The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-12-27
FIRE IN
INQUIRER BUILDING
Browns and ()gIensky's
Stores Quilted by Fire
WALTER SHERWOOD'S BARBER
SHOP DAMAGED BY FIRE
AND WATER.
ALSO INQUIRER FRONT OFFICE
DAMAGED BY WATER.

DAMAGED BY WATER.
On Tuesday, Dec. %, Christmas
morning, at $50 o'clock, fire visited
the Inquirer building, 1s and 90 West
Main St., Freehold, and left scene
of desolation and ruin IN its wake, but
the frame work of the building in
tact and all that part used as the print
] ing plant undamaged
The fire was discovered by John
Queeney, Assistant Borough Police
man Cornelius DeVres and Night
Watchman William Lykes, who were
attracted to the building by the dense
volume of smoke coming from it. At
first they thosght the blaze 3 slight
one, but soon smoke commenced
issuing from all parts Of the structure
convincing them the fire was gaining
Roadway and they lost no time in Civ
ing the fire alarm. There happened to
be several fremen at Borough buildt
ing and at the second tap of the bell
the appearances were ontheir way to the
blaze, which proved at once difficult
one to locate. For tunately there was
great pressure of water and hydrant
located in front of the building which
enabled the firemen to successfully
cope with the flames and helped them
keep the fire from spreading from
the bu lding.
To get at the blaze inside the weather
boards large spaces of the siding we're
torn off and aftersa tedious fight this
also was extinguished This was one
of the most stubborn fires that the fire.
men has ever encountered in Free
hold, and it is owing to their prompt
ness, good Judgment, and skilled effi-
ciency that the fire was prevented
from spreading and doing considera-
bly, moe damage.
Every fireman present deserves
special praise, and they worked with
the greatest energy and perseverance
under the direction of Chief Joseph
Crotchfelt and his able assistants.
At first owing to the dense smoke
that seemed to be coming from all parts
of the building the firemen. were batfied
as to its exact location, but after break
ing a large hole in the roof over the
Inquirer office, located upstairs IN the
building and not finding any fire In the
garret at once discovered all the fire
seemed to be in L. Browns clothing
dry go, DIS and boot and shoe store and
Sol OglenskS's jewelry establishment
on the first floor Great streams OF water
under high pressure, were poured IN
, to these two stores, which quickly put
ont the blaze in them, However the
fire had found it's way between the
o artitions in the alley way side Of the
H. Brown store and had worked its way
through inside wall, beams and weather
boards to the second floor, occupied by
/ Walter II. Sherwood as a. barber shop
and the store room In rear used by Mr..
Brown rs store room, which were
both badly damaged by fire and
water.
| The stoppage of the flames without
the complete destruction Of the build
ing. seems almost miraculous. How
ever, the firemen's fight exceeded -four
hours Of interchangeable labor before they
were victors and deemed it safe to leave
the scene.
The dense smoke emitted by the
burning clothing in Browns store and
the burning building, made it almost
impossible to go through the alley at
times and the smell could be detected
as far away as Jackson street.
How the fire started is mystery. 1t
evidently commenced in L. Browns
clothing store and the solution Is put
forth that it may have come from over
head electric wiring, being short cir.
cuited.
Only the part upstairs used as an
office by the Inquirer printing plant
and the hall way into the composing
room and some Of the type cases in the
latter, was the only damage sustained
by Maxcy Applegate, ST.. the owne r
except ng damage to the building,
Some Of the old files, and most Of the
! job printing stock were soaked with
water. The job room addition uT
stairs and press room on the frs
floor below were not damaged and
the Inquirer printing plant is not
handicapped in any way and is do
ing business as usual.
Our heartfelt thanks are returned to
the Freehold Fire Department t
for their excsllen Mt work.