Payette County ID Archives News.....Monday's Calamity - Shaw Fire September 23, 1904
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Cheryl Hanson ihansonb@fmtc.com February 15, 2006, 9:36 pm

New Plymouth Outlook September 23, 1904
New Plymouth Outlook
New Plymouth, Idaho
Friday, September 23, 1904
 
MONDAY'S CALAMITY
 
Last Monday was an eventful day at New Plymouth.  On that date the first big 
fire in the history of New Plymouth occurred and rendered homeless one of the 
best families in town besides consuming to ashes the largest residence of the 
village.  The fire started in some unknown way in the third story of the 
house, which had been used principally as a store room.  The blaze was first 
seen by a neighbor, Mrs. Dorothy, between twelve and one o'clock while the 
family were at dinner, and her husband quickly carried the alarm to the Shaw 
family.  Mr. Shaw upon a second glance realized the approaching calamity, 
pronounced the fire beyond control, and ordered the contents removed as fast 
as possible.  From this time on the neighbors gathered from every direction 
and the great bulk of the contents were removed to the lawn.  By careful 
watching the buildings back of the house were protected from the flames and at 
about three o'clock the burning embers read the closing chapter of the 
thrilling tragedy of the day.  The absence of wind and the substantial nature 
of the building caused the fire to burn very slowly and evenly, and the crowd 
of a hundred or more was as calm and collected as though nothing  out of the 
ordinary was happening.  And Mr. Shaw wished us to say in this connection that 
he never saw a body of people make themselves as useful and display as much 
real Christian friendship as his neighbors did upon this occasion.  The total 
loss from house and contents amounts to something over $3,500, but with the 
$2,000 insurance the actual loss sustained by the family will be less than 
$2,000.  Mr. Shaw's folks are now fixing up temporary living rooms in their 
brick building on Main street, and are holding up under their load of 
misfortune with almost unexampled fortitude.

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