New Britain herald., 1927-09-13
F!RENEN. HELPLESS
 WITHOUT APUNPER
Barn on Crooked Street Is De.
 str0yed by Flames
LOSS ESTIMATED AT S6,o00
Democrats Nominate For Town
 Oniccs-Tincd In Police Court Case of Diphthoria Eoporte,I- 1,250 Children In Graded Schools.

1,250 Children In Graded Schools. Damage estimated at over SS.00u was done last night by fire 10 q barn on Crooked street, owned by Joseph stella of New Britain. Lack of q bumper to make water available ren- oered the Plainville fire department helpless in the face of the roaring 'conflaGration that reduced the build
 ing and its contents to charred ruins.
 The building was not covered by in
 surance.
 An alarm about s o'clock brought
 the members Of Plainville Hose Co.
 No, 1 and the Hook and Ladder Co.,.
 to the scene. The fire department
 was, as it always has been, at the
 scene of the blaze in plenty of time
 to do effective work. However. there
 IS no fire hydrant in the vicinity and
 having no means of bringing water
 from q pond close by, the fire fighters
 were forced to stand by and watch the building slowly crumple up.
 1 The ftremen made valiant efforts to release q number of dogs, pigeons and chickens which were coopcd up in the building. The chemical line was played on the vicinity of the i nesting places but despite heroic
 work, two dogs and q number of tn,
 chickens and pigeons were destroyed. 1 Fireman Dan Emory was badly i burned about the arms and 1t was
 necessary for him to receive medical
 attention
 1 The barn contained SO gallons Of
 gasoline, 400 new cider jugs, 8 gal i Ions of newly made cider and modern cider press. A silo was also attached to the building and these 1 were all destroyed by the flames. Pumpcr Is Needed
 l The destruction of the building last night is simply another emphatic argument for a bumper in PIainville. At the present time the Plainyille fire department is nearly as well equipped as any town department in the state. The quality of men in the volunteer department cannot be cXcelled in any respect by the de- partment of any other town in the state. Still. in a fire Of last nights character where q building removed from the center is concerned. the blaze necessarily ragged unchecked because, without the proper equip ment. the tiremen are helpless 10 do anything Only q few years ago when dis astrous fire broke out at the camp grounds off the Southington road, q bumper would have saved many Of the dwellings which were either totally or partially destroyed. The Hart home on the New Britain road which was destroyed during the past summer, might have been saved had the local department a bumper to get water to the scene. Only q short time ago, the house on the same premises as is the structure which was destroyed last night. was burned . because there was no way to ect water on the blaze.
 Just across the road within a few ! hundred feet. there is q large pond, , Hamlin's by name. With q bumper q line of hose could he dropped into this and unnecessary destruction could he ayerted Southington has . learned it's lesson and two bumpers are stationed in the town at the pres | cnt time. Piainyille needs a bumper for the protection Of it's property and fires of last nights description will . rage unchecked in all the outlying districts until the town department has a bumper, a necessary part of . fire fighting equipment.
 Started By oil Stove
 The blaze last ught apparently started from an oil stove in the southwest corner Of the building. Ii spread rap.Ily until it enveloned the entire building. The ruins were smoldering this morning.
 Democrats Nominate
 The democrats Of the town as- semhled last night in the town haI to nominate candidates for the Of fees which will be voted on at the town election in October William J. Foran was again chosen as chair man of the democratic town com mttee,
 The following were named as nominees of the party First select man. Edward P, Prior; second Sc Iectman. Winfield Loomis; town clerk and treasurer, William H. Will son Tepublican endorsed); tax col ector, Willis J, Hemingway (repub- ican endorsed); board Of assessors. 1 AXel Johnson. Theodore Derby; board of relief, Thomas Royce, | Peter Duffy; constables. Thomas Royce, Clesson s. Saunders. James Paul. Albert Sturgeon; grand jur- DTS. William J. Foran, Clarence White; auditor Thomas P Prior;