Smyrna times., 1921-08-31
OFFICERS PROBING CAUSE OF
CONFEDERATION At DOVER
DIR. BERMAN BUILDING GUTTED
AND TEMPLE THEATRE DAMAGE
Bayard House Also Threatened-Dr
Berman Finds His Wife's Watch
and Wedding Ring in Ashes

State authorities and also members
OF the Robbins Hose, Company are
making a rigid investigation into the
fire that Quilted the store and resi-
dence of DR.. H. H. Berman on Loock-
erman street early Wednesday morn
ing, incendiarism being suspected.
The damage to the Odd Fellows
Temple, which was next door to the |
burned building, is more extensive
than was first thought. The damage
was mostly on the third floor, where
the Odd Fellows have their headquar-
ters. Many windows were broken and
sash and frames destroyed. Damage
was also done to this building by
water.
DIR. Berman, owner of the burned
building was away at the time of the
fire, but hurried home on hearing of
1t. He is an optometrisU and most of
his instruments were destroyed. In
looking through the rooms of the resi-
dental section of the building, DR..
Berman found his wife's gold watch
and her wedding ring in a bureau
which fortunately had not been burn
ed. The property was recently i'm
proved at considerable cost. DIR.
Berman's insurance was only $500
and that will not replace the building.
The fire broke out about 2.15 o'clock
IN the rear OF the store and dwelling
OF II. II. Berman, on Loockerman
street, next door to the Odd Fellows
Temple, on the east side, and the Grif-
nth Pool room on the west side. Bv
the time the fire company arrived tho
building, frame structure was wrap
ped by flames. The building was fill
ed with large stock of miscellaneous
goods including shoes, mems and wo-
mems clothing, groceries, ETC., operat-
ed by the Midway Sales Co., also
known as the Rachlin Clothes Co. The
tiremen found it difficult to get at the
fire, because of the dense smoke COM
ing from back and front. When en-.
trance was gained the fremen claim
that when the streams of water were
| turned on, the fire ran along on the
water. Some of the firemen and those
helping said that coal oil odors were
in evidence.
During the fire an explosion occur
red. This it was claimed, was due to
some shells which had been left on d
shelf in the store.
Because of the serious aspect of the
fire, the Smyrna fire company was
summoned and responded promptly
arriving there however, after the Do
Yer company had the fire under con-
troll.
Fortunate as Dover always has beer
in its fires, the fire was but another
instance of confning the fire to Z
small area in the store. Odd Fellows
Temple, next door to the fire, is I
brick structure and to this can be at
tributed prevention of a spread of the
fire. East of the Temple are two OF
three frame structures and the ole
Bayard House, a three-story frame
building. AS it was, a lively fight wa.
made to keep the sparks from the
burning building, lodging on the roo
of the Bayard House.
Odd Fellows Temple was damaged
considerably by water, and several o.
the windows on the west side were
burned out.
Temple Theatre, on the first floor
also was damaged by water and fire.
The pool room of Griffith, on til,
west side of the burned building wa!
but slightly damaged, although it is ;
frame structure, with a tin roof.
The building owned by DR.. H. H
Berman is totally wrecked. 1t is IN
sured for $3,500.
The stock of goods in the store
owned by the Midway Sales Co., wa
badly damaged, and was insured, bu
to what extent could not be ascertain
ed The Robbins Hose Co. and tn,
insurance companies will make rigi'
investigation of the origin of the fire