The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-05-26
Million Dollar Fire Swept
Albert Lea In Early Monr

watched the fire. Today, hundreds
of persons from southern Minneso-
Ia thronged the city to view the
wreckage.
Work Of reconstruction already
had been started tonight. Most of
the store owners declared they in
tended to rebuild at once. bigger
than ever" and in one or two in
stances temporary quarters already
have been arranged for.
Except in the case of Christian
sons garage, all the victims were
practically covered by insurance.
Christensen had no insurance, he
said tonight and did not known
just what he would do in the matter
of re- establishing his business.
Started From Unknown Cause
The fire started from undeter-
mined cause in the Christianson
garage on East Williams street;
wrecked all the buildings on the
south side of the street between
Newton street and Broadway, and
then extended its damage south on
Broadway for half block on the
west side Of the street.
Persons living over a store ad-
Joining the Christianson garage dis
covered the fire shorty after l a.
| m. and had difficulty escaping in
their night clothes. The flames fl
| naHy were checked by the water
sprinkling system OF the Skinner.
Chamberlain & Co.. building on
Broadway
Buildings and stocks destroyed
included those Of the garage the
Robert Meyers harness store,
Jensen Brothers Clothing com
pany, Central Electric company,
NJ. C. r. Borland's grocery. Two
Henry Harms jewelry store, and
small restaurants also were des-
troyed.
Although the Skinner Chamber
| this city of 5000 population. es-
capped any considerable fire damage.
its sprinkling system inundated its
five floors. wrecking the interior
and making that company the
| heaviest sufferer.
Estimates of individual losses had
not been completed tonight. pending
arrival OF insurance adjusters, but
victims of the fire agreed that the
total loss would approximate 81
Officials of the fire department
said only the unusual calmness of
the night prevented the fire from
doing much more damage.
Insurance AdIusters at Work.
Crews of men today were at work
preparing for the reconstruction of
a portion of Albert LEAFS business
district. Insurance adjusters were
at the scene of the wreckage this
morning and taking inventory Of
various stocks preliminary to max
ing an appraisal of the loss, which
! IS appropriated at from $750,000 to
$1,000,0OO.
Several places of business man
aged to secure temporary quarters
until re- establishment of their for
mer offices, while many have signi-
fed their intention of rebuilding
The blaze, which started in the
Christianson garage of undetermined
cause, was discovered about l a. m.
and within the three hours that fol-
lowed destroyed block and a half
of building along the south side OF
East William street, in the block
from Broadway to Newton street,
and on the east side of Broadway
from East Williams for more than
half block toward Main street.
firemen greatly in checking the
flames, which for a time threatened
the entire business section.
The Skinner, Chamberlain and
Company store suffered the heaviest
loss, due to the water damage to
the stock and on its four floors and
the basement. Other buildings des-
troyed include: The Christensen
garage, the Robert Meyers harness
Clothing company, Central Electric
company, Henry Harms jewelry
store, the C. R. Borland grocery and
two small restaurants.