The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-10-27
Williamstown's Only Gran
ite Plant Destroyed
Last Night
FEW MEN THROWN
OUT OF WORK
Office and Compressor
House Saved-Cause
Is Unkr .wn

4
Williamstown 18th another SCI
we're fire loss last 4 It when the w. B,
Jones Granite e the only granite
plant operatin Shat village, was al
most complef q ,urned out, causing
loss estimat ~ be in the vicinity Of
| $4,000 on ~ III there was an insur-
ancc Of SIC, }, carried in the McAlis.
ter & Kent agency Of Barre. The cause
Of the fire is not known. The granite
plant was located only 200 yards from
the scene Of the fire of Sept. 8 when
three houses, barn and two smaller
structures were destroyed. The cause oi
that fire was not known either
The granite plant was ablaze over its
entire roof when the alarm was given
last night at / O'Clock so that the first
arrivals were unable to determine in
what part Of the building the fire had
its origin. The WilIiamstown fire de-
partment turned out and fought e los.
ing fight in the main building as the
structure was so much enveloped in
flames at the outset that it was
doomed. Another and smaller build
ing. which housed the Office and the
compressor and motor, was saved aftef
being thoroughly wet dov- shy. streams
of water from nearby brook. Con.
tents of this latter building which
could be moved were taken out during
the height OF the fire.
Meanwhile the cutting plant was
laid fiat by the flames and all the ma.
chinery, including the travelling Grams
and the equipment. in the polishing
shed. was ruined. Chief Heney OF the
Barre fire department arrived on The
scene but found the main building ~
far gone that it could not be saved
The boom derrick in the yard just out
side the building was saved; and IL i
possible that some Of the rough stoei
in the yard can be utilized.
The stock in the building, however
was damaged beyond use. A freight cal
had Just been run into the building and
was partially loaded with finished gran
ite. while other pieces in various stages
of manufacture were nearby. This ma.
terial will probably be total loss. The
The plant was not large one but II
was Of considerable Importance TO Viii
Jamestown as it was the last of a onci
busy industry in that place. At one
time there were no less than half
dozen firms doing business in Williams
town but for one reason or another
they were discontinued, except the y
b. Jones Go.
w. B. Jones. head of the company
has been particularly unfortunate u
the. matter OF fire as this is the third
time that a sfoneshed in which he was
interested has burned down; and, oddly
enough. all three Of the plants were 10
Gated on the same site, or Immediately
adjacent thereto The first TO 60 dowr
was the Grearson & Beckett plant. IN
which Mr.. Jones was interested. That
plant was soon replaced by another
structure and the business was con
ducted bv the W B. Jones Granite Co
In a little more than year this plant
was destroyed and six years ago ths
third building on the site was erected
Now IL has Joined ashes with the for
mer two structures.
The concern was not conducting op
PTAIANnr on AHt uNutt rtbAN h1AAAT' W
the general business depression
the country which curtailed
orders for monumental work, but there
we're a few men at work who will hs
without employment as there is ne
plant left in Wilfamstown except The
Did Passera stoneshed which lies east
Df the village and which has not beer
utilized for granite cutting purposes
for many years. Some of the more val
liable material was saved from tn.
lanes last night when the smallei
building was kept soaked down. the
motor and compressor being housed j.
hat structure and il can furnish TIA
,asis for a new plant. Mr.. Jones ha,
Tot made any plans. it is understood
bout the resumption of business