The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-08-23
BURNING OF THE
SHELLMAN HOTEL
ONE OF MOST DESTRUCTIVE
FIRES IN TOWNS HISTORY.
SOME NARROW ESCAPES.

One of the severest fires in Shell
mans history occurred last Tuesday
morning at 4 o'clock, when the Cheney
house burned to the ground, the loss
being complete.
The Cheney house. better known as
the old Henney May Hotel, was built
in 1898 by one of our oldest and best
known citizens, Judge ]. q. Sasser.
At the time of its building the plans
were for twelve bed rooms, one parlor,
one office, one dining hall and kitchen,
with an expenditure of approximately
$4,000 Some years later what was
known as the annex was built, con-
sisting of six bed rooms and two large
show rooms, with an expenditure OF
approximately $500. Since that time
baths and a complete water system
have been installed. The building was
screened throughout, and only few
years ago new furnishings were IN
stalled, which brought the amount OF
investment to approximately $lO,OOO.
Mr.. Cheney states that the building
was insured for $4,000.
For a number of years the proprle-
tor was Judge ]. G. Sasser, but on
account of the age of both Judge and
Mrs. Sasser they were compelled to
give the hotel up, and Mr.. and Mrs.
B. T. Reese came to Shellman from
Buena Vista and operated the hotel
for a number OF years. Several years
before Mr.. Reese gave up the manage
ment the hotel was purchased from
Judge Sasser by Mr. E. R. Cheney.
Since that time several parties have
oDerated what was later known as the
Cheney house.
The writer was at the time OF the
fire boarder at the hotel, sleeping IN
a room in the center and at the front
of the old part of the hotel, with a
room opening both III the upper hall
and on the front porch. At four o'clock
he was awakened by gun shot, seem
ingly very close to his room DIR. Sax
on came down the upstairs porch and
announced that the barn was on FIRE.
Upon his return to his room in the
annex he discovered the hotel was
burning. AS soon as the writer could
put on a few clothes and open his room
knocked back by heavy black smoke.
After three trips to his room, endeav-
oring to save as much as possible, he
was unable to make another trip. Up
on his second trip into the burning
building he was detained endeavoring
to direct a travelling man, who was
lost in the smoke, to the stairway.
Both managed to get down the stairs
and through the already burning Of
fee.
In trying to save as much of the
effects as possible Mr.. R. S. Critten
den and DIR. T. S. Saxon, sleeping in
the annex, were compelled to climb
down the large columns of the front
porch to safety. The losses OF the
writer and Dr. Saxon were very small,
but Mr. R. S. Crittenden lost practical
ly everything. There were three travel
ing statesmen in the building, but they
everything saved.
The Methodist church authorities re-
port approximately $178 damage to
that church, which is just across the
street The Princess theatre, just
down the street from the church, re-
ports $50 damage Mr.. Cheney's barn,
just to the rear, was damaged consid-
erably. and the roof of the kitchen was
burned. The store building on the east
side of the hotel was endangered but
was not burned. The building was oc-
cupied by Mr.. H. H. Hart, who emp
tied the store of its contents and he
reports considerable loss from water
and smoke.
This was one OF the worst fires in
Shellman's history, and leaves the
town without hotel or any place to
accommodate commercial travellers. 1t
is hoped that some movement will be
inaugurated Immediately looking to the
erection of a modern hotel for She'll
man. The population of Shellman is
1904, and a place of its size can not
afford to be without hotel
MISS MARY CHENEY ENTER