The Nevada County picayune., 1922-04-06
BIGLOSS BY
 FIRE AT HOPE
Alice Theater and Several Other Buildings Destroyed By Fire Early Monday
 Morning.
(Star of Hope, April 3. ,

ing of that nature between St. Louis and Dallas, is today mass of smoul- dering ruins, the result of distas trous fire which occurred this morning at 40 o'clock, entailing total loss of more than quarter of a million dol lars. The adjoining building, which was occupied by Taylor's Cafe, is also total loss. and several other build ings i'll the same block were badly damaged.
 The fire started from the second story of the theatre building, from some cause which has not yet been determined When first discovered. the interior was mass of flames. ard for more than an hour the entire busi. ness section of the city was threaten ed with destruction. As the fire prog ressed. explosions of plate glass, sec tions of falling walls. and flying em- hers adder to the dangers of the con flagration. the scene being witnessed by thousands of citizens.
 The entire business district Of Hope would probably have been destroyed had it not been for the fact that there was no wind at the time, and hte work of the fire department was thus ma terially aided in preventing further loss. At 10 o'clock this morning work CTS were still busy pulling down those portions of the shattered walls which remained standing after the flames had been extinguished. and which con stituted a menace to the life of pedes' trains as they threatened 10 fall into the streets. One whole seetne.l of the city is today without telephone service. due to the burning of cable which carried the wires.
 The construction of the Alice Thea tre by C. H. Crutchfield. well-known cotton man. was begun in September, 1920. and the building was completed and opened to the public October, 1921. The architects were Seihert. Witt ana Halsey, of Texerkana. and the con tractors were C. A. and l. M. ONeal, of Hope. No expense was spared in the construction of the building or It's furnishings. and the result was theatre which would have been a credit to city several times the size of Hope. The citizenship felt a distinct and pardonable pride in the building, and it's destruction is q decided loss To the community The theatre was un' der the management of Elhert erntch- field. brother of the owner, C. Il. Cruthchfeld.
 The losses include:
 Alice Theatre building. Slno,Voo. In surance on building. S1oo,ooo; on fur- niture and equipment. Sloooo.
 Taylor's Cafe. building and equip ment. s10.OOO Insurance, 5000.
 Sanders Grocer Co. damage to stock hy smoke and water, S20o. Fully insured This building was also dam aged to some extent.
 Building in rear of Sanders Grocer Co. moccupied. roof crushed ny fai- ing walls of theatre building. Loss estimated at S3,UO0.
 All of the above buildings were ,hc property of C. H. Crutchtield.
 Damage to the building of the Citi zen's National Bank, located just across an alley from the theatre build ing, is estimated al S5.oU.
 Damage to stock of fantls Hard ware Co, in building owned by Mrs. Hattie West adjoining Citizens Ma tional Bank building estimated loss on stock and building, 5000,
 Building owned by P. A. Tharp and occupied by Tharp X Thompson, gen eral merchandise, 9fjoinine building occupied by Yantis Hardware Co., damage to stock and building estimat- ed at S2.000.
 John H. Arnold abstract office, in Citizens National Bank building, esti- mated damage So00; Graves X Mcfad. den law office in same building. esti- mated damage. S500.
 The Alice Theatre was located on West Second street, between Elm and