Fire, Methodist Church, Oxford, NY - 1892

Fire in Oxford's Methodist Church

Chenango Union,  February 4, 1892

About 7:30 Thursday evening the fire bell sounded an alarm, the streets rapidly filled with people, and soon it was given out that the Methodist Church [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] was on fire.

 

It seems that the sexton, Thomas J. Stratton, had prepared the church for quarterly meeting services that evening, his last duty being to light the large chandelier which was suspended from the ceiling in the auditorium.  He had lighted the fourteen double-burning lamps in the chandelier and was raising it to its place, when it gave way at the coupling between the chandelier and the reflector, tipped up to one side and fortunately away from Mr. Stratton, and fell with a crash.  The oil from the lamps, several gallons, was instantly on fire, which Mr. Stratton, who was alone, made an attempt to smother, but was unsuccessful, and some ladies arriving at this time, the alarm was given.  By the time help arrived the smoke was so dense in the auditorium that a person could only gain entrance by getting down close to the floor and crawling in on hands and knees.  A few pails of water extinguished the flames, and as soon as the windows could be got open the smoke disappeared, but not before it had ruined the fresco work of ceiling and walls.  In the meantime the steamer had been stationed at the river bridge, a line of hose was laid by the church, and everything was ready for effective service.  The water was wisely kept out of the building, however, as it was apparent that the flames could be easily extinguished as above stated.  The smoke from the burning oil smothered the fire or kept it under.  Had there been any ventilation in the room the whole interior would soon have been a mass of flames. Two pews were burned beyond repair, two or three others  scorched, several cushions burned, and the carpet and floor underneath the chandelier also burned somewhat, but the greatest damage was caused by the smoke which left the fine frescoed ceiling and walls in a black and grimy state.  The chandelier, an expensive one, was or course ruined, the heat form the burning oil melting one side of the large reflector, which was still suspended above.  It was a close call for a serious loss to the society, and they are fortunate in carrying full insurance which will make the loss good. the day previous to the fire was the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of the church.--Oxford Times.