Smyrna times., 1922-04-12
| WRECKS M|DDLET0NN
. THEATRE AND PDSTOFFICE
.osC FROM DESTRUCTIVE
'~0 ''Or THURSDAY MORNING

spD LOSS FROM FROM DESTETc1i'h IiopH,In
FIRE THURSDAY MORNING
.,., Tolls Saves All Mail and
sn.ds-Nanager sns Lewis Loses
''FI Heavily in Theatre Loss
= an unknown origin, which
1',tsd y in the Opera House, on
q, Sll1si Main street, shortly after mid
., =. thursday morning, totally de-
n.i that building and its contents
j ~ st $4,000, and also the post
!" \ blding and fixtures adjoining,
''s.5 st $4,000. For two hours sew
Y % .ID,oUerties nearby were threatened
= = isstrjction, and the residents
\. N great anxiety. The total loss
'a'm a'.insted in to be $4,000. The fire
~ was sounded in Smyrna about
tfnl NQ0
"a and in a few minutes Smyrna's
1 srgine and fremen were on their
I, rssching MiddletOwn in Is min
= They were the first out of town
stance to arrive and the work of
,-rna was timely and valuable:
M everybody gave Smyrna credit
!, ssvng the best engine and COM
-m Of fire fighters in the lot which
4 deeply appreciated by the citizens
Ae town. Excellent work on the
N Of the fremen saved other build
!, from destruction. Five other fire
r-rspes in addition to the local
sr1any assisted in fighting the blaze
olOws: The Aetna Hose, Hook and
l,Rer Company, of Newark; the
Srna, Clayton, Dover and Chesa-
v,Ee City companies. The Engine
cgnDany, No. 5, of Wilmington, was
a:r but not called into service. The
wpgtes destroyed and damaged
I'D an estimate of the loss and insur-
M follows: Opera House, owned
h James E. Lewis, built in 1919 at a
ut Of 100000, and opened in Sep
TIMBER Of that year. 1t was a frame
| nj pressed steel structure. All of
BE- equipment including a $4,000 play
Q organ recently installed and elec-
n Lighting plant burned. Total loss
5000, with about 60 per cent. insur-
NE On the building but none on the
ags and other equipment. Entire
slx Of Redgrave Brothers hardware
srs on the ground floor of the Opera
hgs building. The store which was
Aiy ll5 feet, held a large stock Of
rdEare and the loss is estimated al
lll0O partly covered by insurance
Init store of Thomas Ricco, on the
pumd floor of the Opera House build
g loss probably $500. Frame build
occupied by the post office and owl
aE Jesse L. Shepherd, adjoining tn,
Vsra House, totally destroyed. Los
E0gt $4,000, partially covered by in
Esnce.
Postmaster Jolls Saves the Mails
lhe Government sustained Sigh
rs N the destruction of the buildin;
were the post Office was located, a
NtnaSter John ]. Jolls, who onl,
OK Office several weeks ago, with tn
~ OF others, managed to get al
a4 out and even the safe containing
q taSh and stamps was rolled out o
'uldng to safety. Miss Eu
eaa BeastOn who had an insuranc
-'e On the second floor of the Shep
-aa building sustained a loss of prob
" E0OO. Covered by insurance
u ioVn Library was also located O
second floor of the Shepherd bull
and all the books numbering sev
~ thousand volumes were destroye
y probably $4,000. Home of RED
. 1l NJ Vaughn west of the Shepher
.-ullg damaged to the extent q
1A szOOO. Home of William Woo
y u the Opera House damaged t
! extent Of about $4,000.
'I' Was Discovered About Midnigh
ATaS about midnight that the flaz
i. i discovered by Mr.. Frank Zaffer,
: ~ lca baker. 1t started in the rea
~le Opera House about where tn
s;, iy Is located and had gained cor
e'Sole S headway when discovered b
~: ldnere. He gave the alarm an
~. .u lew minutes local fireme
n.r snting the faze. 1t was 500
r ~lled that the blaze was such tn,
rrnS.5 buildings would probably be d,
\ NV ~, unless n outside help was secu,
s,is sDa s The result that appeals wei
,sis ~ Oy telephone and the five con
TSDS..n s mentioned hurried there. TT
Srs Sssr Js Hose company in the meal
n sa ud excellent work in restrictin
nfe to the two buildings. It W,
i. Is y. .neishbOrhoOd of / o'clock. wbt he
n. 'lgr T fre companies started to a
s lney also did excellent wo,
St,.ss we're highly commended bv ii
d. as as.. o. Middletown for their val
Id i,s.s ifss.s'ance in saving other bull
p..iS Ivm destruction.
slaenee of DR.. Vaughn Rurnsd
Il bot5 Il'er ~ time the frame dwelli1
sss r sn s Df' Vaughn and Mr.. Wo,
an a. sas. ,fe but the firemen by a stu
Akut nnapo...1