Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-09-19
KEYPORT HAS
PERIODIC FIRE
VreeIand's Government
Row" Building is Again Set
on Fire-ReSidentS Want
Action

KEYPORT, Sept. 19-The entire
fire department was called out early
yesterday morning it being the semi
annual occasion of the setting fire
to the ruins of what was formely a
~dilapidated building on Maple place,
known as Government row and own
ed by Henry J. Vreeland. Some
years ago the building was con-
demned as being unfit Tor occupa-
ton and since hat time the
owner refused, it is ALLEGED, to i'm
prove it and make it habitable. the
place has attracted those with in
eendiary tendencies.
At a recent meeting of the bor-
ough council Fire Chief Daniel
Clarke stated that as election day
and Halloween would soon be hers
and that 1t had been a custom for
some time to have those of playful
tendencies to set fire to the ruins
of the Vreeland building at these
times, the chief asked the council
to take some steps whereby the
building would be cleared up and
the department would not be called
out as usual.
The request was looked upon ia
vorably by the mayor and council
and despite the fact that Mr.. Vree-
land has promised from time to
time to have the premises cleaned
up and the borough ridden of a
menace, since he had not done so
proper legal steps would be taken.
At each time formerly when he
was requested to take some action
in the matter, Mr.. Vreeland would
reply with the same excuse, that he
was expecting a settlement from
The insurance company within a few
days and upon receiving it he would
at once clean up the place. On one
occasion he ven said he was will
ing for the borough to clean up the
property and invited those who
wanted old wood to take it and thus
help clean up the spot which has
been an eyesore for many years.
No oae seemed to be ~favorably IN
clined however, to this method of
| cleaning up the property which has
yer since the fire some years ago
been a target for mischievous boys
and the property owners in that
section have repeatedly asked Tor
protection from the place which Is
| decidedly a fire enace
At the last meeting of the council,
Borough Attorney Howard Roberts
reported that H. j. Vresiand had
not complied with the rstuess of
| lie COuIIl " ltlO INilOFaA VI az
debris and since he had had plenty
of time for same and had not
done so. that it was legal for the
building inspector to serve notice
Upon tie cwner to have same clean
cd up according to the building
| code witch is forty-eigEt houls
This would give the Inspector the
authority to employ assistants to re-
move the remains of the former
Govern ment row building.
Evet SO it was not completed
ard he usual fall fire res'lltAd early
Tuesday morning and the depart
| ~ ent turned out to fight the blaze
and protect the nearby properties.
After spending some time there
the engines left to be called to the
scene the second time.
The pile of charred embers,
boards and bricks still remains in
great prominence on Maple place.
which is now being concreted and
will soon be a highway for many
autoists from out of town. Those
who are interested in the civic
beauty possibilities of the borough
are hopeful that the wreckage will
be removed before the road is open
ed to the public, while Fire Chief
Clarke and the fire laddies are
equally as anxious to have the place
cleaned up as there are usually sew
eral fires in the ruins each fall sea-
son