The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-12-08

BUILDING IN RUINS
LOSS OF $4,000
Structure Among Oldest
II Mankato
PARISH HOUSE SAVED
Fire Ate Up Many Memorials;
Origin of Early Blaze Not
Determined

st. Johns Episcopal church. one
Of the earliest church edifices
erected in The city OF Nankato. and
located GU the corneh of South
Broad aud Warren streets, was
completely guttod by fire this morn
.ng al seven O'clock. When the
IRE was discovered by people living
IN that part OF the city it had gain
ed considerable Roadway and the
DANES we're then bursting through
the roof. Through some very rapid
and efficient work on the part OF
he Mankato tiremEn, all of whom
were called out, the flames were
..AeCked before they reached the
Guild hall in connection With the
church, or Warner street.
q. l.. Ratnes, the janitor, stated
today that he was-iR the church
last night At ten o'clock and put IN
about three shovels full OF coal in
The furnace, in order to keep the
water pipes from freezing in the
toilet rooms. Al that time Mr..
Barnes said that everything was
Rev. Jonathan Watson, rector of
The parish. is out Of the city, and the
parish house is not occupied at the
present time. Mr.. Barnes has been
making a few repairs about the
church and rectory. however, and
has had light fires in the furnace.
Church Organized In 1866.
Episcopal services had been held
in NankatC since May is, 1856. but
s.: Jonh's church was not organiz-
cd until July 2. 1866, and the cor
. neT stone OF the edifce destroyed
this incoming was not laid until Au-
gust u. of that year. The church
vbs first occupied for divine serv-
ICES during the month of August,
1867. and was consecrated by Bis
hop Arnlitaye of Wisconsin Decem-
her =, 1863. The estimated cost
cf the building at the time of its
erection vas about $1,000. r
The tismes today destroyed many
memorials in the form OF stained
. &iaI; windows donated by members
0 Tie families Of deceased mem
hers OF the chu 'Ch.
The pulpit OF the church was do
mated BY the late Judge and Mrs.
James Brown, father and mother OF
Robert T.. Brown of this city. Fol.
lowing the death Of his wife, the
late John c. Wise. ST.. donated to
the church as a memorial to his
wife a beautiful silver communion
service.
First Officers CT Church
The first officers of the church
were: n. Finch. DR.. j. G. Jones, o.
.. Pitcher. father Of p. W. Pitcher.
p y. Sparrow, father of Miss Kate
sparrow, J. II. Hollenbeck. c. s.
Durscomb, A. T. Lindholm, and f.
II. Waite.
The estimated value OF the build
ing is placed at about $4,000. The
E NJ Zuel Fire Insurance company
of this city has insurance on the
br.lding and contents of SIG, 500.
In the very near future there viii
he meeting of the Vestrymen men
ing. will have to be erected or whe
theT the walls are yet solid enough
, TO rebuild on them.
Rev. Johnathan Watson. rector
Of the church was recently called
10 Ell Paso, Tex. by the serious H.
ness of his daughter.
The following are the present
vestrymen of the church: r. z.
Brown. senior warden; B. Frank
Pay. junior warden: Z. NJ. Zuel. Dr.
William Standish, DR.. c.. c. Pratt
Richard Wood. W. II. Pay. A. G.
Lewis and T. L. Soaring.
An investigation late this forenoon
discloses that the fire was started IN
the furnace room of the church. II
is suspected that after the janitor
shoveled in a few scoops OF soft coal
an explosion occurred in the fireboS
Of the furnace This opened the door
live Goals fell on the basement floor
and the fire was given its inception
but was not discovered until this
morning. -