The Press., 1922-10-26
Ellls House Burns

EIilS House BuThS
 An alarm of fire was rung about 11.50 Saturday morning when flames burst through the roof of the c. c. Ellis house on Highland Terrace. Neighbors on both sides noticed the smoke and flames about the time the occupants discovered a fierce blaze rising from the attic floor about the chimney. MT. B. T. Eaton was at Stafford attending a meeting of the selectmen for making voters. Mrs. Eaton, Mrs. Ellis's daughter, was busy with the usual Saturdays cooking and the preparation for dinner and saw or smelled nothing to indicate that the home was in danger from fire. Mrs. Ellis decided to go to the attic for pieces to repair an oVercoat, and on opening the door thought the sun shining in unusually bright. Ascend ing a few stairs she saw that the at tic floor was in flames. Mrs. Eaton ran up stairs with pails of water, but saw at once the futility of her effort. The neighbors assisted in getting out keepsakes and personal effects, but flames and heat made it impossible to safely enter two of the sleeping rooms on the second floor. The fire truck got a speedy start but the engine was de- layed in mounting the steep hill. Diff ficulty in opening the hydrant caused some delay and a muddy sluggish stream reaching scarcely to the front veranda roof dismayed the firemen as we'll as the onlOokers. Soon the pump was in action and was able to draw one good stream until the output ex- ceeded the feed, causing, spasmOdical- ly, a decrease in volume. A light, changing wind caused anxiety for the adjoining buildings, tut ty occasion ally wetting down the roofs danger was averted. Flying emt CTS set fire to leaves and grass in the rear of the garages, but lively tOys soon whipped out the flames. Much of the furniture from the lower floor was removed and some things from two rooms upstairs were taken out. Many things were lost including winter clothing, furs, fur coats, rugs blankets, beds and bed linen and surveyors instruments stOr- ed on the third floor. Treasured keep sakes and family jewelry were des- trOyed. The loss is estimated at about S10,000, with insurance of $4,O0O, on the house and $500 on the furnishings. For the winter at least the family will occupy their cottage on the same street. now occupied by Emil Hansen. Much sympathy is felt for the family since their losses from fire have been exceeding numerous in the past few years. Ellis and Eaton lost several Ac of q AaII in I'm Inn bov property at Westford was destroyed, their pleasure Beach cottage at Water ford burned to the ground this past spring and now they have lost their pleasant home. There is always re- gret at the loss of property and with the inadequate water supply, the faces of the assembled crowd reflected great anxiety. During the fire a succession of explosions occurred covering a pc Fiod of about half an hour. The family were at loss to account for them until Mrs. Ellis remembered that her hus- band, the late c. G. Ellis, on returning from a hunting trip in the Maine woods, many years ago, brought back a supply of loaded shells, which were put away on high shelf in the store room closet. While there seemed nothing to salvage in the charred, smOuldering ruins, just before supper Saturday night, the youngest son, Donald, brought forth a pot of delic- ious baked beans from the oven of the kitchen range and three pounds of butter, in excellent condition from the badly blackened refrigerator.
 The report of the Holland County commissioners will be found on the second page.
 Dr. G. P. Bard has been appointed town and borough health officer to succeed the late Dr. F. L. Smith
 MT. and Mrs. Emil Hansen have hired the house of the late Reuben Converse on Highland Terrace which they will occupy for the winter.
 The S. H. S. athletic association held a meeting yesterday and elected the following officers: President, Joseph Quinn; vice-president,, Kenneth Sul- livan; secretary, Miss Eleanor Bisson- nette; treasurer. Miss Edith Fletcher.
 There will be slight change in the time table of the motor bus to Spring field to take effect on Saturday. The time for leaving here will be 8.15 a. m.. 12 m. and 3.30 p. III. On returning will leave Springfield at 9.45 a. m., 1.45 and 5 D. m. The bus will make a trip on Wednesday and Saturday evenings to accommodate theatre parties to leave here at 6.3O p. m., and will leave Springfield on the return at 10.45.