Miscellaneous, Mount Upton Fire, 1882

Mount Upton Depot Burns

Chenango Union, June 8, 1882

 

About 8 o'clock on Sunday morning, quite a severe thunder storm passed over this place, and shortly after the shower subsided the church bells rang the alarm of fire.  Upon investigation it was found that the depot was in flames, having evidently been struck by lightning.  When first discovered, the flames were bursting from the east side, and in a remarkable short space of time the whole building was enveloped.  So rapid was the progress of the fire that it was impossible to enter the building, or even remove goods, including farming implements, barrels of salt, bales of cotton, etc., which were stored on the platforms.  All that could be done was to prevent the fire from catching the coal sheds, which were built close up to the depot on the south side, and connected it with a building used for storing plaster, phosphate, lime, etc., on their southern extremity.  Only an approximation of the loss to individuals can be given, and it can only be ascertained by the presentation of claims by those having goods there, awaiting shipment or delivery.  It is thought that the loss in freight, etc., cannot fall below $5,000, of which about $1,500 will be sustained by the agent, H.A. Truesdell, who loses about one hundred and twenty-five barrels of flour, besides feed, corn, salt, etc., upon which there was an insurance of $800.  Besides this, the Morris Cotton Mills lose eighteen bales of cotton, worth $900; Giles Sturdevant, of Gilbertsville, goods to the amount of $500; Editor Deitz, of the Otsego Journal, one ton of printing paper; and many other smaller losses, not now ascertainable.  There were also ten stoves in the freight room, consigned to different parties, and three mowing machines on the east platform, which were ruined.  The safe in which Mr. Truesdell kept his books and papers was removed form the debris as soon as possible, and upon being opened delivered up its contents in good shape, a few papers and the covers to the books only being charred.  The deport was a well built structure, about 40x70 feet in size; and has always manifested a lamentable partiality for lightning, having been damaged twice before by thunderbolts;  the last time about  a year ago, when it was bored through the whole length, but by a less inflammable kind of lightning.  It was, however inadequate in size to the requirements of the large freight business done at this point, and it is probable that in building new the company will increase the capacity. We are unable to learn how much insurance there was on the building, if any.