The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-01-22
Fire DESTROYS
The KOOtendii
Theatre Tues.
Theatre, The Nook and the
Pival Electric Shop Burn;
Build New Theatre at Once
BUILT IN 1910; WAS
FIRST OPERA HOUSE

Tuesday afternoon fire of I'M
known origin but thought to have
started from defective wiring en-
tirely destroyed the Koote a i
Theatre building including The
Nook lunch room and Pival Electric
Store. The loss to the owners of
the building and theater is estimated
at approximately $4,000, and is
only partially covered by insurance.
The Nook was a complete loss,
nothing being saved from the
flames. Partial insurance also covers
this loss. The bulk of the goods
from the Pival Store were removed
before the flames reached them, but
here too, considerable loss was sus-
stained. He also carried insurance.
The fire was discovered about
100 p. m, the alarm being turned
in by four parties at practically the
same moment. Bud NOVEL; of The
Nook, Mrs Art Brock, Mrs. Schi-
kora, and R. w. Smithberger all
calling Central simultaneously.
The Libby Fire Company with
both trucks, and the big fire engine
from the Mill were all on the job
in short order and playing streams
of water on the blaze which had
secured SO great a start before dis
covery that it was soon apparent
the building was doomed In spite
of this fact the members of the
department put up a heroic fight,
leaving no effort undone which
might save the building or add to
the safety of nearby buildings The
battle with the flames lasted
throughout the afternoon. and Fire
Chief George Wood, assisted by
firemen Ernest Wood and George /
Baker and several men hired by \
the city, remained at the fire all .
night, not getting off until the next
The Hamburger Stand served hot
coffee and doughnuts to the firemen
during the afternoon, and at night
various citizens furnished coffee,
it at the Fire Hall Smoke D
beloved up from the ruins all day
and men worked through (
out the day soaking the burning
debris It is the biggest fire Libby
has had in recent years and all
through the afternoon and late in
to the evening, crowds of the cur
ious braved the ice and cold to
watch the blaze.
Originally a frame building the :
walls of the theatre were later
succeed The building was built,
according to Mrs. A. j. Agather, +
md her sister, Mrs. Arthur j. Neils, I
owners of the business, about 1910. :
t was Libby first opera house, h
md later was used as theatre with hi
/ dance hall and skating rink on r
he south side of the building which
las recently been occupied by the o
'ival store and the empty theatre b
a
In the buildings early days it
vas owned and operated by A. M. d
Hoffman and w. F. Kienitz. Fol "
owing World War I Mr.. Kienitz a
ought the Hoffman interests and a
ontinued running the theatre I'M e
il he moved to Honolulu a few q
ears ago. Since that time the CT
usiness has belonged to his daugh- p
ars, Mrs. Agather and Mrs. Neils.
IT. Kienitz and Mr.. Hoffman were
mong the first theatre men to in
-oduce the movie house to this 6
tate. The Kootenai Theatre has -
cen operated as a moving picture
leatre for about 35 years.
The owners state that every 4.
fort is being made to secure h,
building that can be used for e.
temporary show house while II
new building is being erected.
is hoped a new building can be re-
ompleted within a few months. fl
he management has also requested fir
he Western News to express its w
ncere appreciation of the work the in
re company did in attempting to
we the property. St
Pershing GooselaW and Gene cE
DWELL have made no plans regard tn
G a future reopening according to TO
statement made last night by Mr.
ooselaw. Ray Pival expects to ar
open his electric store but does
1t know at present when he will NJ
, so, or in what location. Oh
Meanwhile the youngsters are
,liged to rely on skating and
hool activities for evenings out, bL
Id are hoping for an early re- v;
,ening of the movies in Libby, a tic
which is heartily en- at
'rSed by their elders. OH
The Libby Fire Company made IN
70 other runs Tuesday, both CHM -
y fires. It was called to the 70,
)urthouse at $50 a. m, and in is
e evening to the Vernon Croft ne
au residence. Yesterday morning oc
out 1880 it made a run to the sh
ar Rooming House to handle a
imney fire. ly
AS The Western News goes to wi
ess the theatre management in str
rms it that it has arranged to biz
rchase new equipment at once Lar
,m The Western Theatre Equip les
ent Co., Portland, Ore, and that res
chitects Lathrop & Gillon, have Sc;
en- working day and night since tn
2 fire, to perfect suitable plans to