Putnam patriot., 1922-12-01
MANOR INN BURNS
 SPECTACULAR FIRE
Former Bradley House Is Total Loss In Early Morning Con-
 fiagration Tuesday
James F. Lueey and Family Lose All
 Their Posses.ions

Tn fire that broke out shortly be fore dashrcak and seen became com pletely out Of control. the Pomfret Manor Inn. formerly sRathlyn." the summer home ef the late Mr and Mrs George L. Bradley situated in eN- tensive grounds at the top of Pomfrei Hill. was completely destroyed Tues day morning. only che stark chimz neys remaining to mark the spot where before stood what had at one tme been one of pomfret's most no table residences
 lt was shortly after 430 Tuesday morning. that Mrs. James F Lueey. wife of the proprietor of the Inn. was awakened by smoke which was pour. ing into the bedroom on the second floor where she and Mir. Lucey were sleeping. They quickly dressed and aroused their five children who were asleep in nearby rooms. Once they had left the house. the fire made sueh progress that they were unable to re. turn except to rescue small amount of furniture from the kitchen wing The whole house was soon ahiaze and within two hours it was completely re. duccd To ashes MT Lucey and his family lost all their possessions. scarcely taking enough clothing with them for comfort in leaving the strue- lure. The building was only partly insured
 Start Mystery
 Mir Lueey was unable to account for the start of the fire There was no furnace fire and the house had been warmed in the early part of the evening by open fires in the fireplaces. Supper to an automobile party Of four Lad been served in the eallg part of the evening in a smali parl,r iast olf the ballroom About i0.30 o'clock. Mir. Lucey banked this fire and all others in the house and retired for the night When they rushed from the house after the fire started Il was evt- dent that the blaze began in the hail- room wing.
 Mr and Mrs. Luceg and their chi dren are at present guests at the home of Mir. and Mrs William F. White in what was formerly the lodge house af the Bradley estate Three winters aru they were burned out when the Chick eHng House in Putnam, then under Nr Lueey's management was com nletely destroyed Mr Lacey took over the Bradley house in October, 1920. and opened 1t as the Pomffet Manor Inn
 Noted Residence
 During the life of Mir and Mrs. George Bradley the house. which con taiued about 25 rooms and was situ- ated on the brow of a hill with a beau tiful view to the east. was the scene of much entertaining Shortly before his marriage, Mr Bradley came to Pomfret from Providence and rur- chased the property with a view Co living there after his marriage. As he became more and more successful in business, amassing as he did very large fortune through his various in vestments. and promotions. he added to his property as we'll as the manor house. A large barn was started and extensive gardens and greenhouses added to the beauty of lovely estate.
 Following the death of Mir. Bradley. Mrs. Bradley closed "Rathlyn," and during her annual visits to Pomfret she resided in one of the cottages of the estate facing on Pomfret Street. On her death several years ago the property was left with a large share of her fortune to charities lt was first sold to Joseph H. Elliott. who di- yided the estate and sold it's various houses and farms. During the past year, John P. Grosvenor and Benja- min Grosvenor purchased large share of the property, including the water rights and wells and barns. gar dens and greenhouses.
 With the burning of "Rathlyn," a scent rotable Pomftet home is de strcyed. sinco 1t is scarcely two years since "Dunworth Lodge" the former home of Mi and Mrs. William Y Chapin, was cestroyed in a mysterious midwinter ire.
 OLD RESIDENT DIES