The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-08
Cause Undetermined
 In Outstanding Fire
 Of 1937Report Shows
EIalpern Building Blaze Involving Loss of $4O,OOO Injuries to Bremen Most Serious Event-Staff
 Thanks Mayor, Officials for Cooperation

which only $1O,66O was paid in in- Surance.
 Strauss Store
 And then early of the morning of January 5, fire broke out in the cellar of the building at 289 East Main street occupied by the Miller Tire shop, the Strauss Hardware Co.,, Inc, a smoke shop, in which the total damage reached a fig uer of about $15,000.
 We had another bad fire early of the morning of February 16 in the three-story brick building of the Waterbury Store Fixture Co.,, at 22- 24 Spring street; much stock was badly damaged and the interior of the plant badly burned. There was a loss here estimated in and around $16,000.
 But the two greatest fires of the year were those which occurred in the second fire in the Bergin bldg, at 67-73 South Main street, and the Halpern building at 134-138 South Main street. The second Bergin building fire took place on January IA, and the Halpem fire occurred on February IS.
 In the Bergin building fire as of this date, there was a total damage to stock and fixtures estimated at $24,340, with a total damage to the building and stock figured at $35,- $40. This was cellar fire, which apparently started in the early evening from a defective wire con- dition, and which smouldered in the burning furs until the smoke be- came so pronounced that it was noticed by people passing along the street. The Lorraine Shop, an in- stitution, carrying much valuable and saleable stock, was most severe ly hit by this fire. t
 Cause Undetermined
 We were never able to determine the actual cause of the Halpern fire, even after an investigation that carried with it the examination of every person who might have been in a position to give us some in- formation on the subject. This fire occurred after midnight, in a lodg- ing or rooming house building, with dress shop and china shop on the ground floor, and valuable build ings and properties located or either side. The public well re. members the scramble of the 30 or so occupants, in night clothing, fol a place of safety. Not one of these persons carried any insurance; kind neighbors like the Nugent Pharm- acy, and the Press Club, possess ing the spirit of olden days, so un- common now, took them in for the night, and properly cared for them in every way.
 MT. Halpern's china shop was ir the north side of the structure young Wm. Rudnick conducted 8 dress shop on the south side. The well dressed or well stocked Bedford silk establishment was north of the Halpern establishment, in another building. The Halpern and Rud- nick stocks were wiped out by fire and water; smoke and water seri- ously interfered with the expensive silks, in the Bedford concern. The total loss by reason of this fire ex- ceeded the sum of forty thousand dollars.
 License Fees
 License fees collected. The total collection for the sale and delivery of gasolene and oils in Waterbury for the year amounted to $908.00 while the revenue from licenses as issued for the use of explosives amounted to $33.50. The fee as charged is only 25 cents, under a regulation inauguated by the State Police Commissioner, under whose jurisdiction the license is issued.
 Tn closing. There have been many happenings in which the depart ment has taken an important part as the years chronology as kept by us indicates. The part we have