Bellows Falls, VT Fire Rages Downtown, Mar 1912

BELLOWS FALLS HAS BIG FIRE.

HOTEL AND TWO BIG BLOCKS DESTROYED AT LOSS OF $200,000.

Bellows Falls, Vt., March 26. -- The three principal business structures here, the Union and Arms blocks and the Hotel Windham were destroyed by fire, early today, at a loss of $200,000. For hours it was feared the whole business section of the city would be wiped out, but the flames were contained to two blocks and the hotel.
Thirty guests were asleep in the hotel when the fire started in the Union block, but hotel employes aroused the sleepers in time to rise and escape. One aged man was carried out after the hotel was afire.
All the burned buildings were of brick, the Arms and Union three stories, and the hotel four. The hotel loss is $50,000 and the other losses are $75,000 each.
The fire, it is thought was caused by a carelessly thrown cigarette butt. When the firemen arrived the Union block was a mass of flames and attention was directed in saving nearby property. North Walpole rendered assistance. The sky was lighted for miles around.

Fitchburg Daily Sentinel Massachusetts 1912-03-26
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!