Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1921-07-15
Bad Fire
At Bellaire
Eleven Buildings In Business
Section Destroyed.

Our neighboring town of Bellaire
suffered bad setback last Thursday
afternoon when fire destroyed eleven
buildings in the business section, the
Catholic Church and few dwellings.
The fire originated in barn on the
Harley-Smith property, jumped to the
Kittle and Glass garage, then to the
Riverside hotel, and continued to
spread. Bellaire has a good fire pro-
lection system, but the fire got beyond
the Bellaire departments ability to
handle it, and calls were sent to adjoin-
ing towns, East Jordan firemen with
equipment, made the run over by train
getting on the grounds in just %
minutes after the call was put in.
Shortly after East Jordan firemen ar
rived, a terrific downpour of rain
stopped the further headway of the
flames.
The below, taken from the Antrim
County Record Of Bellaire, gives the
estimated losses. The assessed valu-
alton of the property actually burned
down and destroyed: Riverside hotel,
$2000.00; II. B. Smith two buildings,
100000; Clara Schoolcraft, $500.00; S.
B. Owen, $500.O0; A. F. Banowske,
$4,000 real and PERSONAL; w. H. Kittle
two buildings, $4,000; F. w. Smith
$4,000; Dora Kibby, two buildings
$3.50. Oh; w. j. Nixon's old store build
ing, $50000.
The following property was totally
destroyed: Riverside hotel, valued at
$45OOOO; H. B. Smith dwelling and
barn valued at $1,000, insurance $500;
Clara Schoolcraft, $1,000, no insurance.
S. B. Owen valued at $3.50, insurance
$780, A. T. Banowske valued at $1,000,
insurance $500 on building none on
stock, which was practically all saved,
but somewhat damaged by rain. w.
j. Nixon's old store building, occupied
by Belongs vulcaDizing plant, valued
at $3.50 no insurance; Kittle and Glass,
garage, valued at $3.50 insurance $500
on building, none on stock which was
a total loss of $40O; Dora Kibbey, dwell
ing valued at $1,000 insurance $500.
This building was occupied by Harry
White who suffered total loss in his
household effects. Dora Kibby, EN-
press Theatre building, valued at $1,000
no insurance, w. c. Green was the
owner and proprietor of the theatre
equipment and carried no insurance.
His loss was nearly 5000. F. w.
Smith bakery and restaurant valued at
$1,000 with an insurance of $1,000, the
Catholic church valued at $500 insur-
ance $1100. This covers all the build
ings that were totally destroyed. AM
ong those that were partially burned
VIM. Hierlihy is the hardest hit. His
building although standing is practical
ly a total loss, the roof and living
rooms up stairs were simply gutted by
the fire. This building alone is mute
evidence of the efficiency of our fire
protection. For had we no fire pro-
lection as some dallleS proclaim, Bell
aire today would have been totally
destroyed as their headlines erroneous
ly displayed. The Waldmere was afire
in the north wing in several places,
w. j. Nixon's store, although in
solid brick, the front cornice and roof
were badly damaged by the fire and
the fierce heat. The interior and
stock of groceries was badly damaged
by water. Mr.. Nixon is only partially
protected by insurance and is probably
the heaviest loser The Oddfellow
lodge rooms above the Nixon store
was drenched with water and is cover
ed by insurance. The part of this
building owned by C. E. Densmore
was, outside Of the broken plate glass
front, scarcely damaged at all.