FIRES
Covington Has Added Her Beautiful Court House to the List—Fire Devastates That Beautiful Structure
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 17 February 1899
A traveling man came in out of the west last Friday with the paralyzing intelligence that the beautiful court house at the effete county seat of Fountain was rapidly being devastated by the hungry flames. Those who have seen this architectural extravaganza will be pained to hear this. The building was of the Italian renaissance in construction and was built about the time that style came into fashion. It was wonderfully and fearfully made and was an object of profound veneration to all the Covingtonites, who never lost an opportunity to show off its good points to the visitor who was forced to stay in that town long enough to go sightseeing. It crowned a proud eminence with majestic grandeur, and the thought that it must perish from of the earth will make the archeologists of the state who knew of its existence weep bitter tears. Charley Berry will no doubt use this as an argument for the removal of the county seat to Veedersburg, as the existence of the costly pile was the only excuse for maintaining the capital at Covington.
A telephone message last night states that the fire was extinguished after several hours’ work, but the loss will be very large, although covered by insurance.
Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier Tue 29 June 1926 p2
A false alarm called the fire department out Sunday afternoon about 1:30. A smoking coal oil stove at the home of Luther Fisher on north Perry street was the cause. Neighbors saw the smoke pouring from the doors and windows of the Fisher kitchen and thought the house was on fire so they turned in the alarm.
Aun t Polly Kellar's
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 4 Feb 1898 p 2
“Garland’s Crossing” – The property of Aunt Polly Kellar, who resides one mile south of Wallace was consumed by fire with all its contents on last Monday night. Mrs. Kellar being away from home at the time the origin of the fire is unknown.
NEWTOWN - large fire
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 21 April 1899
Newtown, Ind., April 15—A large portion of the business rooms of Newtown were destroyed this morning by fire. The buildings were all old and the flames made short work of them. About ten o’clock the fire broke in the Robbins Drug Store and before it could be combated at all the whole room was a mass of fire. Adjacent rooms were soon in flames likewise and only the heroic efforts of the townspeople saved the whole business portion from destruction. The places burned out were Robbins Drug Store, Kiff & Mellot’s Hardware Store, Harding’s Barber Shop, McQuigg’s Harness Shop, Holliday’s Law Office and the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias Halls. Most of the places were burned with all their contents, so rapidly did the flames spread. The loss falls on the owners as there was no insurance. In all four buildings were destroyed and though old most of them were in good shape. The heaviest loser was Mr. Gilbart, who owned most of the buildings which were burned.
BOLDT - Grain - grass Fire
Source: Indianapolis Star Wed 24 July 1940 p 4
Waynetown, Ind July 23 – A grass fire spread to the Boldt Grain Elevator here today and caused several hundred dollars’ damage before being brought under control by Waynetown, Wingate and Hillsboro Fire Departments. The mill is owned by Mrs. Stella Bold and managed by her son, Ernest. Built in 1873, it was one of the first steam-operated mills in the Mid West.
Source: Greencastle Daily Banner 12 June 1953
Crawfordsville – June 12 – A passing motorist, whose identity was not learned, was credited yesterday with saving a farm home near Hillsboro from destruction by fire. The motorist ran to the house when he saw flames pouring from a window. He used a hand extinguisher from his car to put out the fire. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Myers, occupants of the dwelling are custodians at the Hillsboro School. Mrs. Myers was in the Hillsboro Telephone Exchange office when the fire was reported. Lightning was believed to have caused the fire. Damage was confined to one room. Hillsboro firemen said the motorist had the flames under control when they arrived.
Source: Terre Haute Tribune 17 Nov 1953 Tuesday p 2
Attica, Ind Nov 17 – Some 850 acres half in timber were burned over Monday in a fire that volunteers and firemen from Attica, Williamsport, Pine Village and Kramer battle for five hours. The blaze, fives miles northwest of Attica narrowly missed two farmhouses. (Luckily) the famous Mudlavia Hotel escaped damage.