Big Fire in Guilford - 1897
Fire Started in a Hotel, Business
Blocks and Dwelling Succumbed to its Fury
The village of Guilford sustained a heavy loss by fire on Sunday morning. The Lake House, an old landmark of some sixty or eighty years standing, the barn, J.F. Sherwood's residence and drug store, the double store occupied by Ives Bros and P.A Nash, Decker's residence and billiard saloon, and the residence and barn of Irvin I. Ogden were all consumed in about two hours.
The fire broke out in the hotel owned by H.M. Sherwood and conducted by H.L. Howe and Alfred Holmes, either in the billiard room in the basement, or in the kitchen on the first floor, probably in the latter place.
It was first discovered at about 1:50 a.m. by Mrs. Howe, who aroused her husband from his sleep with the exclamation that something was going on below. He arose hastily, put on a few articles of clothing and went downstairs to the first floor to find the building on fire and the rooms and halls filled with smoke. About this time Mr. Holmes appeared and together they dragged out a trunk or two containing clothing. Then Howe told Holmes to go up and get his wife out, while he warned his son. Holmes went to Mrs. Howe's room, where she was dressing, and told her she would have to hurry. As her door was closed, the smoke had not invaded her room, and she supposed that she would have time to escape, but Holmes knew there was no time to spare and seizing her by the wrist he dragged her out into the hall. The two then attempted to escape by the stairway, but found that impossible, owing to the smoke, and they went out on the second story balcony where Holmes tore down a clothes line and slipping it around Mrs. Howe's shoulders lowered her to the ground. He then descended himself. Miss Edna Pike, an employee in the hotel, made her escape from the burning building in her night dress. A number of boarders had to move lively to escape the smoke and flames.
The hotel burned rapidly and nothing of any great value was saved except four trunks of clothing and the cash register from the bar-room. The flames spread to the barn south of the hotel and soon consumed that. Six horses, a number of wagons and a quantity of baled hay was gotten out. Howe & Holmes had a small insurance.
The flames spread eastward, taking the combined residence and drugstore of John F. Sherwood, whose property was next adjoining the hotel. Mr. Sherwood saved his household furniture, but nothing from the store. Then followed the double store occupied by P.A. Nash, jeweler, and Ives Bros., general merchants. The building was three stories, the third being occupied by the A.O.U.W. lodge and the Grange, both of these societies losing everything. The second story was the village hall. The postoffice was in Ives Bros.' store and everything belonging to the office was saved in good shape. P.A. Nash saved most of his jewelry stock, and Ives Bros. got out a good share of their goods. Then came James Decker's residence and billiard saloon combined. Decker saved about everything from his building, even to the billiard tables. Next came the premises of I.I. Ogden, where the fire was stopped after consuming the house and barn. Mr. Ogden got out nearly everything from his house.
Guilford has no organized fire department, but they have a few hundred feet of hose which in case of fire they attach to hydrants connected with a force pump in the foundry. With this the citizens did good execution and at Ogden's house had two streams of water at their command. Here they managed to stop the spread of the fire, although there were several barns and shops in close proximity to the burning house and barn.
George W. Dexter's store south of the hotel was on fire at one time, but was saved from the general ruin. The buildings were all of wood and burned rapidly. But for the hose, force pump, and heroic work of the citizens, the whole village would have been at the mercy of the flames, and it is something of a wonder in looking over the ruins and understanding the situation that the workers were successful in arresting the further progress of the flames. At one time it was thought the fire was beyond control and a telegram was sent to Norwich for assistance. The relief party was about to embark on the O.&W. when another message announced that the fire had been checked.
The reflection of the fire was visible for many miles in the surrounding country, and Sunday a large number of sightseers visited the scene of the conflagration.
The hotel burned rapidly and nothing of any great value was saved except four trunks of clothing and the cash register from the bar-room. The flames spread to the barn south of the hotel and soon consumed that. Six horses, a number of wagons and a quantity of baled hay was gotten out. Howe & Holmes had a small insurance.
The flames spread eastward, taking the combined residence and drugstore of John F. Sherwood, whose property was next adjoining the hotel. Mr. Sherwood saved his household furniture, but nothing from the store. Then followed the double store occupied by P.A. Nash, jeweler, and Ives Bros., general merchants. The building was three stories, the third being occupied by the A.O.U.W. lodge and the Grange, both of these societies losing everything. The second story was the village hall. The postoffice was in Ives Bros.' store and everything belonging to the office was saved in good shape. P.A. Nash saved most of his jewelry stock, and Ives Bros. got out a good share of their goods. Then came James Decker's residence and billiard saloon combined. Decker saved about everything from his building, even to the billiard tables. Next came the premises of I.I. Ogden, where the fire was stopped after consuming the house and barn. Mr. Ogden got out nearly everything from his house.
Guilford has no organized fire department, but they have a few hundred feet of hose which in case of fire they attach to hydrants connected with a force pump in the foundry. With this the citizens did good execution and at Ogden's house had two streams of water at their command. Here they managed to stop the spread of the fire, although there were several barns and shops in close proximity to the burning house and barn.
George W. Dexter's store south of the hotel was on fire at one time, but was saved from the general ruin. The buildings were all of wood and burned rapidly. But for the hose, force pump, and heroic work of the citizens, the whole village would have been at the mercy of the flames, and it is something of a wonder in looking over the ruins and understanding the situation that the workers were successful in arresting the further progress of the flames. At one time it was thought the fire was beyond control and a telegram was sent to Norwich for assistance. The relief party was about to embark on the O.&W. when another message announced that the fire had been checked.
The reflection of the fire was visible for many miles in the surrounding country, and Sunday a large number of sightseers visited the scene of the conflagration.
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