Askov American., 1932-12-15
.H|NCKLEY GIRL
FIRE HEROINE
Works at Switchboard Until.
Blaze Laps Danger
ously Near.
Much Lost as Large Odd
Fellows Building
Burns.

| In a small way Hlnckley was re-
minded of the great fire which swept
that village with resultant loss OF
life more than 30 years ago, early
last Thursday morning. only this time
there was no loss of life. The brick
Odd Fellows building on Main street
burned to the ground despite the
heroic efforts of the telephone opera
tor, the fire department and others.
In the excitement of the moment
of the fire no thought was given to
personal safety by those who were
first and last on the scene. Foremost
among these was Miss Mary Spry,
| telephone operator who was on duty
at the switchboard in the building at
the time the fire alarm was turned
in by Donald Kindred. a high school
boy, who saw the blaze coming
through the floor i'm the Candy Kitch-
en- while on his way from his room
in the building to his work in Wendt's
Cafe at about 3 o'clock in the morn
ing. Miss Spry Immediately set off
the general fire alarm and began a
long faithful task of calling for addi-
tional help by telephone. She held
to her duty until the room was filled
with smoke and the heat of the raging
blaze was felt through the soles of
her shoes when she gave up the
mouthpiece after calling Duluth that
| the service was being discontinued.
| This is real heroism and is appreci-
ated by those whom her calls aided
| with additional help. Through it all
she held her poise and presence of
mind until her task was accom-
plished.
Pine City Sends Department.
The Pine City fire department made
a good run in answer to the call for
help but did not throw any water
since it was needless at the time,
the Hinckley fire department having
been on the job efficiently to keep
the neighboring buildings from burn
ing also. 1t was a neighborly act
for the Pine City boys to offer their
help at that hour of the night and
in such cold weather and their deed
is much appreciated by Hinckley, resi-
dents.
About 20 to 80 tons of coal were
stored in the basement and 12 tons
of this was taken out. However the
remainder was too difficult to get to
in time and soon was a seething fur
mace of flame which was still burn
ing Tuesday and with all indications
that it would continue to burn until
today and possibly longer.
To attest to the fine work done
by the fire fighters is the fact that
a small frame building. occupied by
Allie Thorne's barber shop and the
Sunbeam Shoe Shop, was saved from
the blaze. although damaged by fall
| ling brick from the walls of the burn
| ing building. The barber shop is
now doing business in the Burk I'M
plement Store across the street and
the shoe shop is in the Folsom Hard
| ware Store, having both saved the
equipment in their former location
| and moved it across the street during
| the fire.
Many Occupants i'm Building.
The burned building was occupied
by the Hinckley Candy Kitchen; the
Sanitary Meat Market; Hinckley
Jeweler; DR.. H. G.. Swennes, dentist;
the Rev. T. j. E. Wilson; Donald Kim
dred; the /. A. Wendt family and the
Hinckley Telephone Exchange, with
Miss Mary Spry as chief operator
Practically all of these occupants lost
all of their personal property kept i'm
the building.
DR.. Swennes has rented office space
| back of the l. A. Wendt Cafe where
he will be located; the telephone Of
/ flee is now over the Marudas Grocery
| in the second floor of the Noble build
ing and the Rev. Wilson will stay at
the Geo. Empey home for the winter
Other occupants of the building have
not yet established business places nor
have they made definite plans for the
future.
A Severe Loss.
The fire was great loss, not only
to the owners of the building but to
many of the occupants because it is
understood that very little insurance
was carried on the merchandise in
any of the stores in the building
There was $12,50O insurance on the
building which was constructed in
1908 at a cost of about $1,000. 1t
was brick structure with a 7O-foot
frontage on the street and so feet
in depth. This is the third fire
started there in three years, the 9TH
ers being extinguished before they
had done much damage. No plans for
rebuilding have been announced at
this time.
The heat from the fire broke win
dOWS in the Farmers <, Merchants