USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 61
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 61
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 61
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1841 .- Chief Burgess (no record) ; Assistant Bur- gess (no record) ; Council, Charles Jameson, D. O. Skinner, Charles R. Robinson, John F. Roc, I. W. Arnold; High Constable (no record),
1842 .- Chief Burgess, A. H. Farnham ; Assistant Burgess, Elkanah Patmore ; Council, Thomas I. Hub- bell, Ezra Hurlburt, Thomas H. Tracy, John Kelly, Charles Jameson.
1843 .- Same as preceding year.
1844 .- Chief Burgess (no record) ; Assistant Bur- gess (no record) ; Council, J. B. Walton, O. Hamlin, James A. Hendrick, Elias Stanton, W. H. Dimmick ; High Constable (no record).
1845 .- Same as preceding year.
1846 .- Same.
1847 .- Chief Burgess, A. H. Russell ; Assistant Bur- gess, J. W. Arnold ; Council, William Turner, Jolin F. Lord, Stephen Torrey, Samuel E. Dimmick; High Constable, E. Tryon.
1848 .- Chief Burgess, A. H. Russell; Assistant Burgess, S. D. Ward; Council, same as preceding year.
1849 .- Chief Burgess, A. H. Russell; Assistant
Burgess, S. D. Ward; Council, William Turner, Thomas Ham, John F. Lord, Stephen Torrey, Samuel E. Dimmick ; High Constable, E. Tryon.
1850 .- Chief Burgess, T. H. R. Tracy; Assistant Burgess, R. M. Grenell; Council, Z. H. Russell, Ezra Hurlburt, John Kelly, Wm. Turner, Stephen Torrey ; High Constable, E. Tryon.
1851 .- Chief Burgess, T. H. R. Tracy ; Assistant Burgess, Alliz Whitney; Council, William Turner, Zenas H. Russell, Stephen D. Ward, Samuel E. Dim- mick, James R. Dickson ; High Constable, William H. Dimmick.
1852 .- Chief Burgess, William H. Dimmick ; As- sistant Burgess, Myron Jakway; Council, William Turner, Samuel E. Dimmick, James R. Dickson, Zenas H. Russell, Stephen D. Ward ; High Constable, E. Tryon.
1853 .- Chief Burgess, Simeon G. Throop; Assist- ant Burgess, Ezra Hurlburt ; Council, John Kelly, E. B. Burnham, John Y. Sherwood, Henry Dart, Isaiah Snyder ; High Constable, Joseph Garry.
1854 .- Chief Burgess, Earl Wheeler ; Assistant Burgess, Coe F. Young ; Council, William Turner, Zenas H. Russell, Stephen Torrey, Samuel Allen, Sam- uel E. Dimmick ; High Constable, Joseph Garry.
1855 .- Chief Burgess, F. B. Penniman ; Assistant Burgess, H. B. Beardslee ; Council, Zenas H. Russell, William Turner, Stephen Torrey, Samuel Allen, Samuel E. Dimmick; High Constable, Stephen G. Cory.
1856 .- Chief Burgess, Coe F. Young; Assistant Burgess, James R. Dickson; Council, William Tur- ner, Zenas H. Russell, Samuel Allen, Steplien Torrey, Samuel E. Dimmick ; High Constable, John Gray.
1857 .- All same as the preceding year.
1858 .- All same except Thomas Ham, Assistant Burgess, in place of Dickson.
1859 .- Chief Burgess (no record); Assistant Burgess (no record) ; Council, Zenas H. Russell, Samuel Al- len, Charles P. Waller, Stephen Torrey, Samuel E. Dimmick ; High Constable, Benjamin Sherwood.
1860 .- Chief Burgess, Coe F. Young; Assistant Burgess, Charles Petersen ; Council, Zenas H. Rus- sell, M. B. Bennett, William W. Weston, Charles P. Waller, Samuel E. Dimmick; High Constable, Ben- jamin Sherwood.
1861 .- Chief Burgess, Coe F. Young; Assistant Burgess, Stephen G. Cory ; Council, Zenas H. Rus- sell, M. B. Bennett, Edwin F. Torrey, Charles P. Wal- ler, Samuel E. Dimmick; High Constable, Benjamin Sherwood.
1862 .- Chief Burgess, Coc F. Young; Assistant Burgess, Charles Petersen ; Council, Samuel E. Dim- mick, Zenas H. Russell, M. B. Bennett, John O'Neill, Edwin F. Torrey ; High Constable, Benjamin Sher- wood.
1863 .- Chief Burgess, Charles P. Waller; Assistant Burgess, John F. Lord ; Council, H. B. Beardslee, James Brown, William Matthews, Henry F. Roe,
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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.
William H. Ham ; High Constable, Benjamin Sher- wood.
1864 .- Chief Burgess, Elias Stanton ; Assistant Burgess, H. B. Hamlin ; Council, Zenas HI, Russell, Gilbert Knapp, J. M. Bauman, Elias T. Beers, W. W. Weston; High Constable, Benjamin Sherwood.
1865 .- Chief Burgess, Coe F. Young; Assistant Burgess, John K. Jenkins ; Council, Gilbert Knapp, B. B. Smith, Martin Bowman, Egbert G. Reed, W. W. Weston; High Constable, John Gray.
1866 .- Chief Burgess, Miles L. Tracy ; Assistant Burgess, Henry H. Roe; Couneil, B. B. Smith, W. W. Weston, J. M. Bauman, Egbert G. Reed, Gilbert Knapp; High Constable, Benjamin Sherwood.
1867 .-- Chief Burgess, Miles L. Traey ; Assistant Burgess, Abraham Samuels ; Couneil, Isaac N. Fos- ter, Horace A. Woodhouse, B. B. Smith, Stephen G. Cory, Egbert G. Reed; High Constable, Henry Car- man.
1868 .- Chief Burgess, Charles P. Waller ; Assistant Burgess, Robert J. Menner ; Council, Isaae N. Foster, Gilbert Knapp, B. B. Smith, Samuel Allen, Edwin F. Torrey ; High Constable, Henry B. Hall.
1869 .- Chief Burgess, Stephen G. Cory ; Assistant Burgess, L. Grambs; Couneil, Gilbert Knapp, Wil- liam Weiss, W. W. Weston, John O'Neill, Charles Tompkins ; High Constable, Henry B. Hall.
1870 .- Chief Burgess, Miles L. Tracy ; Assistant Burgess, Isaac N. Foster; Council, John O'Neill, William Wefferling, John Brown, Thomas Charles- worth, William B. Holmes ; High Constable, Henry B. Hall.
1871 .- Chief Burgess, Miles L. Traey; Assistant Burgess, Henry Grambs; Couneil, John O'Neill, William Wefferling, John Brown, Isaae N. Foster, Ensign Egleston ; High Constable, Henry Gray.
1872 .- Chief Burgess, Jolın K. Jenkins ; Assistant Burgess, Michael Brown ; Couneil, John O'Neill, William Wefferling, William H. Ham, Robert N. Torrey, Isaae N. Foster; High Constable, E. Pat- more.
1873 .- Chief Burgess, John K. Jenkins; Assistant Burgess, J. M. Bauman ; Council, Asher M. Atkin- son, John O'Neill, William Wefferling, Edwin F. Torrey, George S. Purdy ; High Constable, Henry Gray.
1874 .- Chief Burgess, James R. Knapp ; Assistant Burgess, J. M. Bauman ; Couneil, Asher M. Atkin- son, William Wefferling, Charles Tompkins, Lorenzo Grambs, Samuel B. Haley ; High Constable, Henry Gray.
1875 .- Chief Burgess, Henry J. Tarble ; Assistant Burgess, - -; Couneil, Asher M. Atkinson, Samuel B. Haley, William Wefferling, Lorenzo Grambs, Charles Tompkins.
1876 .- Chief Burgess, Charles Petersen ; Assistant Burgess, Coe Durland ; Conneil, L. Grambs, Samuel B. Haley, J. M. Bauman, Asher M. Atkinson, Wil- liam Wefferling ; High Constable, Henry Gray.
1877 .- Chief Burgess, Samuel B. Haley ; Assistant Burgess, George M. Genung ; Couneil, Charles Peter- sen, J. M. Bauman, John F. Clark, Robert N. Torrey, Asher M. Atkinson.
1878 .-- Chief Burgess, James N. Kesler ; Assistant Burgess, E. H. Clark, Jr .; Council, Robert N. Torrey, M. B. Bennett, John F. Clark, Isaae N. Foster, John Brown ; High Constable, E. B. Wood.
1879 .- Chief Burgess, Samuel B. Haley ; Assistant Burgess, William Linderman ; Council, H. T. Men- ner, John Brown, Isaac N. Foster, Thomas Finerty, J. M. Bauman ; High Constable, William H. Prag- nall.
1880 .- Chief Burgess, Samuel B. Haley ; Assistant Burgess, Henry Grambs ; Couneil, Isaac N. Foster, John Brown, Henry Ball, H. T. Menner, Thomas Finerty ; High Constable, William H. Pragnall.
1881 .- Chief Burgess, Lorenzo Grambs; Assistant Burgess, E. H. Clark ; Couneil, same ; High Consta- ble, same.
1882 .- Chief Burgess, Frank Herzog ; Assistant Burgess, James H. Pinckney ; Couneil, same ; High Constable, same.
1883 .- Chief Burgess, Thomas Charlesworth ; As- sistant Burgess, - -; Council, samne; High constable, same.
1884 .- Chief Burgess, Reed Burns; Assistant Bur- gess,- -; Council, same; High Constable, same.
1885 .- Chief Burgess, William Muir; Assistant Burgess, John M. Lyon ; Couneil, M. B. Allen, C. L. Whitney, John F. Clark, Jacob F. Katz, S. J. Fos- ter ; High Constable, William H. Pragnall.
Other officers have been appointed or elected by the Council ; chief among them are the clerks and treasurers, who in succession have been as follows :
TREASURERS.
1831. Zenas H. Russell.
1853. Henry Dart.
1832. Thos. T. Hayes. 1854-63. Z. H. Russell.
1833-34. Same. 1863. Wm. Mathews.
1835. David St. John.
1864. Zenas H. Russell.
1836. John F. Roe.
1865-68. B. B. Smith.
1837. Edward Mills.
1869. Wm. Weiss.
1838-39. Elk. Patmore.
1870-74. W. Wefferling.
1840-41. Steph. D. Ward.
1875-76. L. Grambs.
1842-43. Horace Tracy.
1844-47. O. Hamlin.
1877. Chas, Petersen. 1878-84. John Brown.
1848-50. Steph. Torrey.
1885. S. J. Foster.
1851-52. S. D. Ward.
TOWN CLERKS.
1831. John F. Roe.
1832-34. Edw. Mills.
1835-37. E. Kingsbury, Jr. 1838. M. A. Bidwell.
1839. Charles Jameson.
1840. Thos. J. Hubbell.
1841. Z. W. Arnold.
1842-43. T. J. Hubbell.
1844-47. W. H. Dimmick.
1848-49. S. E. Dimmiek.
1850. R. M. Grenell.
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WAYNE COUNTY.
1851-63. S. E. Dimmick.1 1863. Wm. H. Ham.
1871, Isaac N. Foster.
1872. Wm. H. Ham.
1864. W. W. Weston.
1873. George S. Purdy.
1865-67. E. G. Reed.
1874-76. S. B. Haley.
1868. Edw. F. Torrey.
1877-78. R. N. Torrey.
1869. W. W. Weston. 1870. W. B. Holmes.
1879-84. H. T. Menner. 1885. M. B. Allen.
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FIRES .- The first fire in Honesdale of which there is any record, and certainly the first of any consequence, oc- curred in the summer of 1840. It was quite a disastrous fire-the more so from the fact that the people were destitute of any apparatus for fighting the flames, and without organization other than possibly a " bucket brigade." The loss occasioned by the lack of proper utensils led the citizens to consider their situation, and they came to the conclusion that the town should possess a fire-engine with which to meet future emergencies. A petition was consequently drawn up and presented to the Council, setting forth this view. The first names upon this petition were those of John F. Roe and Alanson Blood, and it contained many more signatures of the then prominent property-holders and active citizens. The Council appointed T. H. R. Tracy and T. J. Hubbell a committee to act in the matter, but they were unwilling to do so until they had tested the spirit of the people. They recommended that a memorial, authorizing the purchase of an engine and other apparatus, be circulated among the citizens for the recep- tion of their signatures, which was accordingly done. It was duly signed by two hundred and nine out of the two hundred and forty-four tax-payers of the boroughi. Now the pas- sage of a law authorizing the Council to borrow fifteen hundred dollars was found necessary, and was secured. The preliminary steps hav- ing been thus taken, Joseph Neal, cashier of the Honesdale Bank, and Mr. Tracy were ap- pointed a committee to make the purchase ; but they failed to do so, perhaps because they could not borrow the money needed on the credit of the borough. The matter was dropped and it was not until October, 1842, that John D.
Delezene was appointed to go to New York and make the long delayed purchase. On November 22d he reported that he had bought a machine for seven hundred dollars. The hand-engine " Deluge " was duly received by a fire company of the same name, which had in the mean time been organized, and of which John D. Delezene was the foreman. It had to be repainted, and the company thought it necessary to procure resplendently decorated buckets and provide themselves with uniforms before they made a public demonstration, and so it was not until some time in 1843 that the little hand-engine was dragged out of its house and through the streets before an admiring populace, by a long line of red-shirted firemen. It was not long before the " Deluge" eame to share the glory of the " Rescue."
Such was the beginning of the Honesdale Fire Department. Eventually other and larger hand-engines were procured, and it was many years before they were superseded by the steamers.
The frequent occurrence of fires in the sum- mer of 1853 led the citizens to take measures for protection, through the better organization of the Fire Department. At a meeting held July 11 th, there were present Colonel R. L. Seely, Stephen C. Cory, H. B. Beardslee, S. F. Din- mick, C. P. Waller, S. E. Dimmick, F. B. Pen- niman, Rev. Mr. Rowland, F. M. Crane, Esq., William Turner and many others. It was re- solved " that a committee of five be appointed, with William Turner as chairman, to forni a Fire Company to take charge of one of the engines, and that a like committee, with S. G. Corey as chairman, be appointed to form another, to take charge of the second engine, and that it be recommended to the Town Council to give the control of the engines and directions thereof at fires to said companies, when so formed, subject to such regulations as the companies may adopt under the approval of the Council."
A. Farnham was appointed as chairman of a committee to organize a hook-and-ladder com- pany, and others were appointed to solicit citi- zeus to become active or honorary members of the fire organization, those choosing to belong
1 Mr. Dimmick was town clerk or secretary of the Coun- cil from May 10, 1844, to May 4, 1863, except one year, 1853, when E. B. Burnham was elected, and he then served in Burnham's place.
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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.
to the latter class to pay the sum of two dollars each per annum towards its support. The de- partment was organized on this basis.
In 1875 was purchased the first of the two steamers, a Silsby, for which the sum of four thousand seven hundred dollars was paid. This was placed in custody of the Protection Fire Company, which then disposed of its hand engine.
Fires have been of quite frequent occurrence in the borough, and several of them have been very destructive. The first of which we have any details happened one night early in De- cember, 1844, and was the largest which had occurred np to that time. It originated in the store of Mr. A. J. Thorp, whose entire stock of goods was destroyed. The building belonging to Messrs. Dimmick & Cummings was totally destroyed, as were also others owned by N. M. Bartlett (occupied as a store by R. H. More), E. Rogers and George Brown. A blacksmith- shop and lime-house adjoining one of these were torn down to keep the fire from communi- cating with a large building owned by J. D. Delezene and occupied as a store and dwelling by Messrs. I. & O. Snyder, which at one time was in great hazard. A supply of water being obtained, it was put entirely out of danger, but the Messrs. Snyder suffered severely, probably to the amount of one thousand dollars, by the re- moval of their goods into the street.
A card published in the Democrat after this fire shows more completely who were the sufferers and affords grounds for the inference that they did not suffer very badly ; for few of the signers were mentioned in the newspaper account of the fire :
" We, the undersigned sufferers by the late fire in this Borough, avail ourselves of the earliest opportunity of communicating our expressions of gratitude to all persons present, for their timely exertions to rescue and preserve property ; and also to the Rescue Fire Company ' we return many thanks for their im- portant services.
"Honesdale, December 9, 1844.
"R. H. More. U. V. Wheeler.
E. Rodgers. Bennett & Cummings.
I. & O. Snyder. Bennett & Sutton.
A. J. Thorp. John J. Allen.
W. H. Richmond. Wm. H. Dimmick.
N. M. Bartlett. M. & H. O'Neill.
R. M. Bartlett. John Connolly. George Brown." S. V. Stiers.
During the night of Friday, April 25, 1851, one of the most destructive fires that ever oc- curred in the town broke ont in the building owned by Edward Murray, and situated on the west side of Front, just south of the intersec- tion of Eighth Street. At this time the fire ap- paratus of the town consisted of one hand-en- gine, and the effective service that it might do under favorable conditions was limited by dis . organized effort. How the fire originated was never known. About half-past ten o'clock at night flames were discovered bursting from the roof of the building, and before the alarm had been communicated to a large part of the cit- izens, a most destructive conflagration had gained headway. It happened, too, that at this time some repairs which the canal basin was undergoing were incomplete, and when the engine was brought to the scene, nearly half an hour was consumed in waiting for a water sup- ply. Meanwhile the flames were spreading in every direction, and the few lines of buckets which the more self-possessed citizens estab- lished were insufficient, even to save the goods and merchandise piled up in the streets. Men, women and children ran frantically hither and thither, watching the flames lick up fully one- third of the mercantile establishments of the town, and cover the heart of the town with blackened ruins.
The engine at last got water, was manned by scores of eager citizens, and the stream direct- ed against the southern advance of the flames, held them in check, and saved further destruc- tion.
Some sixty-four persons suffered losses by the fire, and the amount reached over one hun- dred and twenty-five thousand dollars, only about fifty-five thousand dollars of which was covered by insurance. To the northward, the flames communicated only to an adjoining build- ing ; but they crossed Front Street, and swept southward, on both sides of the avenue, to mid- way between Sixth and Seventh Streets. On the south side of Eighth Street, between Front and Second, everything was destroyed; and on both sides of Seventh, between Front and
353
WAYNE COUNTY.
Second, all was burned except a dwelling-house belonging to Isaiah Snyder, on the southeast corner. Most of the property destroyed was only. partially covered by insurance, if covered at all. The losses were as follows : A. Strong, $2500; Fox & Van Osdale; Edward Mur- ray, $3000; J. & T. Grady, $2500; Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, warehouse, $6000; M. Morss, $1200; S. Z. Lord, $2000: J. D. Delezene, $3000 ; A. Cummings, $1200; Wil- liam Weiss, $500; Bowers & Co., $6500; Isaiah Snyder, $3500 on building, $14,000 on stock ; Isaiah Snyder, two shops and ware- house, $500; Reuben Berry, $200; William Shend, $200; John Goldsmith, $200; Peter Miller, shops, $1000; Francis Conley, $400; Lord & Dimmick, building, $1400 ; Hornbeck & Keator, $4000 ; Asa Snyder, building, $1000; Thomas Cornell, Empire Block, $6000; Wil- bur & Patmore, $6500, including loss of packet " Fashion" and line-boat " Daniel Webster ;" I. P. Foster & Sons, $2500; West & Plumb, $1000; Knight & Van Kirk, $600; John Hazen, $400; Johnson & Chittenden, $5000; Thomas E. Rogers, $1500; G. W. Delezene, $1400; G. W. Deverill, $400; Mr. Center, $150; Mr. Potter, $150; Masonic Lodge room, ; C. H. Rogers, $500; Canal Basin bridge, $300; S. G. Throop, $500; Richard Henwood, $3000; Dr. Roskopf, $500; Mr. Brown, $200; M. B. Bennett, $1200; Bennett & Moore, $4500; G. P. Heap, $1200; Mr. Wonthall, $2000; W. H. & S. E. Dimmick, building, $1200 ; Mrs. Harrison, $1200; Mrs. Powell, $1200; Philip Slochbour, $3000; Mrs. Stunner, $1600; M. Levy, $2000 ; Thom- as Cornell, $2000; Mrs. Murray, $600; Stone & Graves, $1000; Malone's smithy, $300; MeLaughlin, wagon-shop, $300; S. G. Throop, law-office, $150 ; Mrs. Wilcox, J. B. Dennison, A. & E. Reed, Barnes & Harlen, Charles Schla- ger, Mrs. Loomis and many others, suffered damage by having their property wet or stolen.
At five o'clock on Sunday morning, December 26, 1852, a fire broke out in the second story of Mr. Isaiah Snyder's store on Front Street. The flames made rapid progress and soon reached the store of Messrs. Strong & Stilson, adjoining. Two fire-engines were brought into 34
service and were worked with great efficiency, while the forcing pump of the Delaware and Hudson Company was also brought into re- quisition. The flames were speedily brought under control and prevented from entering Edward Murray's block, immediately con- tiguous, though the stores mentioned were entirely consumed. The building in which they were kept was the property of Dr. A. Strong, and was valued at about two thousand one hundred dollars. Mr. Snyder's loss was about seven thousand dollars over and above insurance, which was ten thousand dollars, and Messrs. Strong & Stilson's absolute loss was about fifteen hundred dollars. The origin of this fire was a mystery.
Early in the morning of July 12, 1853, a fire occurred on Sixth Street, which consumed a cabinet-shop, a blacksmith-shop, a large stable for the accommodation of canal horses, building known as Military Hall and an extensive bakery. The cabinet-shop belonged to C. P. & G. G. Waller, and was occupied by two Ger- mans. All of the other buildings belonged to Mr. George Britenbacher, whose loss was from four thousand dollars to five thousand dollars. The fire was supposed to be the work of an in- cendiary, and an arrest was soon after made upon the charge of arson, but the person so charged was not convicted.
The stables on Second Street, in the rear of the Mansion House, were burned on Friday morning, September 22, 1853. The fire caught accidentally in the livery stable of Allis Whit- ney, and six horses belonging to him were burned to death. He had no insurance and suffered a loss of fifteen hundred dollars. From Whitney's stables the fire spread to the hotel and stage stables, but from these all of the property was removed.
An incendiary fire occurred at five o'clock on the morning of Monday, December 18, 1853, in the store and stable of Hannigan & White, on Front Street, which entirely destroyed the building, and also the dwelling, store and stable of George Whitney, occupied by Thomas Coyne, the buildings owned by James Moylan, and occupied by several tenants, and badly damaged the property of Frederick R. Marshall. The
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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.
total loss was about ten thousand dollars, one- half of which was sustained by Hannigan & White, who lost not only their buildings and stock of merchandise, but four valuable horses, harness, hay, grain, etc. There was no doubt that this fire was the work of an incendiary. Two unsuccessful attempts to burn other build- ings were made by the miscreants the same morning.
The house and stable of Mrs. Hughes and the German hotel and bakery kept by William Wefferling were burned on Sunday night, Sep- tember 23, 1854, causing a total loss of more than five thousand dollars. Only a few days later, September 30th, a fire occurred in the lower part of the town, which was known to be of incendiary origin, the Delaware and Hudson watchman having seen two men run from the building just as the fire broke out. The fire was first seen in a barn owned by William Finnerty from which it spread in several directions, de- stroying various dwellings and other buildings. The Council offered a reward of one thousand dollars for the detection of the incendiaries.
A fire which broke out in the stable of Mr. Schrifer, on Front Strect, April 11, 1855, spread quickly beyond control, both north and south, there being no water in the canal basin, and de- stroyed Francis Von Beck's store and stable, the former occupied by Mr. Schrifer as a grocery ; M. A. Bidwell's building, in which were two stores occupied by John Hannegan and Mrs. A. Miller, and some dwellings ; M. & J. O'Neil's store and stable; E. M. Genung's blacksmith-shop, and the building owned by John Kelly and James Baker, in which were the stores of J. & M. Brown and William Hol- laud, and a number of families residing in the upper rooms. The aggregate damage was not less than ten thousand dollars, almost entirely covered by insurance. The fire was universally believed to be the work of an incendiary.
Another disastrous fire broke out in a large building known as Cornell's Hall, located on Front Street, near the canal basin, on the even- ing of December 3, 1855. The flames were first discovered in a long passage about six feet wide that ran between two stores and correspond- ed to the entrance to the hall, and almost as
soon as the alarm was given the fire burst out and spread in every direction. The firemen were on hand promptly, but their labors were directed chiefly at saving buildings to which the flames had not already communicated. The damage done amounted to about thirty thousand dollars and the principal public hall of the town was destroyed. This was owned by T. Cornell & Co., and the building which contained it had been completed only three years before, at a cost of seventy-five hundred dollars ; it was insured for five thousand dollars. Among the other sufferers were P. W. Slochbouer, $2000, $500 insurance; Judah Levi, $5000, uninsured ; Jolin Grady, $5000, insured ; T. Cornell & Co., warehouse, $400; Hard, Gil- bert & Palmer, hides, $5000; S. G. Throop, $1000; Patrick Burns, $100; Miss Langes, $900, insured ; G. L. Cooper, $1600, insured. Several other properties were injured.
On Wednesday following the fire Timothy Grady, Michael Grady and Patrick McCasey were arrested on the charge of incendiarism and held in three thousand dollars bail each to an- swer for setting fire to Cornell's Hall.
About four o'clock on the morning of August 12, 1856, a fire broke out in Russell's Hall, and spread rapidly in both directions. The building and contents were destroyed. The building was the property of Z. H. Russell and cost two thousand dollars, about half of which was covered by insurance. The upper floor con- tained the lodge-rooms of. two orders of Odd- Fellows, and each lost two hundred dollars. J. H. Dunny, the Mansion House, Mr. Peterson, Thomas Hocker, G. W. Deverell and Hand & Kirtland were all losers, but had some insur- ance.
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