were
able to save most of the furniture in
their house.
Preparations were made to clear 9th
er houses, especially that of Mrs. Mar
garet Felix. who resided just across the
road from the burning lumber piles, but
il was not necessary to carry out the
plans, although the heat was so intense
that for hours the street was not passa
bic. The barn belonging to the "brick
house and also q storehouse. where
crates, butter packages and hay were
stored. was also saved
There were no services at 70 Com
munity church during the day, and the
pastor, Rev. C. F. Hayward, took an
active part in helping to put out the
FIRE and in rescning the occupants OF
the houses. Rev. FIR Robert Devoy of
Waterbury, who was in the village at
the time of the fire, also assisted in the
work. launches were served to the fire
fighters in the morning and meals were
served later in the day at the Commu-
nifty church by the ladies.
The property destroyed was once
owned by the late Thomas A. Straw
and it had been for-fpany years one Of
the landmarks Of theftillsge. Mr.. Shaw,
the owner, has not formed any definite
plans whether he will rebuild or not