Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-01-30
LOCAL. CO.. RESPONDS TO
$25O,OOO MT. HOLLY FIRE
Make Record Rurl In Twelve Minutes Blaze DESTROYED
Masonic Temple Building. Mount Holly Red Cross Did
Excellent Work. Valuable Criminal Records Destroyed

Building. The flames had mounted
the stairway and had reached the SCI
cond floor when the fire was discov-
cred this stairway is close to the big
steam heater in the cellar. The two
buildings communicate by means of
an archway on the second floor and
through this the fire fast ate it's way
into the Temple.
While the plucky fireman disre-
garding the ice which encrusted
their coats and caps and greatly
hampered their work, did not comp
lain many of them suffered severely
and there will doubtless be many ca
ses of frostbite when all the casual
ties are listed
The local chapter of the American
Red Cross was quickly brought into
action and the firemen were supplied
with coffee and lunch at the retau-
rant nearby.
During the progress of the fire and
when the heat was intense there was
series of reports and explosions
heard by those on the outside Of the
buildings. 1t is supposed that the
heavier detonations were made by a
number of containers filled with
Lootloor l;c,,oy opd a1onI,o1 e.o;,o5 ~,
the county enforcement officers and
temporarily stored in the County
Detectives office. The lesser explo-
sions were probably cartridges set
of by the heat. There were a thou
sand rounds of revolver cartridges in
the County Detectives office and
these all went off the explosions be-
ing at short intervals. The cartrid-
ges were part of plumber seized after
the apprehension of thieves who stole
them at Camp Dix. 1t is stated by
Detective Arthur Carbine that there
were 100 gallons of denatured alcoh-
oil and a lot of seized whiskey all of
which blew up.
Neither Herbert S. Killie, who lives
at Broad and High str eets nor Pros
,ecutor Kelsey, whose home is at Penn
berton, knew anything about their
loss until several hours after the
fire was discovered. Mr.. Killie had
heard nothing of it until he started
down to business about eight O'Clock.
The stunning blow at discovery of
the havoc wrought and the heavy loss
suffered temporarily overcame him.
Later he returned home. While it is
known that there was insurance on
both buildings and their contents, it
is impossible at this time to state how
much insurance was carried by the
owners and the tenants of the build
ings destroyed and damaged. Some
persons after viewing the ruins and
with some knowledge of the condit-
ions previous to the fire expressed
the belief that the total damage
wrought will be no less than $250,o0o
certain it is that the destroyed
buildings and property cannot be re-
placed for that amount.
The Temple and the Kelsey and
Killie Building were two of the finest
business properties in Mount Holly.
Both were comparatively modern in
there plans and construction. The
Temple was built by an association in
1891 and some years later was sold
under foreclosure to the present oW-
ners the brick building to the south
was erected at about the same time
by Judge Joseph H. Gaskill, OF
Moorestown, then resident of Mount
Holly, and for years was known as
the YMCA building. This property
was sold to Kelsey and Killie at priF
vate sale by Judge Gaskill some
years ago.