New Paltz, NY Normal School Fire, Mar 1906

NORMAL SCHOOL BURNED.

NEW PALTZ SUFFERS A SERIOUS LOSS BY FIRE WEDNESDAY MORNING.

At an early hour Wednesday morning fire completely destroyed the buildings of the State Normal School at New Paltz, Ulster county, together with their contents. At present the origin of the fire in unaccounted for.
This school stood high among the normal schools of the State and was always full of students from various parts of the State, this immediate region being generally well represented. The students and most of the faculty are away on the Easter vacation at present. MYRON T. SCUDDER, M. A., is at the head of the school and ALBERT K. SMILEY, President of the Board of Trustees.
The fire was discovered shortly after midnight, and firemen were quickly on the scene. They made heroic efforts to save the institution, but to no avail, for soon the entire interior of the main building was enveloped in flames and the fire was beyond control.
There were numerous explosions as the flames reached the laboratory, which was well stocked with chemicals of a combustible nature. Many of the firemen had thrilling escapes but none were seriously hurt.
The loss is estimated at over $100,000. The insurance is about $65,000. The loss to New Paltz is great, especially to the merchants and to the many who boarded students. It is but a short time since the Albany Normal School was burned.

Orange County Times-Press Middletown New York 1906-03-20
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!