The Greentown Gem - Clippings 1931

              Destroyed by Fire

Flames Discovered at 2:20 Saturday Morning in Battery Room Sweep Entire Building.

$25,000.00 LOSS PARTIALLY COVERED BY INSURANCE

Twenty-One Cars, Truck, Tractor and Motorcycle Along With Contents Consumed in Flames

KOKOMO PUMPER RENDERS VALUABLE ASSISTANCE

Post Office Damaged - Windows Cracked by Intense Heat - Other Buildings Threatened.

	A property loss of $25,000.00 occurred early Saturday morning when the Hains Garage, operated by John Hains local Chevrolet dealer and proprietor of a general garage and storage business, was consumed by fire which razed the large garage building along with the contents which consisted of five new Chevrolet cars, a truck, tractor, motorcycle and fourteen used cars and a storage car belonging to John Osborn, equipment consisting of tools, batteries, accessories, oils, greases, tires, etc.  The post office building across the alley to the south, was also considerably damaged by fire and water as was the roof of the garage belonging to Chas. Hamer a few feet to the south of the post office.  Windows were cracked by the intense heat in the buildings across the street to the east at the Wright drug store and the Ford Home.
Discovered About 2:20 O’clock
	The blaze was discovered about 2:20 o’clock by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hamer [missing text] south of the garage.  Mrs. Hamer was awakened by the smell of smoke and aroused her husband who made an investigation, finding the garage full of smoke.  He immediately turned in the alarm and sought to notify the owners.
Started in the Battery Room
	According to those arriving at the garage first, the flames were confined to the battery room just back of the office on the north side.  Claude Stanley and Jake Buzzard, employed at the local bakery, were probably among the first to arrive on the scene, and with the chemical tanks, began to fight the fire through a window of the battery room, but the small amount of chemicals on hand was insufficient to make much impression on the blaze but with the arrival of more of the tanks it was hoped to be able to get it under control.
	It is said that the glass in the front doors was broken, giving the blaze a draft and the flames enveloped the whole interior of the building almost immediately.  By this time help was beginning to arrive and the big front doors were broken open and a new Chevrolet Coupe nearest the door was dragged and half carried from the burning building.
	The smoke and heat was so intense by this time that all efforts to remove any of the other cars would have been a very dangerous task.  The big wrecking car was taken from the building through the back door.
Many Explosions Occur
	As the flames swept over the building several explosions occurred, barrels of oil and tanks of gasoline let go with terrific force, making the heat more intense and the smoke rose skyward in large volume.  The walls were pushed outward, releasing much of the heat, which cracked windows across the street to the east.
	As the flames swept through the garage the heat and flying embers caught the post office building just across the alley to the south, and the volunteers began work on saving this building, and watchers were posted on all the surrounding buildings.  The roof on the Hamer residence was kept soaked with water.
Call For Help From Kokomo
	Realizing that the fire might soon get beyond all control and sweep the entire block, a call was made to the Kokomo fire department, who responded to the call for help by a quick run with a pumper truck.  Just thirteen minutes after the company had the request, they were stopping on Meridian street and unloading a line of hose.
	In the meantime Oscar Grau, local manager of the water works, started the pump and had the big tank supplied with a good supply of water for the pumper to use.
	The hose was played on the walls next to the post office first and then turned upon the building extinguishing the blaze on the roof and then going to the rear of the garage and playing the stream on the flames to kill them down and keep the burning ambers from blowing over the town, thus lessening the danger of other buildings catching fire.
	The post office caught fire two or three times, but the stream played on it by the Kokomo boys kept it under control.
Other Buildings Threatened
	It was apparent from the first that unless some valiant work was done other buildings were doomed along with the garage building, and much concern was felt for the Hamer residence, the M. E. Church, the big sale barn, besides the post office, and the Kemper and Wagner buildings to the north were watched very closely during the progress of the fire.  Sparks fell upon the roofs of the bank building. Smith’s building and the Ford Home, but were extinguished by the watchers.
Only One Storage Car
	Only one storage car was in the garage for the night, which belonged to John Osborn.  Mr. Osborn said he had left his work clothing in the car along with an overcoat.  They all went up in smoke.
Loss Partially Covered
	Mr. Hains is understood to have carried approximately $6,000 on the contents of the building and a partial coverage on the new cars, while it has not been learned how much, if any, was carried on the building.
	The building was owned by a Mr. Darling of South Whitley, and up to the time this is being written, had not come to look over the ruins of his building.  

[transcribed by Lisa A. Stout  2008 February 2]