Middletown, NY Business Fire, Jan 1907

A FIERY VISITATION EARLY THIS MORNING.

MORRIS B. WOLF & BRO. AND N. D. MILLS THE CHIEF SUFFERERS.

UNDERFULL HEADWAY WHEN FOUND.

HANFORD & HORTON AND A. BUDWIG & CO. ALSO DAMAGED -- LOSS FROM $35,000 TO $40,000 -- THE ORIGIN OF FIRE IS UNKNOWN -- FIREMEN LABOR EFFECTIVELY IN A ZERO ATMOSPHERE -- INCIDENTS OF THE DISASTER.

A fire which threatened to sweep away one of the principal blocks in the business section of this city, occurred early this morning, when the clothing store of MORRIS B. WOLF & Bro. and the cigar store and factory of NATHAN D. MILLS, in the building owned by MRS. L. M. VANDERBEEK, at 10 and 12 North street, were practically destroyed and the stock of both concerns ruined. The D. C. DUSENBERRY Building, on the north, and that owned by the Broadwell estate, on the south were in grave danger of sharing a like fate during the progress of the flames. The heroic work of the fire department prevented a conflagration which Middletown would have long remembered. The loss resulting from the disaster is variously estimated at from $35,000 to $40,000 and is only partially covered by insurance.

The Origin.
The fire started at 8:45 o'clock on the second floor of the clothing store of M. B. WOLF & Bro. and was first discovered by a clerk in the store, who had occasion to go to the second floor after some goods. As he reached the top of the stairs, he was driven back by the flames and dense smoke, which came from the burning clothing. The clerk rushed down stairs and gave the alarm, and J. NOBLE WOOD telephoned to Eagles and Excelsiors. About the same time the fire was discovered by the clerk, the flames and smoke burst through the wooden partition into the cigar factory of MR. MILLS. There were twenty-one men at work in this department. The flames came into the work room so quickly that the men were taken completely by surprise. The room was soon filled with suffocating smoke and the men were compelled to grope their was to the stairs leading to the store. On the third floor of the building were J. H. YEAGER, the foreman of the stripping department, and three workmen, FRANK TERWILLIGER, WALTER TRAVIS and ABRAM CROUK. THey knew nothing of the affair until they heard the confusion on the floor below. They then started to ascertain the trouble and were headed out by the flames and smoke. The men were almost stiffled when they reached the main work room, and with great difficulty they finally made their way to the street nearly overcome.

Fire In Cigar Store.
A Times-Press reporter was in MR. MILLS' store when FRED B. DeGRAW, who has charge of the packing department, came rushing downstairs, shouting that the building was on fire. He then hastened to the business office of MR. MILLS, in the Boyd Building, across the street, and notified his employer, while the Times-Press reporter hastened to box 57, at Franklin Square and turned in the alarm.

A Scene Of Ruin.
An inspection of the building, after the flames had spent their force, presented a scene of ruin and destruction. The entire thrid floor of the building was gutted, and a greater part of the second floor of WOLF Bros' store was practically burned away. While the lower floor of their store and the first and second floors of MR. MILLS' place were flooded with water and the stock contained therin rendered useless.

Middletown Daily Times Press New York 1907-01-23
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!