Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-02
$4,000 Loss From Flames Be-
lieved to Have Started From
Defective Chimney-Passing
Motorists And Neighbors Do
Valiant Service in Saving
Club House Furnishings and
Fittings

Famed by strong north wind,
flames which had their origin in the
central portion Of the old ell. swept
southwark along the long line Of
connecting buildings which were the
home of the Augusta Country Club.
Saturday morning, completely laying
in smouldering ruins the club house
proper, the golf shop, the dance hall
and garage, with loss approximate
ing a total Of $4,000.
Because OF the stocks of golf and
tennis equipment, much of which
was privately owned by members of
the club. which were DESTROYED in
the ravaging flames, it was practi-
cally impossible for the officers of
the club to place any definite esti.
mate as to the total damage. The
building had been extensively remod-
eled and modernized within the year.
When the flames had been checked
by the combined efforts of employ
ees, neighbors, volunteers and mem
bers Of the Augusta and Winthrop
fire departments, only a portion Of
the original Hammond farm house
remained and the water damage and
breakage was SO bad in the one sto-
ry main house that the club home
was considered practically entirely
destroyed.
President william B. Williamson
of the club stated last evening that
immediate steps would be taken for
the construction of a new and mod
ern club house, intellectually de-
signed for country club uses.
The fire Of Saturday morning was
discovered by George Jones, caddy
master Of the club. who was in the
mems room at the time, reading q
morning paper. In relating the cir
cumstances to the Journal reporter
Mr.. Jones declared that the only fires
in the building were the one in the
open fireplace in the room where he
was, and q very low coal fire In the
furnace in the basement below.
81 smelled smoke. but thought
| nothing of 1t at first, because be-
lieved q down draft was blowing the
smoke from the fireplace into the
room," said the caddy master. "But
| in a moment the odor became more
! pungent and ] went to the stairway
| and found that great clouds of smoke
were filling the rooms above and the
| flames were cracking in the attic
where the ell joins the main house
III Immediately telephoned to the
\ Augusta fire department Tor the ap'
paratus but was informed that they
could not make the trip without per.
mission from the selectmen of the
town Of Manchester, so devoted my
| efforts to saving the fixtures and
property Of the club members II
which / was aided by neighbors anc
motorists"
| The fire was discovered at about
9 o'clock and within few minutes
had broken through the roof and
was sweeping along the low centra
portion of the club house to the gar
| age and dance hail. When fire ap-
paratus from Winthrop and Angus
| ia did arrive on the scene. there was
little that the firemen could do De-
| cause Of lack Of adequate water sup
ply. The Augusta department pump
err was stationed by the small brook
which traverses the country club
property to the westward Of the
| buildings, and lines of hose were
laid by means of which valiant work
was done to prevent absolute des-
truction of the old main house.
The chemical truck of the Winth-
rop fire department was also rush
ed to the scene, and the crew aided