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Orleans Progress, April 22, 1897
FIRE!
Lays Waste to the
East Side
About $6,000 of Property Destroyed
Early Morning Fire Destroys One Half of the East Side of
Public Square
Orleans was visited by the most destructive
fire on last Sunday morning that has occurred here in
fifteen years.
The
people were awaken from their sleep by the ringing of
bells and shouts of fire! fire! at about ten minutes of
three o'clock on Sunday morning, to see the entire north
half of the east side of the public square ablaze.
This
half block was composed of eight old wooden buildings
which has served as business rooms for over fifty years.
The buildings were old and of not much value, and of
themselves were not a great loss to the town, but served
the purpose of some who owned them because they were not
able to build more imposing ones.
The
fire is supposed to be of incendiary origin, and was
probably started in the rear of the three buildings
occupied by Kemp's stove and tin store, Ginochio's
confectionery store and Littell's restaurant. These three
buildings were burning pretty evenly when seen by the
first persons on the scene. Many theories as to the
origin of the fire are advanced, but the general opinion
is that it was incendiary.
Willing
hands soon set to work to remove all from the buildings
that could be gotten out, and measures to confine the
fire to a limited space. owing to the absence of the
slightest breeze and the heroic efforts of the men the
fire was kept from crossing the street to Hardman's
block. This block was considerably blistered, but by the
aid of H. W. Hardman's line of hose from the large 1,500
gallon tank in the rear of his residence the buildings
across Coffee Street were kept well watered and safe. It
also required considerable effort to keep the fire from
destroying the Walker building occupied by Stinson's
furniture store and Burton's ice cream parlor. Marley
& Easley's frame building stood against this building
was saved and the fire was confined to the space from the
corner to the Walker building.
The
parties who sustained loss on building are:
James
L. and R. G. Hollowell, $500.
Nancy
A, Cloud, $350.
M.
L. Sutherlin, $250.
Charles
Kauffman, $300.
John
Ginochio, $300.
Letta
M. Dodd, $600.
Marley
& Easley, $500.
This
making the total loss on buildings of about $2,800,
without a penny of insurance.
On
account of the buildings all being wood and dry as a
powder house they burned like tinder, and few were
enabled to save much of their stocks of goods. No
insurance could be obtained; therefore whatever was
burned was a total loss to the owner.
Nearly
everything was gotten out of James Martin's saloon. Stock
and fixtures were nearly all saved. His loss is not over
$75.
W.
C. R. Kemp's stove and tin store stock was almost a total
loss. A steel range and three or four stoves were taken
out, together with a small lot of tinware. His loss is
about $800 on stock.
John
Ginochio lost almost everything, one or two small show
cases being all that was saved. His loss on stock is
about $400.
Littell's
restaurant stock valued at $300 was burned, except two
show cases; one filled with candies and another with
cigars. The fixtures belonged to E. M. Brown. They were
destroyed; valued at $150.
The Orleans Progress
(May 27, 1897)
OUR LITTLE BOOM LOOKS
LIKE A PERMANENT ONE
What Caused It And Who Are Responsible For It
That our little city has awakened from the
stupor that "hard times" cast over all this
fair land and has begun to recover her lost energy and
vitality is evidenced by the amount of business being
done here daily. The increased demand for labor has
brought out all the available home talent and men who
last year scaly saw a full week's work for the laboring
classes in Orleans than has been seen here for several
years. Yet we had among us enough of that class to supply
the demand. Orleans merchants have for years enjoyed an
immense trade from the surrounding country, and it was
this alone almost that kept the town alive. Shrewd
business men were at the head of our mercantile
establishments and they left nothing undone by which the
trade from the surrounding country could be brought to
this place. This had its effect and they have seen it
demonstrated in their cast account. When the recent fire
swept away the rickety old frame structures on the east
side of the square that had done service as business
rooms for almost a century, it robbed several of our
business men of a location where in to conduct their
avocation. Consequently a demand for new and commodious
buildings was created. The demand for houses for living
purposes has been apparent for several years, but it
seems that no one cared to incest much money in that way,
but at the proper time the men were found who could and
would invest money in good substantial buildings. These
men are all wide awake gentlemen and deserve unlimited
praise from the people of our little city for their
efforts at building up the place. Among all those who
have been instrumental in instilling our town with
renewed life and vigor, no one is entitled to more praise
than.
CHARLES A. CONDER
His saw and planing mill in the east end runs
six days in the week and furnishes employment to a score
or more of men at good wages. There is not a man in the
State of Indiana who more dearly loves to furnish
employment to a deserving laborer than Charlie Conder,
and were it possible for him to do so he would give every
applicant a job. In addition to the force of men employed
at and around his mill he has a course of construction a
number of nice cottage houses - not little cheap affairs,
but nice convenient houses, built in modern, up to date
style. He has also an elegant new seven room cottage
nearing completion on his farm one mole west of town. Mr.
Conder is a genuine hustler and is a credit to any town,
and Orleans is proud to own him as one of her citizens.
His employees receive good wages and are paid promptly in
the cold coin of the realm.
ALBERTSON &
HOLLOWELL,
the projectors of the large brick building that
will take the place of the old frame shanty on the
southeast corner of the square are a pair of gentlemen
prominent in the financial and business affairs of our
town and vicinity. That the building erected by them will
be an ornament to th town goes without saying, as those
who are acquainted with these two gentlemen know that
they do not do things by halves.
SHIRLEY BROTHERS
The rapidly increasing trade of this popular
hardware firm made it absolutely necessary for them to
have more storeroom and warehouse room, so the old
building on what is known as the Gifford corner on the
north side was torn away, and the preparations are now
underway for a large two-story brick building.
JAMES A. CLOUD,
the Cash Grocer, will superintend the erection of
this building and when completed will occupy one room of
it with his grocery store. Like Shirley Brothers, he is
cramped for room. Mr. Cloud is having a large brick kiln
made west of town and will burn all the brick for his
building there, giving employment to a large number of
men and boys.
Another victim of the fire was James A.
Marlin, saloon keeper. His greatest loss though was his
location. His brother, Henry A. Martin, of Kansas City,
Mo., came to his relief and purchased the lot and will
have an elegant two-story brick there before many days.
C. E. LITTRELL,
the well know contractor and builder, has this
building in charge and will push it to completion in his
usual get-up-and-hustle style. Mr. Littell, besides his
occupation as a contractor and builder, will again this
year engage in putting in concrete walks and recent
developments have shown their superiority over the stone.
Along the burnt district the concrete stood the fire all
right while the stone cracked and crumbled with the heat.
He has over 2,000 feet contracted for in Mitchell and
will give employment to a large force of men. Josh is a
young man, but has already established an enviable
reputation as a contractor by his fair and honest
dealings with others and his liberality with his
employees.
To this list may be added the statement that
Hollowell Brothers, who own the corner lot south of the
PROGRESS office, will this fall, or early in the Spring
build a large and elegant brick business block.
Hardman
& Elliot, the hustling hardware dealers and tinners
are also trying to buy ground on which to erect a
building. If successful in securing a desirable piece of
ground they will build a mammoth brick and stone
structure.
These
are the men who are at the head of the largest
improvements now going on in Orleans. We predict for our
town a steady growth and it is the duty of every citizen
inside its limits to lend a hand in helping to keep it
growing. Speak a good word for your town whenever the
opportunity offers and you will be surprised at the
effect.
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