NEWS: Cambria Freeman; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA; Oct 1908 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 9 Oct 1908 Volume 42, Number 39 **[Paper badly faded] Local and Personal Leon Shields, a Pittsburg broker, was in town Monday to see the extent of the fire which destroyed the grocery store owned by his brother, W. C. Shields. Walter Thomas, son of Joseph O. Thomas of Cambria Township, returned to Pittsburg University where he is taking a business course on Monday last. Messrs. C. H. Barker and his son, Allan and John L. Elder, Jr. of this place started Saturday for Philadelphia in Allan Barker's automobile. Alfred Shoemaker of Johnstown spent Sunday in Ebensburg visiting his mother, Mrs. Mary V. Shoemaker of Julian Street who has been ill. The Rev. F. E. Sigmund, pastor of the Ebensburg Baptist Church, is enjoying a vacation with his family and will be away from town for the next couple weeks. Mrs. O'Connor, wife of Judge Francis J. O'Connor, accompanied the Judge to Ebensburg Tuesday and while here, looked over the ruins of Monday morning's disastrous conflagration. Dr. E. B. Roberts of Pittsburg, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Roberts of this place, was here this week to see the ruins of the fire. The Roberts property was in danger at one time from the blaze. Miss Mary Ellen O'Neil, of Pittsburg, who owns some property near the fire was a visitor here this week. She was accompanied by her brother, Henry O'Neil. The O'Neil property was the last saved from the flames. To Succeed Dowling Edward P. Riley, for a number of years assistant cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, Johnstown, has been chosen to succeed the late Walter Dowling as cashier of the Guaranty Title & Trust Company of the Flood City. Mr. Riley is well known through the county and his selection for the position named is being highly commended. Sworn in As Lawyer Earl Sorber of Johnstown, recently admitted to the Cambria county bar, was sworn in by Clerk Kinkead during motion court Tuesday afternoon. Fire Fiend Not Beaten Back Until Damage Amounted to Over $60,000 Handicapped by Absence of Recently Purchased Fire Engine, Fighters are Unable to Check Advance of Flames Until Almost a Dozen Buildings are Devoured Workers Deserve Credit New Buildings Will Replace Old Ones! Staring shortly before 3 o'clock last Monday morning in the Owen Jones store on High Street, fire raged on that thoroughfare for four hours and when the flames were finally under control, damage to the amount of $60,000 had been done. The Losers and Their Losses Central Hotel owned by P. F. Brown estate and conducted by Hugh Brown, building and most of contents destroyed. Loss $20,000; insurance about $5000. Blair House owned by T. V. Hott and conducted by Mr. Hott and Nicholas Wyland, building and contents destroyed. Loss $20,000; insurance $4500. C. J. McAnulty livery stable, building and $500 worth of equipment destroyed. Uninsured; loss of $1500. Unoccupied two story-frame business building, owned by J. G. Hasson, totally destroyed. Uninsured; loss of $3000. W. C. Shields, building and grocery store totally destroyed. Uninsured; loss of $10,000. Blair House stable, totally destroyed. Loss, $600. Mrs. C. J. Blair residence, building destroyed but most of contents saved. Loss of $3,000, insurance about $2000. Mrs. Edward Griffith residence, destroyed by fire and dynamite. Loss, $2500. Barn on Mrs. Edward Griffith's lot, totally destroyed. Loss, $300. Owen R. Jones, grocery; totally destroyed. Loss $5,000; insurance $4000. Following are some of the minor losses: Shettig Brothers, $75; George H. Roberts $150; Mrs. R. E. Jones, $150; M. D. Kittell, $30; C. L. Roberts, $50. All windows were broken in the buildings along High Street opposite the Central Hotel and the Shields, Hasson and Jones buildings. Fire 75 Years Ago The old Central Hotel is gone. It was a landmark. And it was recalled by old residents Monday, who in turn were told by persons now dead that 75 years ago on the site of the old Central, another hotel was destroyed. It was the old Black Horse Inn, a tavern frequented by travelers on their way from the eastern part of the state to the little town of Pittsburg. That night, three quarters of a century ago, two men who stayed over night at the Black Horse Inn were burned to death. Penned in their room in the log tavern, they perished miserably. There were no fatalities Monday morning. Broke Out in Basement The blaze broke out in the basement of the store occupied by O. R. Jones and owned by Mrs. Ed Griffith. The Jones store was doomed from the start. There was no chance of saving it. It was an old structure and very dry. A vacant two-story structure owned by J. G. Hasson was next to the Jones store. The firemen were powerless to prevent its catching fire and it was a wreck within a very short time after the flames communicated to it. The W. C. Shields general store, which contained a very large stock, was next in the path of the flames. There the volunteers by strenuous efforts succeeded in stopping the fire on that site, but not before the building had been practically demolished with axes and hooks. Central Hotel Catches Fire In the meantime the flames had communicated to the Central Hotel, next to the Jones store. The hotel proper was separated from the store by a one-story structure in which the barroom was located. Neighbors and others had taken a great quantity of goods from the hotel itself, but the great stock of wines and liquors, a new cash register, a dozen rifles and shotguns, a taxidermist's collection of stuffed animals and other valuables goods in the bar were destroyed. The hotel burned like paper. It was two-and-a-half stories high and contained about 40 rooms. The wind had veered shortly before the Central caught fire and a large stable in the rear occupied by C. J. McNulty was soon burning. All of the horses and vehicles were taken out but a quantity of feed and harness were burned. Right across the street from the Central Hotel was the old Blair House, owned by Thomas V. Hott. Everything in this structure, including almost all of the bar stock and hotel furniture, had been removed when the flames seized the Central Hotel. A constantly shifting wind carried a huge tongue of fire across Julian Street and despite the efforts of the firemen and others, who had been drenching the Blair House for an hour, it was ablaze in an instant. It too burned rapidly and there was absolutely no chance to save it. The hotel proper, and ice house, stables and other outbuildings were entirely consumed. The proprietor of the Blair, of Hott House, had just recently finished a number of improvements which costs several thousand dollars. Dynamite is Used Adjoining the Blair House on High Street was the two-and-one-half story home of Mrs. C. J. Blair. About the time the rest of this house caught fire an effort was made to stay the flames by using dynamite. Several sticks of the explosive were used, but although the entire end of the hotel was blown to the ground, the Blair residence could not be saved. The home had been dismantled sometime before the Blair House caught fire. From Mrs. Blair's home the flames leaped to the residence owned and occupied by Mrs. Ed Griffith, who also owned the Jones store building. This house was also destroyed as was a large barn on the rear of the property. In this case again dynamite was used and the progress of the fire was finally stopped. For two hours at this time a crew of fireman had been fighting the flames at the Shields store. Time and again the fire seemed to be getting the better of the argument but with a dogged persistency that saved a property loss of additional thousands of dollars, the men stayed with the fight. The Shields property was practically demolished and the stock was almost ruined by the fire and water but the building next to it was saved. This was the large house and store owned and occupied by C. T. Roberts. At one time this house was ablaze and seemed to be doomed. Nothing but the efforts of the men fighting in the Shields building saved it. Buildings on the opposite side of High Street from the burning structures frequently caught fire. The M. D. Kittell home, the Shettig Bros. store and the J. F. Tibbott, Jeff Evans and Miss O'Neil properties were ablaze several times and were saved from destruction only after hard work. In every house and building on High Street, opposite the burned district great damage was done through scorching and the crackling of panes of glass. Aid Asked at Other Places Shortly after the fire started and when it was seen that it was bound to prove a disastrous one, the borough officials telephoned Johnstown, Altoona and Carrolltown for assistance. The Altoona department sent an engine, a mile of hose and a hose wagon. This reached Cresson where it was stopped, the fire being under control. The Johnstown company did not get out of that city. The borough of Carrolltown sent its one gasoline engine to Ebensburg overland, accompanied by a number of men. The engine arrived after danger of a further spread had passed, but it was used to extinguish the fire in a part of the ruins. It was a single-cylindered engine, but threw a fairly large stream. Plenty of Water There was a sufficient water supply Monday morning. The reservoir was practically full and when the flames had been extinguished only 18 inches had been take from it. Stories to the effect that water was carried in tubs and buckets because of a lack of water in the mains, was entirely untrue, being the product of some fevered dreamer's distorted imagination. Great credit is due the volunteer fighters for their work. From the time the first line of hose was laid and water thrown on the Jones store they did all that was possible with the apparatus at hand. It is said that almost all of the burned structures will be rebuilt. Hugh Brown, proprietor of the Central Hotel, has commenced the erection of a temporary bar and office. Other work will also start within a short time. Collapsed From Excitement Mrs. Elizabeth Griffith, widow of the late Dr. Griffith, who lives across the street from the fire, was in a serious condition Tuesday as a result of the excitement. Although her property was in no danger at any time, she suffered several fainting spells which left her quite weak. There were visitors in Ebensburg from Johnstown and almost every town and hamlet in the north of the county to view the ruins of the fire. Most of them drove in while others came by automobile and train.