Smethport, PA Courthouse Fire, Feb 1940

COURTHOUSE AT SMETHPORT IS SWEPT BY EARLY MORNING FIRE.

EARLY ESTIMATE HAS REPLACEMENT FIGURE CLOSE TO $250,000.

MAIN SECTION OF BUILDING BADLY GUTTED, PARTICULARLY IN UPPER STORIES; FIRE BELIEVED TO HAVE HAD ORIGIN IN BASEMENT, CAUSE YET UNKNOWN; NEARBY FIRE COMPANIES ASSIST SMETHPORT VOLUNTEERS.

Smethport -- County officials today surveyed the damage done by a fire early this morning to the McKean County Courthouse here. The blaze practically gutted the main portion of the structure and reached into the two side wings.
Prompt action by the Smethport and other volunteer fire departments probably saved the building from complete destruction.
The fire was first discovered at three forty-five o'clock by Police Chief JAMES McCABE, who immediately sounded the Borough fire alarm, calling out all local volunteers.
Fire Chief LEROY O'LAUGHLIN, upon his arrival, noted the extent of the fire, and immediately sounded additional alarms, calls being placed for help from Mt. Jewett, Port Allegheny, Eldred, Bradford, Kane and Olean. The Olean Fire Department hald a truck in readiness should the blaze reach more alarming proportions.
The largest portion of the fire damage was confined to the upper portion of the main building which was built originally in 1881.
The third floor was completely demolished, and the court room and hallways on the second floor were also swept by the flames.
Other offices on the second floor, including those of the District Attorney, County Detective and Superintendent of Schools, were badly damaged by smoke and water, while the main floor was water soaked and the basement flooded.
On the first floor, principal water damage was done to the prothorotary's office. This room had recently been remodeled at a cost of approximately $5,000 and had not yet been occupied. Early estimates placed the cost of again improving the office at $3,500.

Records Removed.
When it was apparent the fire was of a serious nature, volunteers began removing county records from all offices. Some of these were water-soaked, but were not believed to have been seriously damaged. They were removed to the school building and to the county jail.
Pending an investigation when the ruins have cooled sufficiently, cause of the fire was not immediately established.
It was determined, however, that the origin was in the basement, and that the flames shot directly upward to break out in the upper floors.
The fire is believed to have made a slow start as clocks throughout the building had stopped at two-fifty o'clock, giving rise to the belief that the electric system had been effected at that time.
Other facts of time were noted on the large tower clock over the front of the main building, which continued to operate during the early stages of the fire as it had since its erection in 1881.

Clock Falls.
However, as the flames swept upward, the clock tolled its final hour at four o'clock, and witnesses reported the striking was much faster than usual as though flames were licking at some moving spirit which remained until its duty had been performed.
Finally, at four-ten o'clock, the time piece crashed from weakened supports into the inferno below.
Also notable was the crash of the large statue of Justice which had adorned the top of the building. Standing until the fire had gained much headway, the heavy statue finally plunged forward.
County Commissioners J. ALBERT CLEVELAND, Smethport, and ORVILLE SCOTT, Kane were among the first on the scene, and reported the loss to be completely covered by insurance.
They announced the left wing built in 1914, had been touched only slightly by the fire, and that the judges chambers had suffered some smoke and water damage. The right wing, completed in 1938, appeared to have been little damaged.
It was estimated that from 500 to 1,000 persons were at the scene after four-thirty o'clock. State Motor Police from the Smethport and Kane Barracks handled the crowd during the fire, and later this morning, special deputy sherriffs were assigned to the task of guarding the damaged property.

Olean Times Herald New York 1940-02-12
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!