Newspapers:  Rivkin's Store Fire, Hayward, Sawyer Co., WI 

====================================================================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information 
on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as 
this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may 
NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other 
persons or organizations.

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes 
other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file 
contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact 
the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent.   The submitter 
has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently 
for free access.

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Nance Sampson <nsampson@spacestar.net>  15 June 1999	
====================================================================

Rivkin's Store Gutted by $150,000 Fire Sunday

Headquartered in Alexander Furniture

Once again within an 18 day period, fire lashed out in Hayward Sunday morning,
November 4th (1951), when Rivkins store was burned to the ground, causing an
estimated loss of $150,000.

The fire was discovered by Gus Karibalis at approximately 2:15 a.m. as he 
passed the store on his way home from is tavern.

The volunteer fire department, under the guidance of Chief Louis Gregerson
and twenty fire-fighters answered the call and brought the fire under control
at 5:05 a.m. when the Spooner fire-fighters with their pumper arrived to give 
stand-by aid.  On Monday, the debris was still smoldering.

During the height of the blaze, the heat was so great that windows in the 
A. & P., Hayward Liquor and Marshall-Wells stores were broken.  The old
theater building, located next door to Rivkins, now being remodeled by Mr.
and Mrs. Phil Barnes, helped to hold off the spreading of the fire in the 
block.  This building was also damaged, the extent of the loss still 
undetermined.

Plans are now being formulated by Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Swiler, owners of the
destroyed property, to build an ultra-modern one-story building on the
present site in the very near future.  The Swilers are now operating the
accounting for the firm from the Alexander Furniture Store.  All records and
accounts were saved.

The store was established in 1894 by Mrs. Swiler's parents, the Harry Rivkins, 
and has been known as one of the oldest landmarks in the city.

--Found in the Sawyer County Record and Hayward Republican, 8 November 1951.