The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-05-03
FIRE FIGHTERS RESPOND
TO TWO CALLS LAST WEEK
Three Buildings Saved at Bliss
town, But One Burns-ROck
Lodge Is Destroyed.

NONSoS 10 49,
Fire, of undetermined origin, de-
stroyed one house and damaged three
others located at Blisstcwn, a mining
hamlet just west of Crellin AID owned
by the Stanley Coal Company, last
Thursday afternoon about 2:30 o'clock,
and except for the quick response and
good work of the Oakland Volunteer
Fire Department, would have totally
destroyed all four of the building, oc-
cupied as residences by employees of
the coal company.
The fire originated in the house oc-
cupied by Albert Alexander and the
entire second floor of the structure
was in flames when discovered. Dwell
ings adjacent and occupied by Walter
Johnson, Lloyd Armstrong and Bruce
Lewis and George Friend, were saved
There was no insurance and the loss
to the coal company will amount to
approximately $500.
Letter OF Appreciation.
Charles w. Ream, president of the
coal company, acknowledged the work
done by the local fire company in a
letter to George Kerins, fire chief,
in which he also expressed his thanks
to the department for its prompt ac-
ton. The letter follows:
Crellin, Md, May /, 1928.
George Kerins, Chief,
Oakland Volunteer Fire Department,
Oakland, Maryland.
Dear Strive wish to express our
appreciation to the Oakland Volun-
teer Fire Department for the quick
response and excellent service rem
dered us last Friday, when the resi-
dence occupied by Albert Alexander
caught fire in an upstairs room. When
the fire was first discovered the entire
upstairs was ablaze. Mr.. Alexander
lost all his furniture on the upper
| floor.
In just eleven minutes from the
time that the fire call was given from
Crellin the Oakland Fire Department
was in Crellin. This is what we call
real service. When the fire truck
reached the fire the Alexander house
was too far gone to be saved and three
other houses were on fire. That oc
cupied by Walter Johnson, one end and
the entire roof were ablaze, the fire
extending ten to twelve feet into the
air. and only by the prompt and eX-
cellent work done by the fire depart
ment was this building as well as the
] i ,a,,,,ial NV I 1oJ1
strong. Bruce Lewis and George
| Friend, saved.
The Oakland Fire Department is a
very valuable asset to this section OF
Garrett county; an organization wor-
| thy of our best support and one OF
which we can all be pround
Very truly yours,
CHARLES W. REAM.
Rock Lodge Burns.
Rock Lodge, the home Of F. F. Nj
| cola. located on Cherry Greek, a trib
utary to Deep Greek Lake, was totally
destroyed by fire of undetermined or
igin on Friday afternoon. The care
taker of the property was engaged
elsewhere on the place when the fire
was discovered by his wife and upon
entering the building the interior was
a mass of flames. The structure was
of stone and the interior was Of wood,
which, with the roof timbers, was
burned to ashes.
A call was telephoned to Oakland
for the fire department and two of
the trucks set out. The drivers were
forced to turn back, however, after
going out about mile on account OF
the driving sleet and snow and the
consequent inability to keep the vehi-
cles in the road. Members of the de-
partment, however, piled hand equip
ment into a touring car and arrived at
the scene of the fire, but too late to be
of much assistance.
The building was erected several
years ago by Mr.. Nicola at cost OF
approximately $4,000.