The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-07-29
CAUSE OF FIRE
NOT DECIDED
UPON AS YET
Flames Had Secured Big
Start When Alarm Was
Given at 2 O'clock This
Morning - Absence of
Wind Helped Firemen in
Controlling Fire

The granite manufacturing plant of
the C. Bianchi & Son firm off West
Second street was partially laid in
ruins last night as the result of fire,
which started at the rear of the shed
near the boiler room and spread the
entire length of the 2s0-foot shed,
causing a damage variously esti-
mated. 1t was one of the largest
fire losses in years and one of the
greatest losses to any one granite firm
in the history of Barre.
Just how the fire started no one
kaows and 1t was not until great
portion of the shed was in flames that
anyone discovered it, Then Robert
Troupe, night watchman at the Young
Brothers plant, sent in telephone
call TO the fire station at o'clock and
simultaneously C. Minol, who lives on
ANGELA avenue and who is employed
at the shed, sent in general alarm
from box IL.
The building was enyeloped in
flames when the department arrived
and only with excellent fire fighting
and the absence of wind were they
able TO save the eastern portion of the
shed. Flames, however, had spread
TO the extreme end on the interior of
the building and damaged the cell
ing, beams, and supports so that the
remaining shell will have to be torn
down if the firm decides to continue
business at the same place. The office
building, which is attached TO the shed
at right angle, remains unharmed.
The approximate loss was estimated
by Antoine Bianchi this morning as
100000. Mr. Bisnchi says that more
than $4,000 in finished product was
ruined, and over $4,000 in rough |
stock Practically all the machinery |
was ruined. including pew lnger
sail Rand air compressor and new
crane. installed but a few
weeks ago, when power for manufsc-
turing was changed from steam 40
electricity except for heating purposes.
The property was insured in the Drew
( Lynde insurance agency for S64 500
IN the property; the G. Herbert Pape
agency had $500, and the j. w. Dill
on agency $4,000.
Deputy Fire Marshal A. G. Preble
will make an inspection. There is a
lelief among persons familiar with
electricity and the eccentricities of
ightning that lightning may have en-
cred the building late yesterday aft
rnoon about o'clock, when an cleo
rical storm hoyered over Barre. Their
is that a short circuit may
ave been made and started a small
'laze that grew with the passing hours.
he shed sets off West Second street,
rell back from the street, so that fire
gould not be readily discovered unless
nyone was in the immediate vicinity
II is surrounded by several other
ranite plants. including the Barre Ne
1orial Co. Hebert & Ladrie and the .
icGovern Granite Co.
Place hard 10 keach.
The place was not easily accessible ,
D the fremen with their trucks ow- /;
ig to the narrow roadway, the lines
{ railroad track and the box cars here !
nd there Moreover. the yard Of the !
ianchi plant was filed with great {
lies of rough stock which left but !
arrow lanes for the firemen to ap- :
roach from the south side Of the main
uilding' c
The water main running to the !
Ieadow il but four inches in size from (
lain street and it did not afford pres {
IRE enough to support many streams. a
hen three streams were used il was
,und that the most effective work
,uld be done. Ladders we're used on
le eastern end of the main building 7
nd the progress Of the fire was
lecked about midway Of the big
ructure. although spurts Of flames
tackled parts Of the interior on the a
stern end. o.
The fire was under control in about -
iree quarters Of an hour after the q
-emen arrived but IL was much longer D
fore the last traces Of fire were re u
owed le
The building. measuring. a. already G,
sted. about $50 feet long and Ss III
et vide. was built about 30 wears IN
10 and was first known a. the C. N
TavntOr Granite Co. For many l.
,ars past IL has been known a. the b
Bisnchi 4 Son firm llu
Owing 20 the electrical power short a.
e about 2.50 yesterday the plant 81,