Pottsville Republican of May 24, 1920

FACTORY FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

At noon on Tuesday, fire broke out at the Schuylkill Haven Casket Factory in Schuylkill Haven in the
engine room and caused damage to the amount of $1000, entirely covered by insurance.
The fire was discovered by the firemen who had not yet gone to their dinner, and they at once closed
the heavy doors leading to the main plant and confined the fire to the boiler house and engine room.  
The plant is situated along the Reading Railroad and it was difficult to get a good supply of water
quickly, when the fire companies responded.  It is supposed that sparks from the fire box ignited a large
pile of shavings, which were to be used for fuel, and at once the engine room was in a blaze.
The main building is of brick and there was little danger of this part catching on fire, but there was a
large supply of lumber which was in danger.  The three Schuylkill Haven fire companies responded at
once to the alarm, the Humane and American companies of Pottsville and the two Cressona companies
were called and they succeeded in confining the blaze to the boiler and engine room.
The fire will not cause a suspension for although the plant was using steam for power, they are
equipped with electricity and can carry on their work without any difficulty.
When the Pottsville fire apparatus reached Mount Carbon bridge two autos were found to be figuring in
a head on collision, one of the cars being owned by L. Weiner.  The firemen assisted in separating the
cars before they could get over the bridge.  Outside of a general smashup of the headlights, there was
not much damage done.
Pottsville Republican of June 30, 1919

COSTLY FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

Fire broke out in the skating rink on lower Main Street, Schuylkill Haven, shortly after nine o'clock
Monday morning and destroyed the Rink, the Mayberry blacksmith shop next door, badly damaged the
Bittler garage, and slightly damaged three houses and the Reider Shoe Factory.
The alarm of the fire was sounded about eight minutes after the fire started, but the milk train was on
the railroad crossing and this delayed the firemen for a time so that the fire gained headway.  The
skating rink has for sometime past been used as a storage house and contained about eight autos,
some household goods and a quantity of lumber.  This was completely destroyed as was also the
Mayberry blacksmith shop.  Three houses, owned and occupied by Paul Naffin, owner of the skating
rink, William Quinter and John Hirst were damaged by fire and water.  In the Hirst home a woman with
her one day old baby were carried from the house to escape the fire.  The Meck and Reber factory was
damaged but not to any great extent.  
The fire is supposed to have started from a small vulcanizing plant beneath the skating rink.  The three
fire companies of Schuylkill Haven responded and had several streams of water playing on the fire.  A
Cressona chemical also came to their assistance.  The water supply was poor and caused a
considerable amount of trouble.  The Pottsville companies were appealed to and Chief Stevenson
ordered the Good Intent to go at once to the scene of the fire.  The Good Intent arrived about the same
time as the Schuylkill Haven companies, about nine minutes being required to make the run.
It was not more then an hour before the entire disaster and the buildings were in ruins.  It is estimated
that the loss will reach $30,000.  Naffin, who is the heaviest loser, says that his loss is only partly
covered by insurance.
The contents of the rink alone were worth thousands of dollars.  The place contained a $3000 organ, a
full set of plumbing implements, which had been stored there and a large machine used for making
cement bricks.  They were totally destroyed.  The vulcanizing plant, owned by Anthony Savoir, where the
fire started, was also ruined and the loss is large.  At noon the smoke had almost entirely disappeared
and the Liberty Fire Company was the only one remaining to see that the fire did not break out in any
place again.
Schuylkill Haven people are aroused over the matter of the train remaining on the crossing, resulting in
a loss of valuable time to the firemen.  It is said that the Schuylkill Haven people will take the matter
before the officials.

**NOTE:  Naffin was the father of Harry Naffin, former owner of Messner and Hess and frequent provider
of information to this site.  The rink was located where Boyer's Market now stands.
Pottsville Republican of August 22, 1917

LIGHTNING CAUSED TWO FIRES AT SCH HAVEN WITH LOSS OF $50,000

Lightning on Tuesday evening caused two fires at Schuylkill Haven, the first one being discovered in
the planing mill of Meck and Keever, located on Railroad Street below Main and the second one at the
underwear mill of Baker Brothers located to the rear of Saint John Street south of Market Street.
The total damage will reach $50,000 according to a conservative estimate.  The loss to the Meck-Keever
planing mill reach almost $6000 and the total loss to Baker Bros. will be something over $40,000 partly
covered by insurance.
Only the splendid work of the firemen prevented the flames from the Baker structure from reaching
other buildings and residences close by.  There was considerable damage done by the flames shooting
out of the Baker building but no other buildings or residences were destroyed.
When the terrible crash of thunder came following two sharp flashes of lightning on Tuesday evening,
there was a cry of fire from Saint John Street and an alarm was sent in.  There had been flames
discovered at the boiler house of the planing mill.  The firemen responded and succeeded in checking
this fire before it reached the buildings where the lumber was stored.  The fire however did
considerable damage to the boiler and machines.  The efforts of everyone were turned to the planing
mill and no one knew anything of the fire at Baker's.
People residing in Smoketown soon ran to the planing mill fire and made it known that there was a fire
at Baker Bros. Mill.  The firemen then put a force of men on guard at the planing mill with a stream in
case of another outbreak and went to the Baker fire.  When they got there the entire lower portion of
the building was afire and the flames shot through to the upper story as the firemen prepared their
streams for the building.  Seeing it was a bad situation they sent for the Pottsville department and the
Good Will and the Humane sent their trucks and the Humane a steamer.  
For almost two hours the firemen battled with the fire here and finally succeeded in getting the building
to fall in on one side so they could confine it.  The diligent work of the firemen and the fact that there
was no wind saved the other buildings and the residences in that vicinity.  
The Zimmerman home about sixty feet from the Baker mill, was afire several times but each time the
firemen succeeded in extinguishing it before any serious damage resulted.  The Zimmerman home was
vacant, the tenants moving out last week, but Mrs. Zimmerman had some furniture stored in the house.
The fire appeared to start near the motor room, lightning apparently having entered through the
opening just above the motor box.  Within ten minutes of having being struck, half of the Baker mill was
afire and the flames were shooting out windows upstairs and down.  The mill which is owned by Baker
Bros. and Company was successfully managed by Herbert Baker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Baker,
who live close by and George Long, a brother in law of Baker.  Both Baker and Long were at a camp at a
place near Pinedale, having closed down the mill on Monday and giving the employees a two weeks
vacation.
A few months ago Baker spent several thousand dollars in adding a new section to the mill, owing to
the increase in the business and he also remodeled the building.  The plant was said to be one of the
most modern and sanitary mills in the state and the firm took pride in keeping the machinery modern
and all equipment of the very latest type.
The loss to the building is about $8500, loss on raw material including yarn and knitted goods ready for
cutting about $9000, loss on machinery, equipment, etc. about $18,500 and loss on finished products
about $8,000, the losses being only partially covered by insurance.
When the fire broke out some of Baker's and Long's friends went to their camp and when they arrived in
Schuylkill Haven, the mill was a mass of flames.  Mrs. Emanuel baker, mother of Herbert Baker, looked
out her window at the destructive flames and watched the building burn to the ground.  She broke
down several times and friends went in to comfort her.
The Baker mill closed down Monday and on Tuesday the score or more of employees reported to Miss
Lucinda Clouser, forelady of the mill, and received their pay in order that they might go on their
vacations.  Baker inspected the mill on Tuesday morning and expected to have his cutters soon start
work to prepare for work for the young ladies within another ten days.
The mill was struck by lightning on two other occasions but each time the blaze was only slight.  If it had
been discovered it could have easily been extinguished this time as there were a dozen fire
extinguishers about the mill at various points.  
The electric lights in various parts of the town were out following the fire and there were a number of
minor accidents.  No one was seriously hurt however, although a couple of the firemen suffered slight
burns from the falling building.
The firm will start to rebuild in a short time.  The Meck and Keever firm are making preparations for
immediate repairs and they will have their plant back in shape within a short time.
Pottsville Republican of September 22, 1904

FIRE DESTROYS OLD BUILDING

Fire at about 2:30 o'clock this morning destroyed the old Peter Maguire homestead in Irish Flat at
Schuylkill Haven.  The property had long ago passed into the hands of the P & R Company and of late
was occupied by Italians.  Only a few days ago the last tenant moved out and another Italian family from
Pottsville was to have moved in this week.  Opinion is divided as to whether the fire was caused by a
locomotive spark or an incendiary.  The fact that the entire house appeared to burst in flame from cellar
to garret instantaneously seems to favor the latter theory.  The house was a mere shell and was not
worth more then a couple of hundred dollars.  There was no wind, and the fire did no damage to
adjoining properties, but burned itself out where it started.  The Schuylkill and Rainbow Hose
Companies promptly responded to the alarm.  Being greatly hampered by a very meager water supply,
they paid no attention to the doomed building, but devoted all their energies to saving surrounding
property, being very ably assisted in their work by a bucket brigade.
Pottsville Republican of May 5, 1908

THREE MAY DIE AS RESULT OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN FIRE

The accidental overturning of a lighted lamp in the home of John Boyer on High Street, Schuylkill
Haven, at 3 o'clock this morning resulted in a fire that completely destroyed that house and the
adjoining residence of Charles Shappell, together with the partial destruction of the dwelling occupied
by Frank Swartz.  The scene of the fire was upon the steep part of High Street on the west side, just
above Union Street.  The Boyer and Shappell families occupied a double block which was owned by W.
Irvin Henry of Tamaqua, and below this house was the single cottage occupied by Mr. Swartz.  Above
the Shappell house is D. M. Wagner's stable, which was only saved by the most strenuous efforts of the
firemen.  The street is only twenty feet wide and the fronts of houses on the opposite side occupied by
Postmaster Huy and Oscar Barr were badly scorched and charred.  The heat was so intense that it was
almost impossible for the firemen to work in the narrow street and the flying sparks kept residents in
the neighborhood busy with buckets of water protecting their own homes.

The instant the lamp was upset the fire swept with whirlwind rapidity through the Boyer house and
communicated with the Shappell house and by the time the firemen arrived both houses were aflame
from cellar to garret.
In Mr. Boyer's household besides himself were his wife, Mrs. Wagner, her son Frantz and her daughter,
Mrs. Oswald, together with the latter's son Floyd.  Mr. Shappell's household consisted of himself and
his wife, their children, Earl, Beulah and Charles and Robert and Anna Brown, children of Mrs. Shappell
by her first husband.

In his efforts to save his family, Mr. Boyer was terribly burned about the head and shoulders.  It is also
feared that he inhaled the flame and his death is feared.  He was removed to the home of his
brother-in-law, Milton Shappell on Margaretta Street where he lies swathed in bandages and suffering
excruciating pain.  His wife escaped in safety but lost all of their clothing and practically all of their
household goods, while Mr. Boyer also lost $400 in cash which had been paid him the day before as
part of his share of the Boyer estate and which was in the pocket of his coat.  

Mrs. Wagner was terribly burned about the face and arms and is also believed to have inhaled the
flame.  She was removed to the home of her son, Isaac Wagner, further up High Street and suffers
untold agony.  The balance of her family escaped in safety but lost their all.


The Shappell household escaped, most of them in scanty attire, but lost most of their household goods
and as a result of the shock, Mr. Shappell, who is subject to heart trouble, is very low with poor
chances of his recovery.  He is being tenderly cared for at the home of Harry Guertler on High Street.
Frank Swartz and his wife moved out of their house as soon as the alarm was given and saved most of
their effects which were stored in the residences of neighbors.


With the three houses ablaze and the sparks flying at one time it was feared that this entire section of
town, which is very closely built up, would catch fire and Pottsville was telephoned to for aid, but the
three local fire companies by most valiant work succeeded in getting the fire under control in time to
stop the Pottsville firemen just as they were about to leave that town.

The Boyer and Shappell block owned by Mr. Henne, valued at about $2500, is fully insured.  The Swartz
residence owned by Mr. Fahl is valued at $2000, is fully insured.  No insurance was carried by the
tenants on their household goods.
Kind neighbors took in the homeless families and provided food and clothing while Manager
Underwood, of Doutrich's and Company, sent clothing to the needy ones.  Various other donations have
been made and others will not be amiss.
Pottsville Republican of March 22, 1906

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN HAD A BIG FIRE LAST NIGHT

The largest and most costly fire in the history of Schuylkill Haven occurred last night when the knitting
and storage departments of H. Berger and Sons big underwear mill on Spring Garden Street was
destroyed.  The flames were first discovered in the boiler house, the roof of which was ablaze.  An
alarm was sounded and the Friendship Hook and Ladder Company and the Rainbow Hose Company
immediately responded while the Schuylkill Hose Company came within a brief space of time.  The
Hookies turned their chemical stream on the blaze and put out the fire on the boiler house roof, but the
flames had communicated to the main part of the mill and followed the stairways up the three floors to
the roof.
By the time the water streams were turned on the entire interior of the big three story building was a
seething cauldron of flames.  The firemen had an ample water supply, the heavy construction and
isolation of the burning structure kept the flames confined and prevented their spread and although
sparks rained like hail from the mill windows on to nearby buildings, none were ignited owing to the fact
that their roofs were covered with a foot of snow and the watchful firemen turned a stream on
whenever a burning brand landed on a dangerous spot.
Fearing a spread of the flames, at the very outset of the fire, Pottsville was asked for aid and at
midnight the Humane steamer and hose truck arrived.  By that time the local fire companies had the fire
under control, but the visiting company rendered signal assistance of drowning out what still remained
of the fire in the mill.  The Humane Company remained on duty several hours and the local companies
continued to play on the ruins until six o'clock this morning when all the companies except the Rainbow
were dismissed, the latter remaining on duty all day to guard against any outbreak of flame.  
The burned building was one of a group of three buildings, which comprised H. Berger and Sons mill.  
This structure was erected in 1886 by James Seyfert as a grist mill and was run as such until about 1887.
 It passed into the hands of the late George McWilliams and was purchased from him by Mr. Berger in
1891.  They first conducted a hosiery mill but in 1893 changed to the manufacture of underwear, which
they have continued to the present day.  About two years ago a bleachery was added to the
establishment, being located to the rear of the burned building and in a separate brick structure.  Last
summer a large brick building was put up to the rear of the bleachery and the finishing and packing
departments and the office were removed thereto.  Neither of these two buildings were touched by the
flames.  The three buildings cover an extent of several acres and form the most complete underwear
mill in this section of the state.  The payroll numbered 125 hands and the mill's output is close onto
3,000 dozen garments per week.
The burned building is forty by fifty feet in size with a boiler and engine room annex of forty by twenty
feet.  The main building consists of a basement below, the street level and three stories above, while
the boiler room is one story and the engine room two, the floor above the engine being used as a
shipping room.  
The nest of three big tubular boilers was not damaged by the fire and it is believed the engine has
suffered no damage.
The basement of the mill was used for the storage of pipes, fittings, extra parts of the machinery, etc.
and much of this is rusted and ruined by water.
On the ground floor were cases of goods ready for shipment and a lot of yarn, some of this being
completely destroyed by the flames and what escaped the fire is so water soaked and blackened by
smoke as to be useless.
On the second floor are 36 knitting machines of the latest pattern and ten sleeving machines,
representing a cost of at least $12,000 which are completely ruined by fire and water.  In addition there
were yarns and goods in process of manufacture that were eaten by the hungry flames, blackened by
smoke and ruined by water.
The third floor contained cases of goods in storage and a lot of machinery that was not being used in
the manufacture of this season's goods and had been stored there, all of which was completely
destroyed by the flames.
The stout walls of the building, the heavy timber flooring and the steel sheathed roof, while furnishing
food for the flame for more then three hours, still stand, the second floor in particular supporting the
many tons of ruined machinery.
Mr. H. Berger and Son estimate the loss on the building at about $50,000.  The destroyed machinery cost
them about $15,000 and there were goods in process of manufacture and on storage to the value of
about $15,000, making a total loss of $35,000.  This is heavily but not fully insured.

The origin of the fire is a mystery and although it was supposed to have started in the boiler house, an
examination of the latter today showed it to be in the same condition as when left last night.
Pottsville Republican of September 12, 1906

LIGHTNING SETS FIRE TO A SCHUYLKILL HAVEN FACTORY

The underwear mill of the Eureka Knitting Mill Company at Schuylkill Haven was struck by lightning
during a severe thunderstorm at 10 o'clock last night and was set on fire and totally destroyed.  The mill
was located in Dutch Flat, was of frame, 60 by 80 feet and two and a half stories high.  It contained
twelve knitting machines, four sleevers and twenty finishing machines, besides engine and boiler,
fleecing machines, etc, and was a most up to date plant.  The bolt struck the northeast corner where
the fleecing room is located and by the time the firemen were able to reach the scene the entire
building was a mass of flames.  The fire burned fiercely for two hours before it was gotten under control
and all the while menaced the big paper box factory of Saul and Zang which adjoined the Eureka Mill on
the south.  The absence of wind and the strenuous efforts of the firemen saved the paper box factory
as it was ablaze a number of times.  The Eureka Knitting Mill Company is composed of P. O. Detweiler,
President, C. F. Schumacher, Charles Keller and R. J. Hoffman, Secretary and Manager.  Their loss is
about $20,000 on building and machinery and $5000 on stock, with about $12,000 worth of insurance.  
Saul and Zang building and stock were damaged to the extent of about $200 by fire and water.

A SECOND STORM AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN TODAY

Another terrific thunderstorm passed over Schuylkill Haven at noon today, the electrical disturbance
being considerably more severe then last night.  A large ball of fire struck the Bast Knitting mills.  The
bolt entered the plant, threw one of the girl employees from her chair and stunned several others.  The
plant caught fire but the building was saved by means of extinguishers.  The factory has shut down
temporarily.  A large ball of fire struck the sidewalk nearly creating consternation in a large portion of
the town.  The residence of F. B. Aldrich, Superintendent of Schuylkill Haven Gas and water Company ad
the Pottsville Gas Company was struck by lightning and damaged considerably.  
Pottsville Republican of May 3, 1900

BIG FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

A fire broke out at Schuylkill Haven about 1:45 o’clock this afternoon, which for a time threatened to
destroy a large section of town.  The fire originated in the stable of Levi Kershner opposite the P & R
freight station.  The Pottsville fire department was asked for assistance, but at 2:45 o’clock the
conflagration was extinguished.
About 1:45 o’clock, Albert Doudle, freight agent at the P & R station, discovered smoke and flames
issuing from the stable of Levi Kershner.  He sent in the alarm, and the Schuylkill Hose Company and
the Rainbow Hose Company responded and soon had four streams on the burning building.  Fanned by
a brisk wind, the flames soon spread to the two story brick stable of Harry Dohner and despite the work
of the firemen Levi Hummel’s two and a half story brick warehouse and stable was soon afire.  A frame
stable owned by Frank Kershner caught afire and burned fiercely, as did also the stable of Oscar
Sterner.  The citizens now became alarmed and word was sent to Pottsville for assistance, but the
firemen soon had the blaze under control.  At 2:30 o’clock the brick walls of Hummel’s warehouse fell in
and the other buildings were a mass of burning embers.
The loss will amount to about $4000, of which only a small part is covered by insurance.  The warehouse
of Levi Hummel contained furniture and a wagon.  His loss will amount to $1500, only a small portion
being covered by insurance.
Levi Kershner’s loss will amount to about $1200.  In the stable was a calf which was burned to death.  A
wagon, sleigh and butchering implements were also destroyed.
Kershner’s stable also contained about 100 chickens and pigeons which perished in the fire.  His loss
is covered by only $500 insurance.  Harry Dohner’s two story brick stable was a total loss.  His
insurance had run out and as he intended to convert the building into a factory, failed to have it
renewed.  Frank Kershner’s loss will amount to $500 on which there is no insurance.
The fire, it is supposed was caused by children who had built a fire near Kershner’s stable.  All the
buildings were two story frame ones excepting Dohner’s and Hummel’s which were brick.


At a few minutes before 2:00 o’clock this afternoon there came a call by phone at the police
headquarters to which Officer Graeff responded.  The officer learned it was a call from Schuylkill Haven
for help from our fire department to aid in subduing a fire which had gotten the upper hand of the fire
department in that town.
The officer lost no time in securing the consent of N. C. Morrison and G. A. Doerflinger, members of the
Council Committee on Fire Apparatus, to send the engine and carriage of the Good Intent.  No sooner
had members of the company driven to the Reading depot to load up the fire apparatus than word came
that their services were not needed because the firemen and citizens of that town were on a fair way to
conquer the flames.  In less then fifteen minutes after the message was received consent was obtained
from the committee and the fire machines were waiting at the station to be loaded.
Pottsville Republican of November 4, 1921

EXPLOSION AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MILL

Shortly after noon on Friday, an explosion occurred at the J. F. Bast Knitting Mill at Schuylkill Haven
which resulted in $15000 damage and in the injuries of two girls, employees of the mill.
The mill is one of the largest in this section of the county and in addition to the manufacture of women’s
underwear, do their own bleaching and dyeing.  The bleachery is located in a three story frame building
in which large kiers or vats containing the acid used in bleaching are located.  It is believed that the
safety valve in one of the kiers, which was filled with goods, in some way became blocked, and the gas
which was generated caused the explosion.  The entire building and four kiers are totally destroyed.  
The bleachery is not connected with the main building of the mill, so this was in no way damaged by the
explosion.
Two girls, Miss Lillian Frier and Miss Tillie Genslinger, of Schuylkill Haven, were eating their lunch in the
room directly above where the explosion occurred and both girls are badly injured from flying pieces of
wood, etc., and are suffering from shock.  It was a most fortunate thing that the accident happened
during lunch time, as almost the entire force leaves the building during the lunch hour, and had it
happened later, would probably resulted in the injury of many employees.  As it was, only the two girls,
who remained in the building were injured.  The entire side of the building was blown out and the
interior is a wreck.
Pottsville Republican of November 29, 1888

FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

Early this morning flames were discovered issuing from Weaver's shoe factory at Schuylkill Haven, and
before they could be subdued the building and contents were almost totally destroyed.  A box of shoes
were found in a neighboring alley, and this couples with the fact that the front door was found open
gives rise to the belief of a burglary and incendiarism.
The fire was discovered at one thirty in the morning and the Rainbow Hose Company did good work,
devoting their attention to the machinery, which they succeeded in saving.  The building is a complete
wreck.
The fire started in the rear basement where the proprietor's father had a carpenter shop.  John Weber,
the proprietor, had the factory in operation about a year, and only last week was fortunate enough to
insure the building and its contents for $2400, which will fully cover the loss.  A window was also found
broken open.
Pottsville Republican of July 5, 1917

$2000 FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

Fire of an unknown origin destroyed the home of George Ney of Berne Street, Schuylkill Haven, about
two thirty o'clock Tuesday morning.  The family were aroused by the smoke in the upper part of the
house, where most of the fire was and they were able to save only a few things, most of the furniture
and belongings of the family being destroyed by fire and water.  The entire upper part of the house,
which is a two and a half story building, was destroyed by fire and water ruined the lower part of the
building and contents.  The total loss is about $2000.  The flames spread quickly and but for the flooding
of the building by water, it would have been burned to the ground and sparks endangered the Bittle
building and the Bast Mill.  The Schuylkill Haven firemen worked diligently and are being praised for
their work.  
Pottsville Republican of October 18, 1917

$4000 FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

Two houses owned by J. Gellert of Pottsville, located on Columbia Street about a square off Canal
Street, were destroyed by fire shortly after ten o'clock Thursday morning.  The fire which it is thought
started in the lower house occupied by William Sell and family, is of unknown origin and as it crept to
the home next door occupied by Charles Roeder and family, it endangered other properties on the
block.  Mrs. Roeder, who had been in bed for several months past, was rescued by Harry Schumacher, a
grocer, residing a few doors away.  He carried her to the home of her mother in law, Mrs. George
Roeder, a short distance away.  
Both homes are ruined, the flames creeping to all parts of the two buildings, the Sell property being a
story and a half and the Roeder home a two story residence.  Some of the furniture was saved by the
firemen and neighbors but a great deal of furniture was destroyed by fire and water.  The local damage
will be over $4000, partly covered by insurance.
The fire started in the Sell home and was discovered shortly after 10:30.  The origin is mysterious as
there was no one home at the Sell property at he time of the fire, Mrs. Sell being away on a visit.  The
flames suddenly burst out and in a very short time the Roeder home was a mass of flames.  Only the
quick and accurate work of the fire department of Schuylkill Haven saved the Renninger property on
one side and the George Roeder property on the other side.
Pottsville Republican of September 2, 1936

SLIGHT DAMAGE SCHUYLKILL HAVEN FIRE

A fire alarm at five o'clock this morning sent all local fire companies to James Mellon's Ice House on
Garfield Avenue, Schuylkill Haven, where fire had broken out on the street side and caused a pile of
boards and sawdust to burn.  The exact cause of the blaze is unknown, but it originated in the sawdust
storage place under the skating rink.  It was necessary to remove several of the boards of the smaller
building to extinguish the flames but there is only slight damage.  The larger building which is used as a
skating rink was undamaged.  Robert Fry, a milk truck delivery man, discovered the flames and smoke
as he passed Willow Lake early this morning and the fire companies responded so quickly that a
probable great loss was prevented.
Pottsville Republican of August 10, 1929

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MILL BURNED

Fire of unknown origin destroyed the Schuylkill Haven Knitting Mill, owned by Harry and Paul Reidler of
Orwigsburg, opposite the Meister Auto Building and Repair Shop at Schuylkill Haven, at an early hour
Saturday morning.  The loss will total close to $10,000 but is fully insured.
The fire was discovered shortly after 2:00 am by Harold Mecker of Pottsville and Paul Mengle of Centre
Avenue, who lives near the factory.  They immediately turned in the alarm which was answered by the
Liberty, Rainbow and Schuylkill Hose Companies.  The three companies responded at once and found
volumes of smoke pouring from the building.
It was believed the blaze started in the basement of the structure and had been smoldering for some
time.  Shortly after the arrival of the firemen, flames enveloped the center section of the factory and for
a time it looked as though the building would burn to the ground.  Prompt work of the firemen who were
handicapped by hose lines bursting, prevented the flames from spreading to nearby dwellings.  The
entire stock as well as the knitting machines were destroyed.
Paul Reidler, one of the members of the firm, had been in the factory at 10:00 pm and after working in
the office for a few moments, made an inspection of the basement and everything was in order. At 2:30
am, the fire was pronounced under control.  One of the companies remained on duty for the night to
prevent any further outbreak.
Pottsville Republican of July 19, 1895

FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

Fire this morning destroyed the warehouse adjoining the mill of the Schuylkill Haven Iron Company.  
The Schuylkill Hose Company were the first on the grounds with their truck and did good work in
confining the flames in the building where it started and saved the adjoining property.  The fire was put
out on one half an hour after it was discovered.  Too much praise can not be given to the fire boys for
in their good work and for responding so promptly when notified about the fire and the people of the
town can be glad to have a local volunteer department to do so much for them.
Pottsville Republican of April 20, 1896

FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

The Kinsley Meat Market is Ruined - Other Properties Damaged

This morning at 4:30 o'clock the stable adjoining Kinsley's Meat Market on Canal Street, Schuylkill
Haven, took fire and before the firemen could respond the stable was in one mass of flames, and
before the fire was extinguished the meat market, a frame building, was totally destroyed and the brick
dwellings of Charles and Harry Kantner were badly damaged by water, in addition to that caused by the
flames.  Kinsley had entered the stable this morning for the purpose of getting ready for the day.  He
took with him a lighted lantern, which he hung on a nail.  Shortly afterward he went out into the wagon
shed and when he returned he found the inflammable contents of the stable in a big blaze and beyond
his control.  Kinsley then alarmed the vicinity with cries of fire, while busy removing his cattle, and this
brought out the firemen, who responded promptly for that hour of morning.  The building occupied by
Kinsley was the property of W. L. Weissinger.  It and the properties of the Kantners were covered by
insurance.                                                      
Pottsville Republican of November 27, 1923

MOTHER AND BABE PERISH WHEN HOME IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BURNED

A mother and six weeks old baby died in a fire which turned their home into a mass of flames.  Mrs.
Horace Kramer died at Schuylkill Haven on Tuesday morning when she ran back into the burning
building for her baby and died of suffocation and burns after she reached the child which was in bed
and who also died.
Mrs. Kramer was the housekeeper of Mr. Joseph Schwartz of Schuylkill Haven, and the home was
located at what is now known as Edgewood on South Canal Street.  At about 8:15 Tuesday morning,
William Sheriff, aged ten of Schuylkill Haven, saw smoke coming from the house which was an old lodge
and saw Mrs. Kramer running from the house crying "Fire" and then rush back into the building.  The
boy sent in an alarm but by the time the firemen arrived, the entire building which was frame with a tin
roof was a sea of flames and it was impossible for them to get into it to rescue the woman.  The door
was locked and it is believed That after Mrs. Kramer went back into the building, the dead bolt on the
door locked and they could not get out.
There was also difficulty in getting water to the fire as fire plugs had but recently been placed in this
section of town and the connections were not yet made.  Shortly after the firemen arrived, Mr. Schwartz,
who had been at work, and had been told of the fire came to the scene and was intent upon entering
the building to rescue those within.  He was shown how futile his attempt would be and was taken away
by firemen.  
The body of the baby was found near the remains of the bed, burned to a crisp, and that of the mother
was found near the window, only partly burned.  They were removed to the undertaking establishment
of Bittle and Confehr and prepared for burial.  Deputy Coroner Heim will conduct an inquest.  It is
believed that the cause of the fire was an overheated stove.  It started in the main part of the building
and spread to the second story and the roof.
Mrs. Kramer recently became separated from her husband.  She is survived by a husband and four
children.  She was Bessie Spacht, of Cressona, before marriage and is survived by four brothers,
William F., Arthur, Russell, and Samuel H. Spacht, of Cressona, and three sisters, Beulah, a trained nurse
residing in the west, Eva wife of Frank Kipp and Mattie of Cressona.
A roll of money, damaged by water and flames was found in the ruins.  It was believed to contain about
seventy or eighty dollars worth of bills and was taken in charge by the Schuylkill Haven Trust Company,
who will have it sent away and redeemed, as the greater part of the bills were saved.
Carl Garrick, a member of the Rainbow Fire Company, was overcome by smoke while trying to recover
the body of Mrs. Kramer and was unconscious for a time but later recovered.                             
Pottsville Republican of February 19, 1916

$3000 FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

Fire which threatened for a time to destroy about seven frame houses on Prospect Hill, Schuylkill
Haven, broke out in the home of Mrs. Joseph Webber at 210 Market Street shortly after midnight Friday,
and destroyed the Webber home and a great deal of the furniture and belongings of the family.  The
loss to the home and contents is estimated at $3000, which is partially covered by insurance.  The fire
started in the kitchen and was discovered about 12:15 o'clock and an alarm sent in.  Some mixup
occurred in the sounding of the alarm and the companies were detained for a short time.  When they
arrived they found themselves confronted with a most difficult task as the flames were already shooting
through the rear of the house and threatened adjoining buildings.  The wind was high and was blowing
in the direction of the Bowen home to the east.  Suddenly the course of the wind changed and this
prevented the flames from spreading, the firemen taking advantage of the change of the wind to play
their streams on the building west, a space of about twenty five feet preventing the fire from spreading
in that direction.
When the fire was discovered by the Webber family, they were unable to get to the kitchen, the entire
kitchen being a mass of flames and part of the stairway had already caught fire.  Some of the furniture in
the front of the home was saved but practically everything in the rear of the home was destroyed.  The
rear of the house was entirely destroyed and only a portion of the front was left standing.  The house
was recently remodeled and some new furniture purchased.  The work of the Citizen's Fire Company,
Schuylkill Hose Company and Liberty Fire Company was appreciated by the residents on Prospect Hill,
their fine work keeping the fire confined to the one home.  Up to 12:45 o'clock, the Bowen home
adjoining, the Graeff home, The Hartnett home, the Hill home and others were threatened.                          
                                                                      
Pottsville Republican of August 2, 1922

HOME STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

The home of Walter Scott, Centre Avenue, Schuylkill Haven, was struck by lightning Tuesday evening
and the house, a brick one, was badly damaged.  The bolt struck the house just as the family were
eating supper and made such a noise that the family thought it was an explosion of dynamite.  A shower
of plaster and bricks rained down on the sidewalk, but luckily no one was injured.  A bolt also struck a
telegraph pole at Centre and Dock Streets cutting it clean in half.        
Pottsville Republican of February 22, 1925

STUBBORN FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

One of the hardest fires to fight in Schuylkill Haven for years was that which occurred on Sunday
morning about two o'clock, in the store and dwelling of John Bubeck, of Schuylkill Haven and the home
of Joseph Sieck, both homes being located on Centre Avenue.  Shortly before two o'clock in the
morning Mrs. Bubeck awoke and smelled smoke.  She got up and tried to turn on the electric light and
found that there was no light.  She summoned her husband and by this time the house was filled with
smoke and they found that they could not get down the stairway and had to get out a window on the
second floor to a porch after which they called to the neighbors next door and an alarm of fire was sent
in.
The three companies, the Rainbow, the Schuylkill and the Liberty companies responded and when they
got there, they found that the rear cellar was a mass of flames and that the fire was creeping up the
partitions between the two homes.  They were able to keep the air from getting in and by the use of
chemicals and water, to check the fire without damaging the whole building, although the rear ends of
the Bubeck and Sieck homes are badly damaged and a large amount of merchandise which Mr. Bubeck
had stored in the cellar was destroyed.  It is estimated that the damage will be about $4500, partially
covered by insurance.
One of the things which hampered the firemen most was that the heat melted the gas pipes and the
firemen had to work with gas masks on account of the gas and the smoke, but they did very successful
work.  The families had to leave their homes in their night clothing and Mrs. Sieck fainted from the
excitement and several firemen had narrow escapes from the gas.  Mr. and Mrs. Bubeck will make their
home for the present with Mr. Bubeck's mother but he will be able to conduct his tore and the Siecks
will be able to live in their home after a little repairing is done.  The fire reached the attic by going
through the partitions but the greater part of the houses were saved , although much damage was done
by water and chemicals. The fire is believed to have been caused by crossed wires.                                     
                                                                         
Pottsville Republican of May 16, 1925

Fire totally destroyed the private garage of William J. Roeder on Columbia Street, and almost entirely
burned that of Harry J. Schumacher, which adjoined it.  The Ford touring car owned by Mr. Roeder was
totally destroyed.  The fire occurred at about nine o'clock Friday evening and started in or about the
Roeder garage.  The cause is unknown.  The garage of Howard Faust, which stands near, was partly
damaged and was saved by the firemen.  The business garage owned by the Bast Estate was
threatened.  W. O. Schumacher had quite a quantity of household furniture stored in the Schumacher
garage and it is a total loss.  The loss, partly covered by insurance, will be about $300.                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Pottsville Republican of September 14, 1925

Lightning struck the Gas Plant owned by the borough during the storm Saturday night, and if the fire
had not been seen by residents nearby, the building would have been destroyed.  They formed a bucket
brigade and extinguished the flames, which had made some progress in the frame of the building.  The
loss is covered by insurance.  The lightning played havoc with the electric light service here.  Several
bolts struck near the lines so that fuses were knocked out and much damage done.  Many parts of town
were in darkness and the line force worked all day Sunday to repair.                                                                
                                                                
Fire Spread Quickly
Boyer Seriously Burned
Woman May Also Die
Shock May Kill Another
Ask Aid of Pottsville
The Losses
Pottsville Republican of February 24, 1933

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN RESIDENCE WAS BADLY DAMAGED BY FIRE

About three o'clock Thursday afternoon, fire partly destroyed the brick building on the corner of
Columbia and Charles Streets, owned by the Schuylkill Haven Trust Company.  The building was
occupied by Mrs. Minnie Shirey.  The family were at home and did not know of the fire till it was seen by
persons outside.  At that time the entire roof and garret were a mass of flames.  The entire fire
department responded and the companies speedily had streams of water on the blaze.  Firemen carried
the household furniture out but most of it was water soaked and badly damaged.  The fire was caused
by a defective chimney.  The strong wind forced the sparks through crevices in the chimney where it
passed to the roof.  The building is an old one and it is quite badly damaged.  An entire new roof would
be required to repair it and a number of repairs to the lower floors.  The damage is probably between
five hundred and a thousand dollars.  The damage to the furniture and other personal property is about
five hundred dollars.  The damaged furniture
has been stored in nearby garages and Mrs. Shirey with her five children are being taken care of
in the home of her mother, Mrs. Krammes, of Cressona.  Wednesday night the home was a scene of a
wedding when Miss Ethel Shirey, the eldest daughter was married to John Scholl.                                
Pottsville Republican of December 9, 1937

FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

A fire occurred on Thursday morning in the property owned by Gabriel Luongo, at Saint John and Wilson
Streets, Schuylkill Haven and resulted in approximately five hundred dollars worth of damage by fire and
smoke.  The property is occupied by Luongo's Beer Garden, the Solomon Schwartz Women's Dress Shop
and the State Liquor Store.  When Allen Messer, bartender for Luongo, went into the cellar to fix the
furnace he found the place filled with smoke and flames, which seemed to have originated in the ceiling
near the furnace pipes going upstairs.  He saw the flames shooting through the floor of the liquor store
and as it was before the time for the place to be open for business, it was necessary to break the
window in order to gain access to the room to fight the fire.  The fire companies were called and
succeeded in extinguishing the flames by chopping through the liquor store floor.  Considerable
damage was done to the woodwork of the store and to the bottled goods.  The Schwartz stock consisted
largely of women's dresses which were damaged and there was slight damage by smoke to the
apartments above the business places but it is not thought that the loss will amount to more then five
hundred dollars.  Mrs. Gabriel Luongo, who has been an invalid for years was removed from her smoke
filled apartment and taken to the home of a relative where she is being treated for shock.                   
Pottsville Republican of September 26, 1938

APARTMENT FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

Fire of unknown origin was discovered Sunday evening shortly after six o'clock, in the apartment on
Saint Peter's Street, Schuylkill Haven, owned by Dr. A. J. Knauss of Pottsville and occupied by the
Everett Jones family.  The fire was discovered by William McGlone who saw the smoke coming from a
closet in the kitchen of the Jones apartment which is on the second floor.  The Jones family were in
Collegeville for the day and when the fire was discovered it had gained headway, causing damage to
the Maurice Headinger apartment on the third floor and the Isaac Kempner apartment on the first floor.  
Mr. McGlone received scorched and blistered hands fighting the flames until the Schuylkill Haven fire
companies responded to an alarm.  He was taken to a physician for treatment.  The damage which is
believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion will amount to a thousand dollars.  Mr.
Jones is the only one not covered by insurance.                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                  
Pottsville Republican of October 21, 1935

50TH BIRTHDAY OF HAVEN FIRE COMPANY
Week of Services Planned By Rainbow Hose Company in Honor of Event

Plans are being made for an unusual event in Schuylkill Haven.  The Rainbow Hose Company of Spring
Garden Street, oldest fire company in the town, will celebrate their fiftieth anniversary.  The history of
the company is very interesting.  They have taken a leading part in community affairs and many of the
charter members were active in the work of the borough.  In the early days, with hand drawn equipment,
it took physical strength to run to fires, probably to extreme ends of the town and the records of the
company show that they did many good jobs in fire fighting.  Early in their existence they purchased a
desirable location and erected a fire house which later was improved and enlarged and which today is
one of the largest and most complete in the county.  Abraham Maberry, President, and B. Curtis Deavon,
Secretary, will direct the events of the celebration which will start with services at Christ Lutheran
Church, Sunday evening, November 17th and continue during the week.  A banquet for the men and an
open meeting and a banquet for the ladies of the company are included in the tentative plans.  Mr.
Deavon has written a most interesting history of the company.                                                                          
Pottsville Republican of June 25, 1925

TWO BUSINESSES HEAVIEST LOSERS

Two buildings in the heart of the business section of Schuylkill Haven were destroyed by fire and two
adjoining buildings were seriously damaged by water and smoke early Thursday morning.
The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.  An investigation into the cause will be started.  It
is estimated the total loss of machinery and stock will reach $50000.  The loss is fully covered by
insurance.
The fire had its origin in the Michel Bakery which is located in the rear of Numbers 3, 5, and 7 Main
Street.  The bakery and machinery were completely destroyed.  The home of Charles Michel and the ice
cream plant and building with thousands of dollars of candy were ruined by water.  Mr. Michel estimates
his loss at about $125,000.  The building adjoining the Michel property on the east side, owned by Mrs.
Susan Buehler, widow of Samuel Buehler, former county jury commissioner, was soaked with water and
the rear was slightly damaged by fire.  She estimates her loss at about $15,000.
The store and home of Dr. W. E. Stine which is located on the corner to the west of the Michel building
escaped without damage from water or fire, but suffered considerable loss to his stock from smoke.  
His loss will probably reach $5,000.  Others to suffer in the fire loss were Maurer and Maurer,
chiropractors in the Buehler Building, the A & P store on the ground floor of the same building and the
Haven Cab, located on the second floor of the Michel Building.  Although the Buehler Building was
soaked with the water, the A & P store fortunately escaped without much loss.
It was shortly after five o'clock that Mrs. Charles Michel was awakened by smoke.  When she awoke the
bedroom was filled with smoke.  She called her husband who dashed to the front window and called to
workmen who sent in the alarm.  So rapidly did the fire gain headway, that neither the Michel family or
the Buehler family were able to remove any of their furniture.  They did however save some clothing.
Owing to the lack of proper water pressure and the location of the blaze beneath the roof of the bakery,
it was extremely difficult to conquer.  It was a stubborn blaze and the combined efforts of firemen from
four towns were necessary to extinguish it.  
Street car service to Orwigsburg was interrupted for several hours, it being near the noon hour before
transportation connection was made to the former county seat.  Schuylkill Haven was without trolley
service until seven o'clock, the power having been turned off.  It was impossible for cars through to
Orwigsburg, the main street of Schuylkill Haven being blocked by fire apparatus and the tracks covered
with the sections of hose.  When Fire Chief Christ Schumacher of Schuylkill Haven saw the fire was
more then the local departments could successfully combat, he sent out calls for help.  Two Cressona
companies, the Orwigsburg department and the Humane Fire Company from Pottsville responded.
The fire was one of the largest and left one of the greatest losses in its wake that Schuylkill Haven has
ever suffered.  The loss will not destroy the beauty of the business section of the borough.  
Arrangements have been made to commence work immediately upon adjustment by the insurance
companies.
The fire burned for an hour and a half before it was brought under control.  At seven o'clock, Fire Chief
Schumacher announced that the efforts of the firemen had stopped the blaze.  For a while it was feared
that the block would be swept away.  Only the hard work and superhuman efforts of the firemen
prevented this.  Mr. Michel is at a loss as to the cause of the fire.  He stated that the bakery had not
been worked since Wednesday afternoon.  The night shift making ice cream had gone home at 4:30
o'clock, not seeing a fire when they left.  All electric wires were safely run through conduits and there
was no fire in the ovens.  
It was only a matter of a few minutes after Mr. Michel called out of the window that his building was afire
and the companies responded.  A hose was attached to a fire hydrant in the front of the Michel Building
and firemen ran it back to the rear.  There was a howl of air as the water was turned on because the
pressure was so low that the stream failed to carry to the blaze which by that time was shooting through
the roof in long spiking tongues of fire.
A pumper was at once put on a plug but this delay was costly as the fire made its way through the
bakery and communicated with the other building and was scorching the other building on the east
side.  With the first plug stream pouring on the burning building housing the bakery, another was
directed on the Buehler Building, which by this time was blazing.  In less time then it takes to tell it, the
flames had eaten their way through the walls of the bakery and were moving with incredible rapidity
throughout both the Michel buildings.  Fifteen minutes after the fire was discovered it appeared as if
the structures on both sides of it were doomed.
With the arrival of aid from the surrounding towns, many streams of water were played upon the fire but
by this time it had licked its way to the roof of the Michel building and was concealing itself in the walls.  
At this stage the fire became extremely difficult to conquer, it being almost impossible to get to it.  It
was necessary to chop away the roof and send several streams pouring into the building.
The water pressure of the borough was not sufficient to handle the strain placed upon it by the drawing
of the pumping engines and two companies were placed in the rear of the building and suction
connections were placed in the Schuylkill River and two streams were placed on the rear of the
building.  So stubborn was the fire in the Michel Building that at one time no less then four streams
were pouring into the building from holes which had been chopped in the roof.  The building was
completely saturated, the water filling up the cellar,where is located the ice cream plant.
At one time, water came down the stairs from the living quarters in torrents, and as it washed down the
stairs, it resembled a mill stream over a water wheel.  The building was completely drowned out.  The
furniture was completely destroyed.  Many thousand dollars in candy stock stored next to the ice cream
store was ruined by water and the smoke.                                                                               
Pottsville Republican of November 29, 1924

THEATRE AFIRE, KIDS FILE OUT

When a fire broke out in the Refowich Theatre at Schuylkill Haven on Saturday afternoon during a
children's matinée, hundreds of children marched in orderly fashion from the theatre and escaped
injury of any kind.  Several moving picture reels caught fire in the operator's booth and someone yelled
"Fire".  Although there were but few adults in the place, the children quickly fell into line as they do in
their school fire drill and cleared the building in a few moments.  The damage done to the theatre was
slight.                                                                                                
Pottsville Republican of June 18, 1910

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN TO HAVE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

If the wishes of some of the councilmen of Schuylkill Haven are carried out, that town will have within
the next two months, one of the most complete fire alarm systems in the state.  A representative of the
borough was in Pottsville yesterday looking over the system here and he stated that it was only a
question of a short time before the town would be equipped.  Already the town council of Schuylkill
Haven have decided on the alarms for the four different wards.  It is proposed to install the system,
placing an indicator in each one of the four hose houses and one at the electric light plant where the
fire alarm whistle is located.  The boxes will be distributed equally around the town, probably three or
four to each ward.  These will be numbered the same as in Pottsville.  Heretofore in case of fire in that
town considerable time was lost on account of the inabilities of the companies to know exactly where
the fire was located.  Often time a fire would be discovered in one ward and the factory whistle in
another ward would sound the alarm.  Following the blowing of the factory whistle, the school bell would
sound a general alarm.         
The Call of July 24, 1908

THE NEW FIRE COMPANY

The special meeting of the Liberty Fire Company held on Monday evening at Bast's Mill was largely
attended and much enthusiasm was manifested.  The finance committee was authorized to get prices of
fire engines both new and second hand and the building committee was directed to get costs of sites
and building, all to be submitted at next meeting early in August.  A statement will then be prepared and
presented to the public showing exactly what the company proposes to do and the cost of everything
and the public will be asked to assist in the consummation of the project.  It is understood that the
company has several building sites in view and may be able to secure one on the lower part of Main
Street from the Reading Company.  Several prominent businessmen of the ward have offered to house
the apparatus free of charge until the company secures its hose house and a number of the
businessmen have also offered the free use of their teams at any hour of the day or night to haul the
apparatus to a fire.                                                                                                 
The Call of July 31, 1908      

The Liberty Fire Company, in its organization and announcement of its plans has brought to the public
attention the fact that the Reading Railway cuts the town in two, almost through the center, and in times
of emergency, such as an alarm of fire, the district lying west of the railroad would be entirely at the
mercy of the flames in the event that a long coal or freight train blocked the several crossings and
much valuable time would be lost in the uncoupling of such a train to allow the fire apparatus the right
of way.  The traffic of the Reading is so heavy through town that much time is lost to the general public
every day in being held up by the passage of trains.  This brings to mind an improvement that could and
should be made at the earliest opportune moment.  The lay of the land is such at the Union Street
crossing that the roadway could be carried through a tunnel beneath the tracks, thus saving valuable
time for the public and abolishing a grade crossing and insuring the safety of the public at all times in
the passage of this point.  This tunnel would allow the passage of teams and pedestrians and during
the nine months school term hundreds of children must travel back and forth.  That no accident has
happened speaks volumes for the efficiency of the crossing watchman and the erection of safety gates
will lessen the danger at this point from early morning until late evening but during the hours of the
night, when there is no one on guard accidents are likely to happen as has been the case within two
years time.  A subway would obviate all danger at all times and would save the company the expense of
a watchman while it would save the public thousands of dollars worth of time.                                                                
AN EDITORIAL
The Call of February 6, 1914

A $6000 FIRE LOSS IN TOWN

Fire Monday morning about 2:45 o'clock completely gutted the café of Douglas Kauffman and the living
rooms adjoining.  The ruin is complete, the entire interior of the building being gutted out to such an
extent by the fire, water and smoke that it is a total wreck.  The loss will be from $4000 to $6000, partly
covered by insurance.  The fire was discovered by Mrs. Alice Seidel, residing next door to the café.  
She was awakened by the smell of smoke and after arousing the household discovered flames shooting
from the private Kauffman dining room.  The neighbors were quickly aroused and on the scene.  The
family of Douglas Kauffman who reside in the Alice Kauffman property on the rear of the lot were first
on the scene but the flames had already gained such headway that it was impossible to fight them with
any degree of success.  Mr. Samuel Kauffman, the only occupant of the café at the time of the fire, and
who occupied a room on the third floor was aroused from his slumbers by the smoke.  He made his
escape through the smoke and flames which were rapidly eating their way to the front of the house.
The Schuylkill Hose Company members residing nearby responded and quickly had a stream on the
flames.  The Rainbow Hose Company were also promptly on the scene and made good use of their
chemical engine.  By good work the fire was prevented from spreading to the Seidel property but a few
feet away.  Although the Seidel property was damaged and a quantity of millinery material badly water
soaked, that the loss was not greater was due to the remarkable work of the firemen in this direction.  
The cause of the fire is given as crossed electric wires.  The café had just been closed and Mr.
Kauffman declares he made doubly sure of the condition of all the stoves before leaving the place, so
that the fire could not have been caused by an overheated stove.  Quite recently Mr. Kauffman made
extensive improvements to the interior of the bar room and the several dining rooms and had the
entire café fitted in a very up to date manner.  As stated above the entire place is a complete wreck.  
Several dogs owned by Mr. Kauffman were burned to death.  It is quite probable, although no definite
information could be secured at this time, that as soon as the insurance companies grant permission
the present building will be torn down and a modern hotel and café erected at the present site.                                
The Call of June 25, 1915

FIRE ALARM WHISTLE OK

A new fire whistle was placed in position on the electric light plant Wednesday and from the first tests
given Wednesday the same seems to be all that is desired of a fire whistle.  Reports received from
different parts of town are to the effect that it could be heard very distinctly and that there is hardly any
likelihood of it being mistaken for anything but a fire whistle.  The present whistle like the first fire
whistle is of a combination style.  It being so built as to give forth the shrill and horrible siren tone and
also a deep sonorous tone.  The siren while not as piercing and shrill as the siren of the first whistle is
many times louder and the sound therefore will carry for a much greater distance.  Although it was very
windy Wednesday afternoon the whistle was heard in many nearby places and inquiries were made as to
the location of the fire.  It was heard several miles above Friedensburg, in Orwigsburg, the famous
fishing resort near "the tunnel" and in Pottsville.  With a calm day or night it is confidently expected
there will be no excuse for anyone in the borough being unable to hear it.  The tone of the whistle
which will be used to sound the wards or the location of the fire is of a deep and clear quality and much
like the tone of the whistle formerly used at the Reading car shops.  While the whistle will answer all
purposes and requirements of a fire whistle it will also be an excellent curfew whistle and there will be
no more chance or opportunity for the "kiddies" to say they did not hear the curfew.  The whistle
measures eight by eighteen inches whereas the old whistle was but four by twelve inches.  
With the placing of this new whistle to be used principally for fire purposes, ends a campaign waged by
The Call for quite some time in an effort to secure a more satisfactory fire alarm whistle. At least our
persistent efforts aroused the community and stirred the town council to a realization of the necessity
of having a better fire whistle and the same was finally procured.  The purchase of this new fire whistle
we feel is a very important step in the improving of the town's fire department and the expense incident
thereto will be more then repaid upon the first occasion for its being called into service.                            
                                                                            
The Call of February 22, 1929

FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE HOME

Fire and water combined to almost completely wreck the home and furnishings of M. L. Smith of Liberty
Street on Wednesday morning.  A stubborn chimney fire that evidently had been burning for some time
before being discovered, burned itself along a brick chimney from the cellar to the attic and at places
burned itself through the weather boards on the outside and the flooring on the inside of the building.  
Streams of water first used to extinguish the flames damaged the home and furnishings to a very
considerable extent.  All the walls and ceilings were water soaked.  The furniture, furnishings and
clothing were damaged and in many cases completely ruined by the smoke and water.  Only the
furniture in the dining room and kitchen escaped damage.
The fire was discovered by Miss Doris Shadel, confined indoors with the measles.  As she went to the
second floor, she discovered smoke and immediately notified Miss Elsie Adams who was in the home.  
An investigation disclosed the fire.  In the meantime an alarm had been sent in by John Edling who with
Superintendent William Mellon,happened along in their auto and noticed the smoke issuing from the
home.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were away from home.  Mrs. Smith had gone to Philadelphia, having left
on the flyer.  Mr. Smith had left home Tuesday on his regular run on the railroad.  When he arrived home
Wednesday afternoon and looked at the home in its damaged condition, he was dumbfounded.  The
aged mother of Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Moyer, who is seventy two years of age and paralyzed, was in the home
and had to be carried to a neighboring house by friends.  The Schuylkill and Liberty Companies first
played streams of water on the house.  Chemicals were later used.  The damage was estimated by Mr.
Smith at between $3000 and $5000, partly covered by insurance.                                                                                                                                               
                                                 
The Call of November 22, 1929

MIDNIGHT FIRE DESTROYED COAL WASHERY BUILDINGS

Fire starting about the midnight hour Sunday, completely destroyed a large frame building of Lewis
Holstein, together with contents, located close to the coal washery near the Columbia Hotel, Schuylkill
Haven, operated by Mr. Holstein.  The contents of the building, consisting of all office records, office
equipment, some machinery, valuable tools, a large electric motor, and personal effects and furniture of
Wilson Hollenbach, were completely destroyed or badly damaged.  Shortly after the fire alarm had been
sounded the location of the fire was determined by the glare in the sky and it was the opinion that
either one of the industries in the South Ward or the Stoyer Garage was afire.  
The Liberty Fire Company promptly had a stream of water on the blaze.  It was at once seen however,
that the building was doomed.  Despite the eighteen hour rain, the building of frame construction,
burned fiercely and it was some time before the flames were completely extinguished.  Firemen when
they first arrived on the scene, worked in great danger from the high tension electric power lines which
lead to the operation.  Several of the lines were burned off at the large transformer that stood above
the building.  These lines dropped and narrowly escaped falling upon bystanders.  The power was then
cut off and the firemen continued their work.  All of the fire apparatus of the three companies was on
hand, together with the new fire truck from the Cressona fire company which arrived on the scene at
the same time the Rainbow Hose Company truck arrived.  Only the Liberty Company was put into
service.  
Mr. Holstein states his loss will amount to several thousand dollars without any portion being covered
with insurance.  A large and expensive electric switch on a pole near the building was also badly
damaged.  A portion of the building was used as living quarters by Wilson Hollenbach, who was in his
quarters at the time, but escaped without injury.  Two stoves were used to heat the building but at this
writing it had not been determined whether they had become overheated or not.  Mr. Holstein has
provided temporary quarters to be used as an office and as soon as new electric lines can be put up
and connections made, operations at the coal washery will be continued.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                 
The Call of August 16, 1929

MILL FIRE THROWS FIFTY OUT OF WORK

Fire Saturday morning at 1:30 o’clock, destroyed a portion of the Schuylkill Haven Knitting Mill on Centre
Avenue and damaged almost the entire contents including stock, machinery and equipment.  The fire
was discovered by a passing motorist who hurried to the fire alarm box at the corner of Dock and Haven
Streets.  Upon the arrival of firemen, the flames were confined to the shipping department, which is
located in the rear of the basement floor.  There was an unusual delay in obtaining streams of water due
to the difference of hose and plug connections.  When connections were finally made, the Rainbow
pumper unfortunately would not immediately pump.  Hardly had the water been sent through two hose
lines when one of them sprang a leak.  These connections had been made at the plug on Centre
Avenue.  In the meantime the Liberty Company had made connections at a plug on Garfield Avenue and
used the hose lines of the Schuylkill Hose because the Schuylkill truck is out of service.  Three streams
of water were played on the fire and it was under control shortly after the water was obtained.  In the
meantime, members of the Rainbow Hose Company were fighting  hard with chemicals from a point
close to the scorching flames.  A bucket brigade also was formed and used water from the creek
adjoining the burning building.  
While it was possible for the firemen to confine the flames to the shipping department for the most part,
the heat and dense smoke served sufficient to ruin a number and damage the remainder of both the
knitting and sewing machines on the second floor.  A considerable amount of stock was also damaged
by smoke and finished goods and raw material stored in the basement was ruined by water.  Despite the
severity of the fire, it was for the most part confined inside the building, it breaking through the
weather boards at only a few points.  No definite statement of loss could be made by the owners, Harry
Reidler and Brother, but it is understood the same will be heavy.  Insurance is carried on building and
contents.
This industry employs fifty persons and had been closed down for the taking of inventory.  It was the
intention to resume operations Monday of this week.  It is likely operations will be resumed within at
least three weeks time.  No definite cause for the fire has been determined.  During the fire, which
burned for an hour or more, quite a number of sections of the fire hose burst.  There was an excellent
pressure of water but the unfortunate thing about it was that fate seemed intent in interfering with
getting it to the scene of the fire.  The hose which burst, firemen stated, had only been in service for a
very short time and one or two of the sections had the appearance of never having been used.  The
matter of difference in connections between plugs and hose is due to the fact that the fire plugs in the
North Ward are of a type no longer manufactured and the thread for the hose connection is entirely
different then that required for the majority of plugs throughout the town.  Special connections are
required and all companies have been furnished these special connections by the borough;
nevertheless to make the special connection requires additional time, so valuable at a fire.  The
response of the fire companies was unusually prompt despite the inconvenient hour.  Firemen
remained on the scene for several hours after the fire had been declared completely extinguished, this
in order to prevent an outbreak.                                                
The Call of October 10, 1913

FIRE DAMAGES ROLLING MILL

Fire Monday evening completely destroyed the oil house and the warehouse and badly damaged the
main building of the Schuylkill Haven Iron and Steel Company.  The loss has, up to this time, not been
estimated.  The plant is one that, after having been idle for several years, was three months ago
started by Mr. H. Light of Lebanon, a well known and prominent iron manufacturer.  About one hundred
men were employed at this mill, although for the past week fifty men have been at work.  A large
number of these men are therefore thrown out of employment until the damage is repaired.  Work of
reconstructing the destroyed portions of the building will be commenced as soon as the insurance
companies settle upon the loss.  The fire started a few minutes before nine o’clock, having its origin in
the oil house.  Evidence already secured points to the fact that the oil house was deliberately set on
fire.  Considerable time was lost before the fire alarm was sent into the electric light plant.  As soon as
the alarm was given the fire companies were promptly on the scene.  The Liberty Hose Company was
first on the ground but on account of the very poor pressure could do very little, they being hardly able
to throw the water on the roof of the building.  On account of the oil stored in the oil house and its oily
condition, this part of the plant was soon a mass of flames.  
The steamer of the Schuylkill Hose Company was taken to the fire in true city style, the drive from the
engine house to the fire being made in less then two minutes.  As soon as the engine arrived it was set
to work pumping from a reservoir on the Steel Company’s ground.  Three streams of water and a heavy
chemical stream were played on the flames.  It was readily seen that the portions of the building on fire
could not be saved and the efforts of the firemen were directed towards saving the main building.  
Water was played on the fire for several hours.  A large number of firemen remained on the scene over
night as a precaution against further out breaking of the flames.  The fire was a spectacular one.  The
flames reached a great height and the sky was illuminated very brilliantly.  Residents of the
surrounding towns were drawn by the illumination and many people from Pottsville, Cressona and
Orwigsburg made a trip to town.  Burgess Hartman who left the meeting of town council as soon as the
first alarm was given was kept busy for several hours rounding up a number of drunken characters
found in the vicinity of the fire.  During the night he had six locked up in the borough lockup.  In the
morning no evidence could be presented or secured connecting them with the fire and they were
released.  
During the fire it was intimated that it was the work of a fire bug and Burgess Hartman believing the
allegation with the result that Tuesday morning promptly at eight o’clock, he began a rigid examination
and investigation.  A preliminary hearing was held in the council chamber.  A score or more of
witnesses and employees at the mill were questioned.  Night watchman Hummel stated he was tending
to his duties about the mill when he heard cries of fire and looking about saw flames coming from the
oil house.  He grasped a bucket of water and dashed towards the fire but at once saw that it had gained
too much headway to be fought by him alone.  Mr. Hummel stated that he had been in the oil house
about 6:30 o’clock, and at that time a barrel containing black grease had stood on the left side going in
the door.  That this barrel he noticed when the alarm was given was lying down on the right side near
where cotton waste was stored and the whole was a mass of flames.  It was also brought out that from
his position in the mill any person could enter and leave the oil house without being seen by him.  He
stated he had orders not to let anyone in the oil house with a lamp or light.  That he had no lamp or light
when he went to the oil house at 6:30.  
A colored gentleman by the name of Mitchell, testified that one John Steely of town, who has several
times been in the meshes of the law, had made the statement to him several days ago that “In a few
days there will be none of you working here.”  Mitchell said to him, “It must hurt you because you were
discharged.”  Steely replied, “No it won’t hurt me but I know what I am doing.  In a few days there will be
a whole lot more of them out of there.”  Charles Bell, another colored employee, testified along the
same lines.  He heard Steely scolding Mitchell because Mitchell was supposed to have told Steely’s
aunt that he was discharged.  On last Friday he distinctly heard him say, “That they should never mind,
there would not be any of them working there in a few days, to mark his words as he knew what he was
talking about.  Another witness testified that Steely was the first man he met when he arrived at the fire.
Steely in answer to a question of the Burgess of what he meant by saying there would be none of them
working around, said he said, “There would be no Dutchmen working there.”  Steely also said he was
not discharged, that he quit of his own accord.  John Gallagher, the superintendent stated that he
discharged Steely last Wednesday evening for being drunk and at the time of discharging him he said,
“Never mind, I will get even with youse.”  That Thursday morning he came down to the mill and began
bothering the men and that he, the superintendent, then ordered him off the grounds.  Steely said he
wanted his pay and he was told to go into the office.  In being ordered out of the mill, Superintendent
Gallagher said Steely remarked, “Never mind, there will be hardly any of youse around here shortly.”  
Upon this evidence a warrant was sworn out for Steely.  Officer Butz served the same on him.  He was
immediately taken before Squire Moyer.  There the witnesses testified to what Steely had said.  Squire
Moyer then committed him on suspicion of arson.  Steely was taken to Pottsville shortly afterward.  
During the entire process, Steely appeared worried and very nervous and seemed to expect to be
locked up.  He will be held for criminal court, arson being a Commonwealth offense with punishment
being very heavy.                                                                                                        
The Call of July 16, 1915

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN FOUNDRY DESTROYED BY FIRE
LOCAL MEN AS STOCKHOLDERS STAND TO LOSE $30,000

This town, Monday evening, was visited by the most destructive fire in years, when the “Pipe Mill” or
plant of the Schuylkill Haven Foundry Company was completely destroyed entailing a loss of about
$30,000.  The fire was discovered about 9:30 o’clock and an alarm immediately sent in by Mrs. Harry
Baker.  Almost as soon as the fire was discovered it appeared to have spread over the entire plant.  
The fire companies responded but it was fully one half hour before a stream of water could be played
upon the fiery furnace.  The nearest fire plug was about two thousand feet away and on account of
being necessary to use hose of the different companies with different connections, much valuable time
was lost.
The plant after having been idle for quite some time and the company having been reorganized, was on
a fair road to meeting with success, orders for its product were being received daily.  M. A. Dunlap,
formerly manager of the Pottsville Casting Company, was induced to affiliate himself with the local
company and under his experienced and capable managership, the plant was coming into its own.  The
personal loss of Mr. Dunlap will amount into thousands of dollars as all his patterns and valuable tools
were destroyed.  About thirty men were employed Monday, a heat had been run but Mr. Cox, the
assistant manager, who inspected the entire building before going home, stated everything was safe.  It
is believed a spark during the day found its way to the rafters and smoldered for several hours,
breaking out in a mass of flames in the evening.  The fire was first discovered in the end of the building
near where the cupola is located.  When neighbors arrived on the scene the entire interior of the
building was a mass of flames and it was with difficulty that the papers and books in the office at the
opposite end of the building were rescued.  Despite the fact that almost everything in the office was
carried to a place of safety, many valuable papers are said to have been destroyed.
A large carload of castings standing on the siding and ready to be shipped was damaged to such an
extent that they will be useless.  For a time it was feared that the boiler in the plant would explode but
luckily the safety valve melted off and the glass tube exploded allowing all the steam to escape.  
Despite the efforts of the firemen, before a stream of water could be played on the building, very little
stock, tools or forms could be saved.  All that remains standing of the efforts of Schuylkill Haven capital
to give the town a plant for the employment of men and thus be the means of effecting a boom, are the
several sections of charred brick walls and a mass of twisted iron and steel.  The plant which had been
hoped would, especially since the reorganization two months ago, make up for the heavy loss sustained
by its stock holders in the first years of its career, is now nothing but a mass of ruins and its stock
holders will be required to shoulder a complete and to a certain extent a double loss.
The Schuylkill haven Foundry Company is composed of the following eleven stock holders, nine of them
being Schuylkill Haven men: George Saul, President; Frank Brown, Secretary; George A. Berger,
Treasurer; E. H. Baker, Dr. James C. Gray, George Michel, George M. Paxson, H. D. Felix, Joseph Michel,
D. D. Coldren, M. A. Dunlap.                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of December 3, 1915

FIRE DESTROYS FRAME HOUSE

Tuesday morning between twelve thirty and one in the morning, the frame dwelling house of Jimmy
Vicciarro located on "Goat Hill" near the curve at the Mine Hill crossing, was completely destroyed by
fire.  The house had been vacated by an Italian family during the day and a portion of the household
goods of this family still being in the house were destroyed.  It is believed the fire was the work of an
incendiary.  There was no fire in any stove during the day and the fire when first discovered seemed to
immediately spread as if fueled by oiled or gasolined material.  There is said to exist a strong feeling of
selfishness between the Italian families of that vicinity and the owner of the house, Jimmy Vicciarro, due
to the fact that Vicciarro by hard work and thrift has been enabled to purchase several properties in the
town.  At the present he is confined to his home with a severe attack of illness.  An investigation is to
be made and state authorities may be consulted on the matter.
The discovery of the fire was made by railroaders.  The alarm was given by the steady blowing of the
engine whistles.  The alarm was soon sent to the light plant and the siren whistle was soon tumbling the
residents out of bed.  After a delay of fully eight minutes at the P and R street crossings, owing to their
being blocked with a train and the trainmen refusing absolutely to cut the train, the Schuylkill with their
auto truck finally arrived on the scene.  The building however was doomed and with a stream of water
nothing more could be done then extinguish the flaming walls and prevent the spread of the flames to
adjoining property in a few minutes time.  The Rainbow Hose Company under the direction of Mr. Luke
Fisher followed a wise course by taking their apparatus to Broadway, directly across the railroad from
the fire and attaching the hose to a plug.  They were then in readiness for whatever fires might have
broken out in that section.  The sparks and embers from the burning building were carried and dropped
on many houses in the vicinity and for a time apprehension was felt for the Buechley lumber yard.  
Careful watch was kept and not until after the fire was extinguished did the Rainbow Company rewrap
its lines of hose and depart.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of November 26, 1926

BOLD ATTEMPT TO FIRE PAINT SHOP AND GARAGE

A fire Sunday evening shortly before seven o’clock which did less then a dollar’s worth of business may
yet produce one of the best and a real exciting piece of news.  The fire occurring in the garage and
paint shop of Painter Reichert, south side of Market Street, proved conclusively to be that of an
incendiary and a bold and vicious attempt to cause financial loss to the owners.  The fire was
discovered by members of the family of Frank Sherer, residing nearby.  One of the members of the
family happened to notice the reflection from the flames through a rear window.  The alarm was at once
given and Mr. Sherer with his sons and with the use if several buckets of water extinguished the
flames.  
The flames extinguished, it was noticed that only a very small part of the woodwork or frame of the
building near the door had been burned, yet flames had leaped high and burned fiercely.  On
investigation it was discovered that a thick roll of paper had been saturated in gasoline and stuck
between a joist and the boards.  Only a part of this had been burned.  A moment later an empty quart
milk bottle was discovered near the door which was still wet with gasoline showing that gasoline had
been brought to the scene in the milk bottle, the paper saturated with the gas and more of it poured on
the wood work.  The point where the fire was started is about two feet from one of the swinging doors
which was left open.  It was from the fact that this door was left open that the flames probably were
discovered by neighbors, otherwise the wood work may have been ignited and the fire been well under
way before the discovery was made.  Mr. Reichert stated he carried no insurance on the building.
The garage and paint shop carries a heavy stock of paints, oil and grease and also contained a touring
car and truck.  With the fire once underway and with a fairly good breeze blowing Sunday evening, a
very disastrous fire might have resulted.  All the fire companies responded but their services were not
needed.  Half an hour after the fire the local authorities had already begun an investigation.  No less
then five different persons have been required to submit to a questioning at the town hall.  Suspicion
rests strongly upon certain persons and with new evidence it is likely definite arrests will be made in
the case.                                                                                          
The Call of October 19, 1917

HOMES GUTTED BY FIRE

The homes of Charles Roeder and William Sell on Columbia Street were badly gutted by fire and the
contents damaged by water Thursday morning.  Fire starting in a small frame kitchen close to the
Roeder home quickly spread to the main building and in a short time flames were leaping from the
entire rear double structure.  A small portion of the household goods of both families was saved.  The
work of the firemen was handicapped by an insufficient water pressure.  The Liberty Company was the
first company to have a stream playing on the flames.  It did not amount to much despite the fact that the
same was being pumped from the fire plug.  When the Schuylkill Hose Company arrived and attempted
to pump from another plug they could not even draw a sufficient amount of water to throw a stream a
foot high.  This was due evidently to the small amount of water in the dam.  An examination following the
fire showed there was but ten pounds of pressure in the fire plug.  
After the delay, in which the flames gained headway, the Schuylkill engine pumped from the Schuylkill
River and a strong stream of pure black water was sent through the combined lines of the Schuylkill and
Rainbow Companies.  The Rainbow Company in order to charge their chemical tanks had to carry water
in buckets as there was not a sufficient amount of water to force through the ordinary garden hose.  For
a time there did not seem to be anyone to give directions to the firemen and each company chose its
own method and manner of work.  This is due to not having a fire chief who is employed in Schuylkill
Haven and could be present at all times to direct the fire fighters.
The fire alarm was sent in from Harry Schumacher’s store by George Shomper.  The neighbors first
discovered the fire and gave the alarm.  The cause of the fire is alleged to be due to an overheated
stove in the small kitchen or shanty.  It is alleged the stove was closed by Mr. Roeder early in the
morning and that he went to work and forgot to open the same.  
Mrs. Roeder was confined to her bed with consumption and she with a tiny tot were rescued just in the
nick of time by Mr. Harry Schumacher and Mrs. Renninger.  As Mr. Schumacher forced his way into the
bedroom, which was already thick with smoke, he could dimly see the form of one of the children topple
over on the floor.  He grabbed at it and passed it along to Mrs. Renninger.  Mr. Schumacher made for
the bed and throwing a quilt about the almost exhausted form of Mrs. Roeder made his way through
clouds of smoke and down a stairway that had already become ignited.  She was taken to a neighbor’s
home and her rescuer loudly commended for his brave act.  William Sell, the occupant of the other side
of the house, and a brother to Mrs. Roeder, was at work at the Saul and Zang factory.  His wife was not
at home and considerable of the small amount of household goods he had were destroyed or damaged
by water before they could be taken out.  Mr. Sell’s wife, it is understood, is ill at the home of out of
town relatives.  Mr. Sell when he saw the destruction and damage to his household goods was greatly
overcome by emotion and persons present could not help but pity him.  
A CALL FOR HELP
Origin A Mystery
The Call of May 28, 1920

FIREWALL PREVENTS BIG LOSS

A large brick firewall at the Casket Factory saved that building from possible complete destruction on
Tuesday at noon.  Fire starting in the boiler house would have rapidly spread to other parts of the
building had it been possible for the flames to lick through or around the bricked wall.  The alarm was
sounded just a few minutes after the noon hour.  The fire companies were soon on the scene, but
unfortunately the fire plug nearest the fire refused to work. Other troubles and delays permitted the
flames to gain headway.  Finally the Schuylkill Hose Company had a stream playing on the fire by
pumping water from the Harry Baker reservoir nearby.  Had it not been for this particular supply of
water the loss sustained might have been greater.  The Liberty also had a stream playing on the flames
by pumping from the plug at the corner of Saint Peter and Liberty Streets.  The Rainbow Company used
chemicals to advantage.  Dense and thick clouds of smoke issued from the building but the only portion
destroyed was the east side wooden portion of the boiler house and an adjoining frame building.  The
boilers and engines were damaged to some extent.  The loss was given out as $500.  The cause, due to
the burning of shavings in the boiler, it being thought a spark from the boiler fell upon a quantity
nearby which were to be burned.  
Four out of town companies came to town but their services were not required as the fire was well
under control before their arrival.  Evidently they were summoned by someone who feared for the
destruction of the entire plant.  They were the Good Will and Cressona Fire Company Number One of
Cressona and the American Hose and Humane of Pottsville.  The Casket Company operations will be
delayed somewhat until the proper repairs can be made.  The plant had just gotten into proper shape
for the manufacture of caskets and it was expected by the end of this week a number of different
models of caskets would have been completed and on exhibition in town.  The company has a large
amount of orders on hand with prospects of receiving sufficient additional orders to employ a large
number of men shortly.                                                                                                                                 
The Call of February 18, 1921

LIBERTY FIRE COMPANY TO HAVE TWO AUTO TRUCKS

The Bazaar and Frolic to be conducted by the Liberty Fire Company of town will be officially opened on
Saturday evening, February 19th.  The same will continue during all of the following week.  It is planned
to have a session on the afternoon of Washington’s Birthday at which time there will be a number of
special attractions and features.  The bazaar promises to attract many persons as there will be plenty of
fun and amusement for all.  The Citizen’s Band will be present on the opening evening to render
music.  Other musical organizations may be present during the evening on the week following.  Of
course the Liberty Fire Company is in need of funds and has therefore hit upon this method of
procuring the same.  Fire companies are generally in need of funds and the public generally liberally
responds.  This company on this occasion solicits the patronage of the public and sets forth their
special reason for the same, in the fact that an order was recently placed for a one and a half ton fire
truck.  The same will be received in about two month’s time.  The present motor driven apparatus is
somewhat overloaded; therefore it is proposed to place the chemical engine and chemical hose upon
the new truck.  The old or present fire truck will be somewhat rebuilt and the present equipment of
water pump and fire hose will be the better accommodated.  The action of the Liberty boys will give the
public additional fire equipment.  It will give the town two fire trucks equipped with chemicals.  These
trucks will therefore be housed in, we might say, the two ends of the town, one in the North Ward, the
property and recent acquisition of the Rainbow Hose Company and the other in the South Ward, that of
the Liberty Company.  “The Call” has for years agitated and suggested chemicals mounted on trucks so
that the response could be more prompt and in order that fires could be fought in their incipiency.  That
the action of the fire companies is for the public welfare and protection should not be lost sight of and
liberal patronage should be forthcoming on every occasion on which the fire ladies of the town ask for
funds with which to pay for the equipment.  This time it is the Liberty Fire Company that solicits the
patronage of the public.                                                  
The Call of March 5, 1898

THE BLEACHERY BURNED

Shortly after eight o’clock Thursday evening, fire was discovered in the factory building on High Street,
owned by C. H. Kline and occupied by Samuel Roland as a bleachery.  The alarm was sounded and the
firemen quickly responded, the Schuylkill Hose being the first to arrive, at once attached the hose and
for a few minutes had two streams playing on the blazing building.  They were closely followed by the
Rainbows.  The firemen fought bravely but were barely in time to save the entire building.  Mr. Kline’s
residence adjoined the burning building and for a time it was feared that it too would furnish food for
the flames. Mr. Roland was in the Opera House at the time the fire was discovered.  A panic was averted
by the presence of mind of Manager Commings, who assured the excited audience that there was no
cause for alarm as the fire was a square away.  The flames started in one corner of the building on the
first floor and is supposed to have been due to spontaneous combustion as there was no fire in that
part of the building.  The machinery was only partially destroyed.  There was no insurance on either the
building or the machinery.  The total loss is estimated at about $2000.
$2000.                                                                                                                                                
The Call of July 22, 1910

FIRE COMPANIES MERGE

As forecasted in these columns last week the Rainbow Hose Company and Friendship Hook and Ladder
Company by unanimous vote decided to join forces and become reincorporated under the name of the
Rainbow Hose Company of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania.  The entire membership of both companies
have joined the new one and these officers have been elected: President, Isaac Huy; Vice President,
Clinton Confehr; Secretary, Luke Fisher; Financial Secretary, George H. Gerhard; Treasurer, M. F. Loy;
Trustees, Edward Maberry, Clayton Eiler and Isaac Shappell.  The selection of officers shows a very fair
proportion of the members of both companies and is an evidence of the very cordial relations that exist
between the members of the two organizations.  The new company will take over all the property and
will assume the debt (less than $1000) of the Friendship Company.  The Rainbow Company had no debt.  
The new company will retain the Rainbow Hose House and will retain all the apparatus of both
companies, there being ample room to house both and plenty of members to man every machine in
case of fire.  
It is hinted too that the Rainbows will make provisions for hauling their apparatus, especially the
chemical engine, by horses; but the members decline, at this time, to say anything about their plans.  
The Friendship Hose house and lot will be offered for sale and The Call repeats its suggestion that the
property be secured for school purposes.  The hose house can be used for some time to come as a
school room and will very materially aid in relieving the present congested condition of the public
schools.  At a later date, after a new central high school building has been erected, the ground will be
available for the erection of an addition to the present modern building.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                          
The Call of January 13, 1911

SLIGHT FIRE – Eating House of Mrs. P. J. Worts Gutted   
Prompt Work of Neighbors Prevents Serious Conflagration   Bystanders Get Ducking

Fire Tuesday noon gutted the eating house of Mrs. P. J. Worts and caused considerable excitement.  
The alarm was promptly given and the fire companies responded but their services were hardly
necessary as a bucket brigade, which was formed, after strenuous work, succeeded in gaining control
and put out the flames.  Had the fire occurred Monday during the high wind the entire block of stables
and the underwear mill of D. D. Coldren, next adjoining, would surely have been burnt to the ground.  
While preparing an order on a gas stove for several customers, the attendant was called to another
part of the room for a minute or two and upon her return found the kitchen a mass of flames.  The fat
from the utensil in which the food was being prepared boiled over and ignited the gas and the flames
immediately communicated with the surrounding woodwork.  The loss is estimated at about $1,100,
partly covered with insurance.  An amusing occurrence at  this fire was the drenching of a large number
of bystanders who stationed themselves in the front of the building.  The Schuylkill Hose Company,
working from the rear with a stream, accidentally threw it over the roof of the building with the result of
promptly scattering the crowd in front.  A number who could not reach safety in time were drenched.
drenched.                                        
The Call of September 10, 1926

EARLY MORNING LABOR DAY FIRE

Fire at four o’clock Monday morning completely destroyed the contents of the store of Reuben Hoffman
on Wilson Street and gutted the frame building to such an extent that it is worthless.  When discovered,
the flames had gained very considerable headway and before water could be thrown on it the building
was a mass of flames.  Little if any of the contents could be taken from the building.  Stock to the amount
of three thousand dollars was destroyed.  It consisted of motorcycle parts, confectionery, tobacco, etc.  
Mr. Hoffman states his stock was covered by insurance.  The building owned by Mr. Thomas Silliman was
not covered by insurance.  The rear and the sides of the building are burned so badly that it is likely the
entire building will have to be pulled down.
The frame garage and shop of Contractor Obenhouse adjoining was somewhat damaged by flames
eating through the west side of the building.  A large quantity of weather stripping and lumber, together
with Mr. Obenhouse’s automobile were removed.  Valuable machinery in the building however, was
soaked with water and may be somewhat damaged.  Mr. Obenhouse however carried insurance.  Two
streams of water were played on the burning structure and in a short time had the fire extinguished.  
Two valuable hunting dogs left in the building overnight were burned to death.  A third hound however
escaped uninjured.  The dog evidently had been enabled to crawl under a protection of some kind
against both the flames and smoke.  When the fire had partially subsided, the dog came after being
called by the owner.  Mr. Hoffman states the building was locked up about eleven o’clock and he had
made sure that everything was okay before leaving.  The cause of the fire will remain a mystery.
mystery.                                                                                                          
The Call of May 22, 1925

FIRE DESTROYED AUTO AND GARAGE

Fire Friday evening completely destroyed a Ford auto truck, some furniture and the frame stable on the
rear of the property of William Roeder of Canal Street.  The fire was discovered at nine o’clock Friday
evening.  In an instant the building was a mass of flames.  The reflection in the sky could be seen from
all parts of the town shortly after the alarm was sounded.  This gave the impression that the fire was a
big one and sent the fire companies to the scene with all possible speed and caused large numbers of
people from the far parts of the town to gather.  Water was played on the building and that of Harry
Schumacher adjoining, by the Liberty and Rainbow Hose companies.  The Schuylkill Hose Company was
delayed in getting into action with a stream of water as none could be pumped from the plug for a time.  
Chemicals were played on the buildings and the surrounding stables and sheds to prevent the fire from
spreading.  By reason of their close proximity to the Walkin Shoe Factory and the Lebanon Paper Box
Company plant, the timely discovery of the fire and getting it under control almost immediately
prevented what might have been a very disastrous conflagration had the flames communicated to these
buildings.  The Ford auto truck of Mr. Roeder was completely destroyed.  A quantity of household goods
belonging to William Schumacher and stored in the second story of the building was destroyed.  The
building adjoining the Roeder property in which the several cars of H. Schumacher and Brothers were
stored was somewhat damaged.  All the machines were removed in safety.  The loss will amount to
several hundreds of dollars.  The cause of the fire remains unknown.  It is said that children of the
neighborhood were preparing to burn a cross Friday or Saturday evening and in trying out the material,
the flames communicated with gas and in an instant were beyond control.  A futile attempt was made by
the youngsters to extinguish the fire by carrying water from a nearby pond.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

The Call of May 29, 1925

SLIGHT FIRE HERE SATURDAY EVENING

Fire, in the heart of the business section of Schuylkill Haven, Saturday evening caused quite a bit of
excitement and damage to the extent of three or four thousand dollars.  Fire was discovered in one of
the frame stables at the rear of the property of P. T. Hoy.  It is believed to have started in the portion
occupied by the Wenrich Battery Station.  When the firemen arrived they were handicapped somewhat
by the dense smoke which was caused by the character of the goods stored in the unoccupied part of
the building.  Three streams of water and chemicals were used.  Water was played for almost three
quarters of an hour before Chief Schumacher declared all signs of a fire extinguished.  Considerable
damage was done to the equipment in the Wenrich Battery Station.  Firemen, despite the fact that
everyone was attired in his Saturday or Sunday best clothing, worked in a pouring rain following the fire
and many were drenched to the skin and had their clothing ruined.                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                      
The Call of June 11, 1892

A MIDNIGHT BLAZE – Lautenbacher and Company’s Underwear Factory Badly Damaged

On Friday night at about 11:30, as Will Bast, who is doing duty as call boy at the P and R “J” telegraph
office, rounded Murphy’s corner from Main into Saint Peter Street, an odor of smoke reached his
nostrils, and he promptly proceeded to investigate.  He had not gone far before he saw a small flame
dart from one of the windows of Lautenbacher and Company’s underwear factory and at once he began
to yell “fire”.  At the same time a dance was being held in the Washington Hall.  The music for a waltz
had just closed and “The Call” scribe and several others were gazing at the weeping skies when
suddenly a dense cloud of smoke met their gaze and a faint cry of “fire” reached their ears.  Without
waiting to hear or see more they rushed out in their ball room attire in the pouring rain and by their
vociferous cries soon had the firemen running to their headquarters and the bells and whistles making
enough din to wake the dead.  
The Schuylkill Hose Company, whose house is near the scene of the fire, were first to play on the
burning building.  They had two good streams on the blaze.  The Rainbow Hose Company arrived soon
after and the two companies did effective work.  Had it not been for the heavy rainfall no doubt the
whole building would have succumbed to the flames.  As it was, only a part was destroyed and the
machinery damaged by smoke and water.  The loss amounts to about $1500.  There was no insurance on
the building and only two thirds on the machinery, which is valued at $5000.  Many theories are
advanced as to the origin of the fire.  Some think it of incendiary origin, others from the heat of the
engine and still some that the lightning caused it.                                                                                                                                                                         
The Call of January 5, 1895

HOSE HOUSE DEDICATION – The Rainbow Hose Company of Town in Its New Home

The Rainbow Hose Company Number One, of Schuylkill Haven, dedicated their new hose house
Wednesday with appropriate ceremonies.  The building was beautifully decorated and resplendent with
starry emblems.  The ceremonies consisted of a banquet, during which the following made addresses:
Dr. H. N. Coxe, Dr. C. Lenker, Ed Sterner, A. A. Hesser and humorous John Bowman.  The banquet took
place in the parlors of the hose house and about 150 persons participated.  Samuel Bausman, the North
Ward politician, kept the party bubbling over with laughter with his effervescent wit.  Eiler’s orchestra
contributed to the pleasures by rendering a number of choice selections.
The new house is located on Spring Garden Street, near the P. R. R. depot and is an ornament to the
town.  It is a two story brick structure with a turreted mansard roof and brown stone trimmings.  The
building is a model of architectural beauty and symmetry and will compare with any structure of the kind
in the interior of the state.  The company was organized about nine years ago and kept their apparatus
in a stable. For two years after the company became chartered, the members had a regular meeting
place.  Then came a financial crisis and the company had a hard struggle for existence.  Meetings after
that were held at the homes of the members, but the company bravely overcame its financial troubles
and the dedication last evening was the happy sequel of its early struggles against adverse fate.  The
company now numbers about one hundred members and is in excellent financial condition.  It is the
purpose of the company to hold a fair in the near future and furnish the building out of the proceeds.  
Every member of the company deserves unstinted praise for their energetic work in giving the town
such a model building as that dedicated last evening and it goes without saying that the citizens will feel
a sense of security with such a company as the Rainbow in their midst to fight smoke and flame.  The
Building Committee consisted of E. E. Mayberry, Chairman; Henry Keiber, Secretary; Luke Fisher,
Treasurer and John F. Bader and John Berger.                                                                                                                                                                                
The Call of January 12, 1895

HOSE HOUSE DEDICATED

The memorable event on New Year’s Day in town was the modest dedication and formal possession of
the beautiful and convenient hose house of the Rainbow Hose Company’s building by its members.  We
have taken pains to inquire just what the boys accomplished and their lot and building complete costs
them the sum of $4500, not including the labor of the members, who by their own hands made the entire
excavation for the cellar and brought eighty five perches of stones to the yard, which were kindly
donated by the P and R Company through Mr. E. F. Smith, the courteous engineer of the canal
department.  Together with their hose carriage, thus far they have had the expense of $5500.  Out of
this amount, the hose company, by their determination and unbounded energy aided by the generosity
of our liberal hearted citizens from one end of the borough to the other, have raised just $3500, leaving
therefore an indebtedness of $2000, not such a large amount in view of the splendid showing the
company has to offset it.  The members are not modest in expressing their thanks to our citizens for
their generous and continued assistance, more especially the ladies of the borough, and we feel
justified in asserting that at any hour of the day or night, through all seasons, should our homes be
menaced by the fiend fire, the Rainbow Hose Company will cheerfully and speedily respond with their
best efforts.
The building is of brick.  The front of pressed brick and brown stone trimmings, two and a half stories
high, with ceilings in the clear.  On the northeast corner is the bell tower at a height of forty seven feet,
while opposite on the southeast end is an ornamental tower, just three feet less in height.  The main
room on the ground floor is bright and roomy, twenty five feet by forty seven feet and can be divided off
by partition doors, thus making two commodious rooms when required.  On the second floor is the
parlor, twenty five by thirty feet, with the reception room in the rear divided by folding doors.  The
wainscoting downstairs is yellow pine hard finish, while the upper part is in cypress hard finish.  The
second floor also contains a commodious bathroom, together with an equipment room.  All in all we take
pride and pleasure in saying to the Rainbow boys, “Well done.”  The fixtures on the main doors on the
ground floor are ingenious and we might say costly and worthy of examination.  While the doors are
securely locked, the simple raising of a simple hand lever unlocks the two ponderous doors and throws
them wide open for a quick run of the carriage.
Only on the proceeding evening the company decided upon a festival, but notwithstanding the short
time, the ladies had prepared a most elegant table.  Dr. H. N. Coxe opened the speaking and after well
timed remarks, presented the company with a beautiful picture.  Dr. Lenker was the second orator and
his address was of a most encouraging nature.  Mr. A. A. Hesser followed with a description of running
the machine in town a quarter century ago and Mr. Sterner next rendered a beautiful patriotic
discourse.  The band of professor Eiler rendered their usual elegant program of music and the
entertainment long to be remembered was closed for the evening by Mr. John Bowman, in a recitation
in Pennsylvania Dutch which sent the large gathering home dreaming of spooks and poison.  The
energetic President, Mr. Fisher, cordially invites all the citizens of town to pay them a visit in their new
home at any time and often where they will always be welcome.                                                              
The Call of March 12, 1926

BUNGALOW BURNED AT WILLOW LAKE

Fire, between 1:30 and 2:00 Monday morning, completely destroyed the Hay bungalow situated near
Willow Lake.  The contents of the bungalow were also completely destroyed as it was impossible to
remove any article as the entire building was a roaring furnace very shortly after the fire was
discovered.  Mrs. Gilbert, who resides nearby, first discovered the flamers and immediately telephoned
the alarm.  Although outside the borough limits, all companies of the department responded, and there
were six pieces of fire apparatus lined up along the Killian Dam.  Upon arrival the firemen could do
nothing more then prevent the flames from communicating to other nearby buildings.  Holes had to first
be chopped into the ice over the Killian Dam before the suction hose could be used.  The three
companies began work of this kind with the intention of putting the three pumps into operation.  The
three pumps were started within a minute or two of one another.  However the Rainbow boys and the
Schuylkill Company had hard luck, each bursting a section of hose as soon as the pressure was turned
on.  The Liberty Company had better luck and was the first company to have continuous stream of water
on the flames.  Another stream of water was played on the burning building later.  The intense heat of
the bungalow which burned like tinder badly scorched the home of George Coover on the opposite
side of the street.  Windows in this home were also broken by the heat.  Mr. Hay, the owner, is a painter
and resides in Pottsville.  He was at the bungalow Sunday afternoon but cannot account for the fire.  He
intends rebuilding the bungalow.  Shortly after the siren whistle gave the alarm the sky was brilliantly
illuminated with the flames and the reflection could be seen from all parts of town.  Despite this fact
only an unusual small number of persons were spectators.                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                              

The Call of January 7, 1916

FIRE THURSDAY EVENING DAMAGED MCCORD HOME
CAUSED BY DRAPERIES COMING IN CONTACT WITH LAMP IN UPSTAIRS ROOM

Fire last night, about nine o’clock, completely demolished the contents of a sleeping room in the home
of Benjamin McCord in the West Ward and together with water did considerable damage to several
other rooms in the house.  The origin of the fire is supposed to have been caused by draperies coming
in contact with an oil lamp left burning low in the room which quickly communicated to the ceiling and
furnishings.  It appears that no one was in that part of the dwelling at the time of the fire as the
daughters of Mr. McCord were visiting at the home of a brother just a short distance from their home.  
Mr. McCord was at work on the railroad.  The fire was discovered by a Miss Feeney who quickly sent in
an alarm from the Stanton residence.  A bucket brigade was hastily organized and did splendid work
until the arrival of the fire department.  The Rainbow Hose Company with their chemical apparatus
confined the fire to one room and in a short time had the flames extinguished.  The Schuylkill Hose
Company responded with full paraphernalia but did not use the same.  The home has but recently been
papered and painted throughout and also refurnished.  While the fire only consumed the one room,
considerable damage was done by water and chemicals.  The loss is estimated at $500.
$500.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
The Call of June 9, 1916

LIGHTNING FIRES BAST MILL

During the storm of Saturday evening last, lightning struck the power wire at the Bast Underwear mill
and entered the building.  It is supposed to have then ignited a fuse and the fuse dropping down in turn
ignited ninety dozen union suits valued at $171.  No one was in the factory at the time.  The fire was first
discovered by Mrs. Elmer Schwartz residing across the street.  She discovered the smoke and
immediately sounded an alarm.  Harry Coldren, a neighbor, heard the cries of Mrs. Schwartz and
breaking down a door of the mill, entered.  He fought his way through dense smoke to the fire
extinguisher and then to the seat of the fire.  In the meantime someone turned in a general alarm with
the result that all of the fire companies responded. Fortunately their services were not required.  The
loss to the goods and the building will amount to between three and four hundred dollars.  
A bolt of lightning also struck a small unoccupied building in the vicinity of the rolling mill but did slight
damage.  The United Telephone Company had no less then ten phones placed out of service while
several of the Bell Company also suffered.                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of May 31, 1912

EARLY MORNING FIRE

Fire Tuesday morning about 3:30 o'clock completely destroyed the double frame P and R company
house on "Goat Hill" occupied by Angelo Peleezo and family on one side and Sylvia Peleezo on the
other. But very little of the household goods of either family were saved.  On account of the local
electric plant being connected with but one phone, the alarm which was sent in by residents of the
West ward had to first be relayed before the employee of the plant could be notified to give the alarm.  
When the siren was finally blown the entire building was a mass of flames.  The fire companies quickly
responded and despite their being handicapped in getting to the fire did good work when they were
finally upon the scene in preventing the adjoining buildings from catching fire.  The Rainbow Hose
Company attaching a line of hose at the plug in the West Ward could not reach the fire and several
sections of hose from one of the other companies had to be procured.  The Liberty Hose Company and
the Schuylkill Hose Company connected a line on the last plug on Berne Street making two streams.  
The Liberty chemical engine did effective service.  The cause of the fire nor a definite amount of the
loss could not be ascertained from the Peleezo people.                                                                                                                                                              
The Call of May 24, 1901

LIGHTNING'S TERRIFIC WORK
The Baker Stable and Carriage House Struck During Saturday's Storm
Timely Discovery of Fire in the Baker Underwear Mill

During the storm on Saturday evening last, lightning struck the two story frame stable and carriage
house belonging to E. H. Baker, on the alley immediately across from his underwear mill and played
havoc with the structure.  The building which was erected only two years ago is pretty badly damaged
and it will require a general overhauling to render the upper part of it fit for use.  The bolt of lightning
appears to have entered the building at the northwest corner of the second floor, splintering the
corner post into match wood and forcing out the weather boarding.  Passing into the interior, it
followed the sides of the second floor, splintering the posts at each corner, forcing out the weather
boarding and twisting the upper part of the building.  Emerging at the northeast corner the bolt passed
downward, ripping off a door on the first floor.  Remarkable to state, the electric fluid passed through a
pile of hay on the second floor without igniting the materials.  The damage to the building which is
estimated at about $175, is fully covered by insurance.
About the same time that the bolt struck the stable, fire was discovered by the boiler house in the mill,
but was promptly extinguished by Mr. Baker's son with a chemical fire extinguisher.  The lightning
apparently followed an iron pipe in the mill to a point near the engine, where it ignited the oil soaked
floor.  Its timely discovery undoubtedly prevented a most disastrous conflagration, as the mill is fitted
with expensive machinery and contains a large and valuable assortment of finished underwear, ready
for the market.  It is believed the bolt followed the electric light wires to a pole near the mill, where
owing to the absence of ground wire conductors, it glanced off into the nearby buildings.  An
incandescent light bulb in the Baker residence was also shattered by the bolt.  Daniel Snyder, residing
on Williams street, just below the Baker premises, was considerably stunned by the bolt and had one of
his arms lamed for the time being.  In another nearby house on Williams Street the lightning danced a
jig in the open doorway, but switched off without any damage.                                                                                                                              
The Call of June 14, 1901

BLAZE ON SUNDAY EVENING REDUCES FOUR BUILDINGS TO ASHES
Property of William F. Doherty - Flames Spread Rapidly
Fire Companies Do Heroic Work - Loss Estimated at $1100

The stillness of the Sabbath, in this place was disturbed last Sunday evening shortly before five o'clock
by a disastrous fire, which for a rime caused the greatest excitement.  Four buildings, the property of
William F. Doherty, the paper box manufacturer of town, with much of their contents were consumed by
the flames.  The fire, occurring as it did on a Sunday evening, just at supper time and when everybody
was in their best clothes, could not have happened at a much more unfavorable time.  The origin of the
fire is a complete mystery, but various theories are advanced as to the probable cause.  No one was
known to have been in the buildings when the fire started.
The buildings were located in the upper part of town on the alley running parallel with and between
Union and Main Streets.  The flames started in the upper part of the warehouse used for storage of
straw board and were first discovered by Mrs. William Auchenbach from the rear yard of her home on
Main Street.  In the upper part of the building hay was stored and owing to the inflammability of the
material the flames spread with remarkable rapidity and had gained considerable headway before
assistance came in response to the alarm sounded.  The flames first communicated with the stable on
the opposite side of the alley and a minute later the adjoining stable was also on fire.  Adjoining the
later stable stood a large wagon shed which also took fire.  The fire companies were very prompt in
their response to the call but upon their arrival the buildings were a mass of flames and it was seen
were doomed to destruction.  The firemen turned their efforts to saving the nearby buildings, the
preservation of which was due to their gallant work.  The large box works adjoining the building on the
west side in which the fire started, stood in the greatest danger and it was feared it was doomed.  
Fortunately, the wind blew in the opposite direction.  
The first persons to arrive on the scene, among whom was Charles Doherty, brother of the proprietor,
rescued the livestock from the stables and ran out the wagons and carriages, all of which were saved.  
Three horses, a cow and calf were in the buildings when the fire started.  In the warehouse was stored
about twenty tons of straw board used in the manufacture of paper boxes and this, with two sets of
double harness, four sets of single harness, two new plows, and other agricultural implements stored
in the other buildings were destroyed.  There was very little hay or grain in the buildings.  Mr. Doherty
estimates his loss at $1100, the loss of the straw board alone amounting to $600.  The loss is covered by
insurance to the amount of $550 in the West Chester and Achen companies.
Mr. Doherty informed a Call representative that he would commence the erection of a single
commodious building at once to replace those destroyed.  He has been doubly unfortunate in losing his
buildings at this time, in as much that he is now without a place to store his grain, which is ripening in
the fields of his surrounding farm.  Mr. Doherty was in one of his fields some distance from the
buildings when the fire started.  Mr. Doherty wishes to extend his thanks to the fire companies and all
persons who assisted in any manner in the protection of his property.                                                                                                        
The Call of August 16, 1901

KNITTING MILL SET ON FIRE
Terrific Storm Waged Over Town for Nearly Two Hours Saturday Night

The most terrific storm that has visited this vicinity for many years waged furiously for nearly two hours
last Saturday night.  Blinding flashes of lightning, terrible clashes of thunder accompanied by a
tremendous downpour of rain caused not a few of our citizens to become terror stricken.  The storm
broke forth about seven o'clock and with each lull, a succeeding storm would occur with even greater
violence.  It seemed as if the storms had combined to wreak their fury over this place.  
At E. H. Baker's knitting mill a bolt of lightning followed the electric wires running from a nearby pole and
entering the mill set cotton waste near the ceiling on fire.  Herbert Baker, son of the proprietor of the
mill, discovered the flame and with the use of a patent chemical apparatus soon had the fire
extinguished.  The Schuylkill Hose Company responded to the alarm sounded but their services were
not required.  A bolt also struck John Palsgrove's residence at the corner of Saint John and Williams
Streets and demolished the chimney.  Throughout almost the entire town the electric light fuses were
blown out and business houses and residences were left in darkness.  In the exchange of the Schuylkill
Telephone Company, the fuses were blown out and every phone disable.  Balls of fire followed the
trolley wire through the streets while the storm raged and the fire seemed to fly in all directions.  Main
Street was turned into a veritable roaring torrent from curb to curb, so heavy was the rainfall.  Trolley
traffic, of course, had to be discontinued until the storm cased.  
Some of our oldest residents remarked it was one of the fiercest, if not the most terrific storm, they ever
witnessed.  During the progress of the storm great excitement prevailed at the County Home and the
officials were required to work hard to avoid a panic among the inmates of the institution.                       
The Call of April 30, 1892

A SLIGHT FIRE

On Wednesday afternoon, about four o’clock, the roof of the engine house of Berger, Brown and
Company’s shoe factory caught fire through the smokestack becoming too hot.  The damage was slight,
the Schuylkill Hose Company was promptly on the ground but the flames had already been extinguished
by the employees.  The Rainbow Hose Company, who are at the extreme end of town, came thundering
in a few minutes later, back of Uncle Dan Byerly’s team, while George Rauch, with a big load of the boys,
followed close behind.                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of November 5, 1892

FIRES

Last Saturday evening the town was thrown into a state of excitement when a glaring light lit up the
overclouded heaven and flames could be seen striking up above the hill to the north of town.  It was
learned that the barn of ex-Poor Director Daniel Reichert had taken fire and was being consumed by the
fiery element without any hope of saving it or any of the surrounding buildings.  The barn contained the
crops of a season’s earnest toll as well as horses and cattle and farming implements.  The former were
consumed but the horses and cattle and wagons, etc. were nearly all saved.  The fire is supposed to
have been caused by a spark from a passing engine on the Pennsylvania Railroad.  A high wind was
blowing at the time which rendered all efforts to save the buildings vain.

On Monday morning the town was again thrown into a state of excitement by an alarm of fire.  The
kitchen of David Lloyd, more commonly known as “Kelley” Lloyd, caught fire between the tin and
shingles on the roof of it.  A large number of people gathered at the scene and a small hose was
attached to the hydrant near by and in twenty minutes the fire was under control.  The Schuylkill Hose
Company’s members were on hand but their services were not needed.  The damage to the building
was very slight.  The family was building a new fire in the stove when the flames were communicated to
the roof.
The Call of April 25, 1896

A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

On Monday morning, about 4:15, the town was aroused by the dreadful alarm of fire, followed by the
ringing of the fire alarm (the school bell).  In short order the Rainbow and Schuylkill Hose Companies
were on the ground, but owing to the fact that the fire started in a barn, amongst the most inflammable
material, it spread so rapidly as to envelop the whole building and ignited the dwelling of the cash
butcher, Mr. Kinzel on Canal Street below Columbia which was in close proximity before the fire ladies
reached the scene.  The Schuylkill Hose Company soon had two streams on and soon after the Rainbow
arrived and assisted nobly in the mad fight against the enraged flames, which had spread to the
dwellings owned by Henry Kantner and Charles Kantner.  On account of the water supply coming
through an eight inch main, the force with three streams, was not strong enough to be very effective
against so fierce a blaze; but the heroic boys of the fire department worked with courage undaunted
and within less than an hour the fire on the three buildings was under control, but not before the
almost total destruction of the four buildings.  The fire originated by the falling of a lantern which Mr.
Kinzel was using in the barn, the breaking of which ignited the coal oil in the straw and was immediately
beyond control.  Mr. William L. Weissinger owned the house and barn in rear.  The loss of Henry and
Charles Kantner was total and these hard working citizens have the sympathy of the community.               
                                                                                                                                           
The Call of July 24, 1897

LIGHTNING CAUSES FIRE

Last Sunday morning at one o’clock, lightning struck the Pennsylvania Railroad station over the
telephone wire and set the ticket office on fire.  Only through the timely discovery of the fire was the
building saved.  A large number of tickets were destroyed, also a lot of stationery and books were
burned and rendered unfit for use.  Nearly everything in the office was more or less damaged by fire
and water.  Owing to the heavy downpour of rain, the Rainbow Hose Company could not be called out
and the agent and his daughters and Mr. Foulkes, who is a heroic fireman in New York City, had to put
the fire out themselves.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of August 2, 1901

CHURCH STEEPLE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

During the heavy storm of Wednesday morning the steeple of Saint Ambrose Catholic Church was struck
by a bolt of lightning and set on fire.  The blaze was discovered by James Marton, sexton of the church,
who sounded the alarm by ringing the church bell.  The Rainbow Hose Company responded promptly
and by hard work got the hose on the roof and in the steeple of the church.  The flames could be played
on from this position and were easily extinguished.  Great excitement prevailed in the vicinity for a time.
 The damage was very slight.                                                                                   
The Call of May 16, 1902

SLIGHT FIRE

The residence of Gideon Nice on North Main Street narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire.  Some
rags in the sewing room became lodged under the edge of the heating pipe and when a fresh fire was
started the pipe became so hot that the rags caught fire and when Mrs. Nice, who noticed the smoke,
went to the room, the carpet and floor was a mass of flames. She hastily gave the alarm and several
neighbors, by promptly forming a bucket brigade and by using a garden hose, subdued the flames, but
not before considerable damage to the house by both fire and water had been done.  Had the fire been
discovered ten minutes later it would have been beyond control.                                                                                        
The Call of January 17, 1908

WIRES CROSS AT SPRING GARDEN

Last evening at Spring Garden in the neighborhood of Crossley's store, one of the borough's electric
light wires broke and fell across the wires of the United Telephone and Telegraph Company resulting in
the burning out of the telephone service and quite a considerable amount of damage.  A small boy who
was standing on the pavement where a live wire dropped was struck by the wire and knocked down.  
His trousers and one of his limbs were badly burned.  In the exchange, the fire flashed all over the
switch board and the various connections and the operator, Lewis Emerich, had one of his fingers badly
burned.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of June 19, 1903

ALMSHOUSE FIRE - Explosion of a Lamp Places Hundreds of Lives in Jeopardy

The explosion of a coal oil lamp in the basement of the main building at the Almshouse on Wednesday
evening at 9:20 o'clock resulted in a fire that did $5000 worth of damage and for a time menaced the
lives of the two hundred people that occupy the structure.  The flames gutted the main part of the
basement and the rear of the first floor broke through the second floor in several places and went up
the stairway to the third floor.  The fourth and fifth floors were untouched.
Immediately upon the discovery of the fire the Almshouse officials got the inmates out of the building
and distributed them among the other buildings while the employees sounded the alarm and proceeded
to fight the fire with the appliances which were at hand.  The rainbow and Schuylkill Hose Companies of
town arrived promptly on the scene and through their efforts the fire was finally extinguished after
midnight.  About one half the loss is on the building, which is amply insured, the other half is on
personal property of the steward, employees and inmates who occupied the structure.                                        
The Call of June 24, 1904

DISASTROUS FIRE - Destroyed Ed H. Borda's Barn and A Lot of Hay
Started in a Worthless Wrecked Ice House and Menaced The Safety of the P & R Car Shops

Late Saturday afternoon fire destroyed the old ice house owned by William Breininger and the stable
occupied by Edward H. Borda and somewhat damaged the residence of William Bachert.  The fire broke
out in the ruins of the ice house which was wrecked by a wind storm more then a year ago.  The ice
house was located along side of the old canal level and along side of the trolley tracks.  It is supposed
some boys who had been fishing in the vicinity accidentally fired the ice house while lighting their pipes.
No attention was paid to the fire until it began to menace the P & R car shops on the other side of the
level, when Superintendent Runkle called his men out to fight the flames.  In the meantime a blazing
ember was carried by the wind to the roof of Borda's stable, more then a square away, and before
anything could be done to quench the flames they had eaten their way through the roof and
communicated with a mow full of hay almost instantly enveloping the barn in a mass of flames.
William Wessner, who had gone into the mow in an effort to get on the roof and prevent the fire getting
through, was compelled to jump from the mow to the ground to escape the flames.  The Rainbow Fire
Company was quickly on the scene and while powerless o save the fiercely blazing barn, prevented the
destruction of other property.  The Schuylkill Hose Company also responded to the alarm but did not go
into service.
Breininger's ice house was practically worthless, except for a little lumber that might have been used in
rebuilding it.  Borda's barn was the property of the Schuylkill Navigation Company and was a substantial
structure worth about $2500.  Mr. Borda lost five tons of hay and William Strouse who also kept his
horse in the barn lost about a ton of hay.  A lot of harness and several sleighs and buggies were saved.  
The horses were all at work at the time of the fire.  A horse belonging to William G. Huy was being
temporarily stabled there when the fire broke out but it was gotten to a place of safety without much
difficulty.
Last Saturday night the ruins of the ice house again broke out and Superintendent Runkle had to call
upon the shop hands to quench the flames to save the shops from destruction.  Trolley traffic was for a
time at a standstill owing to the close proximity of the ice house to the tracks and the fact that the fire
destroyed some of the feed wires and guy poles.                                                                                                                                                                                        
LAST UPDATED:  JANUARY 19
The Call of June 29, 1906

HOUSE BURNED

Late Wednesday afternoon John Barr's large two story frame house on his farm about a mile west of
Schuylkill Haven on the Long Run Road was totally destroyed by fire.  A six year old boy, the only child
of Mr. and Mrs. Barr, was rescued by the father from the flames.  Only a few of the household goods
were saved.  The loss is about $3000 and is partially covered by insurance.  Mrs. Barr had put the little
boy to bed for a nap and started to preserve some cherries.  The fruit had been put in a large boiler
over the kitchen range and a fire of corn cobs started beneath the kettle.  While waiting for the fruit to
cook Mrs. Barr went out with her husband to pick more cherries.
Shortly afterwards they were alarmed by seeing a dense volume of smoke burst from the kitchen door.  
By the time they reached the house the kitchen and entire lower floor were in flames.  The father scaled
the porch, broke in a second story window and rescued his boy just in the nick of time.  As it was, the
little fellow had his eyebrows singed and the father was painfully but not seriously burned.  It is
believed the kettle of preserves boiled over and caught fire and the boiling mass ran on the floor
setting the house afire.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
The Call of June 14, 1907

EXCITING FIRE

What might have resulted in a serious blaze was discovered in the nick of time about three o'clock
Wednesday afternoon at the house of Mrs. Thomas Walleisa on Union Street just below Saint Peter.  The
flames were located between the plaster and weather boarding on the lower side of the house near the
front.  A stream of water promptly put the fire out of business.  Neighbors carried most of Mrs. Walleisa's
household goods to places of safety but there was no real necessity for moving them as the fire was
confined to the one spot and was so quickly extinguished.  Mice and matches are the only cause that
can be given for the origin of the fire.  The loss is less than $100.  All three fire companies responded
promptly to the alarm which was given by the Lautenbacher mill whistle and later taken up by the school
bell and other whistles.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of September 19, 1913

STABLE SET ON FIRE

Tuesday evening about eleven o'clock, fire was discovered in the stable of John Noecker in the south
ward.  Before the alarm was given the stable was a mass of flames and very little of the contents of the
stable was saved.  A horse valued at $200, a quantity of hay, straw, feed and a buggy were burned.  
When the fire companies arrived the stable was a total loss.  A stream of water however was played on
the burning embers to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding buildings.  For a time it was
thought either one or two well known characters of town had perished in the flames but this later was
found to be untrue.  It is strongly intimated that the stable must have been set on fire as the flames
when discovered were shooting from the bottom of the stable from all sides.  A quiet investigation is
being made but it is doubtful whether the guilty parties will be apprehended.  The loss will amount to
more than $500.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
The Call of July 4, 1913

STABLE DESTROYED BY FIRE

Fire, starting about two o'clock Tuesday morning, completely destroyed the two story 18 by 24 foot
stable of Albert Reiley of Dock Street.  The stable was used as a storage house and contained coal,
wood, tools, etc.  
The unusual barking of dogs aroused one of the neighbors who thought perhaps someone was after
the chickens.  Coming downstairs they discovered the stable nearly all in flames.  An engine in the P
and R yards gave the first alarm, followed shortly thereafter by the regular fire alarm.  The entire fire
department responded in good time but the fire at the stable was beyond control when the first stream,
that of the Rainbow Hose company, was thrown on it and the firemen endeavored to save the
surrounding buildings and stables.  Had there been but the slightest breeze, a serious conflagration
would surely have resulted as there are a number of buildings almost adjoining the building burned.  
The origin or cause of the fire is unknown although it is strongly hinted as being caused by
incendiarism.  The loss is about $300, not covered by insurance.  Several large fruit trees near the
stable were also destroyed by the flames.                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of February 22, 1877

This article appeared in the February 7, 1913 issue of the Call recalling events from the issue of
February 22, 1877 with sarcasm included.

FIRE

Between nine and ten o'clock last Saturday evening, the community was startled by the cry of, "Fire",
which was occasioned by a ham falling into the fire in the smokehouse of Mr. Ehman, the main Street
baker.  This produced a vast deal o smoke but not much fire and consequently very little damage.  
However, it caused considerable excitement and drew out a large crowd, together with the
incomparable Fire Department? (Namely the department we met at the corner of Saint John and Main
Street about half an hour after the fire was out and the excitement quelled enroute to the place from
where originated the cry of fire.  Had no one told them that all was over, they might possibly have
gotten the apparatus in the vicinity of the post office in time to send it by mail at nine o'clock the next
morning.
The Call of September 20, 1912

SLIGHT FIRE SATURDAY

A slight fire occurred at the home of a party by the name of Potts on Liberty Street early Saturday
morning last.  The fire was discovered by several neighbors who gave the alarm.  There being no
person in the home at that time, the door had to be pried open.  The fire was discovered on the stair
steps.  A few buckets of water extinguished the blaze.  Had the fire in its incipiency not been
discovered, a serious conflagration might have resulted.  The loss will amount to several hundred
dollars.  Mr. Potts feels his loss very keenly, as at this time his wife is a patient at the Pottsville
Hospital.Mr. Potts is employed at the P and R car shops.  The fire alarm brought the fire department into
action but they were ordered back before they reached the scene.                                                                                                                                     
   
The Call of December 6, 1912

EARLY MORNING FIRE

Fire early Saturday morning completely destroyed the two story frame building at the Foundry Company
works just south of Schuylkill Haven.  The building destroyed contained the cupola, the elevator and
several other small machines.  The fire was discovered by one of the employees about 1:30 o’clock .  
The alarm was immediately sent in and the hose companies responded, but owing to an indistinct alarm
they were delayed somewhat.  When they arrived they could not lend assistance in fighting the fire as
there are no borough fire plugs in the immediate vicinity to which they could attach hose.  The Schuylkill
Hose Company put into operation their fire engine and pumped water from a good sized ditch near the
building with telling effect upon the fire.  The Liberty chemical engine rendered good service also.  
When the ditch was emptied, the work of the firemen was at an end but the fire was practically
extinguished.  Had it not been for several lines of small hose attached to the foundry company’s water
system and used by employees, a more serious conflagration would have resulted, as it was through
their efforts that the flames were prevented from communicating to other parts of the building.  The loss
is estimated at from $1000 to $1200, covered by insurance.                                                                                                                                        
The Call of December 13, 1912

SLIGHT FIRE

A slight fire on Saturday afternoon called out the entire fire department.  The scene of the fire was the
home of Joseph Barr in the West Ward.  The Rainbow chemical engine was used with good effect and
quenched the flames.  A bucket brigade headed by “Mox” Hill rendered invaluable service prior to the
arrival of the fire department.  The fire was caused by a spark from a bonfire alighting on the roof of the
house.  The fire alarm was sent in through the vigilance of Master James Lessig of Dock Street , who
seeing the smoke arising from the building, notified his parents and they in turn phoned to the light
plant.  Mr. Barr was fined by Burgess Hartman for violating a borough ordinance which prohibits having
a bonfire within a certain distance of any building.                                                                                                                                                                                
The Call of March 20, 1914

SLIGHT FIRE WEDNESDAY EVENING

A slight fire occurred Wednesday evening at the residence of C. T. Weidner on Dock Street about nine
o'clock.  The fire was discovered by friends gathered at the home of the reverend gentleman when the
room began to fill with smoke.  An investigation showed that the fire was in the outer kitchen, and when
discovered , the flames were rapidly eating their way along the walls, ceiling and flooring.  An alarm was
sent in but before the companies arrived, Reverend Weidner and the neighbors extinguished the
flames.  With the high wind of Wednesday evening, the prompt discovery of the fire was most fortunate.  
Had it occurred several hours later when neighbors had retired, a serious conflagration would surely
have resulted.  The cause is unknown.  The damage will amount to about one hundred dollars.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
The Call of July 24, 1914

FIRE AT PEALE FARM

Saturday afternoon about 2:30 o'clock fire was discovered in the ice house of R. H. Peale a short
distance below Schuylkill Haven.  The ice house is located to the rear of the old homestead.  The
homestead is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Morris Moyer.  The flames spread rapidly to all parts of the ice
house and threatened communication with the homestead.  The alarm quickly spread and within a short
time hundreds of persons from all parts were on the scene.  Word was sent to the fire companies of
Schuylkill Haven and Orwigsburg.  The Liberty Fire Company of town was the first on the scene.  They
made use of their chemical apparatus and prevented the spread of the flames.  Upon the arrival of the
Schuylkill Hose Company with their engine and hose a stream of water pumped from a well was soon
playing on the flames and in a short while the flames were extinguished.  The fire company of
Orwigsburg arrived on the scene after the fire was under control and it was not necessary for them to
unload their apparatus. For a while excitement here was high, the rumor being that the R. H. Peale
residence was being gutted by flames.  The discovery of the fire made by Mrs. Moyer was very
fortunate.  The ice house was completely destroyed.  The roof and side of an adjoining building were
also burned.  The loss is estimated at $200.                                                                                                                                                                                                
The Call of October 1, 1915

FIRE SCARE ON MONDAY

A slight fire occurred Monday afternoon which brought out the entire fire fighting apparatus of the
town, including the Schuylkill's new auto truck. The scene of the excitement was the coal and wood
shed of Mr. Jule Kantner of William Street.  The shed was destroyed and the flames being fanned in a
brisk breeze leaped along the garden and destroyed the grape vines and grape arbor on which were a
number of prize grapes.  Neighbors with buckets and a garden hose after a stiff fight soon had the
flames under control and extinguished the flames just about the time the first of the fire apparatus
arrived on the scene.  The loss is estimated at $100.  The cause is unknown.  It is said there was a
bonfire in the vicinity shortly before the alarm and a spark from this may have caused the larger fire.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
The Call of September 29, 1916

SCHOOL TEACHERS FIGHT FIRE

Professors Ralph Ziegenfus and Ralph Wildermuth demonstrated their ability to fight fire just as well as
teaching the young, when they successfully saved a home from destruction on the Schuylkill Mountain
on Wednesday afternoon.  A fire started in the barn of Sylvester Kotitis and had gained considerable
headway before being discovered.  It spread with such rapidity that the flames communicated with the
corn crib and the pig sty and they together with the barn and contents were burned to the ground.  
Seeing that the barn was doomed, the teachers turned their attention to the home and saved it.  Sparks
were carried for a half mile away and ignited the woods.  These flames were easily extinguished.  The
loss to the barn will reach $3000.  All the crops were destroyed but the livestock was rescued.  The fire
started in the hay mow and is believed to have been caused by children playing with matches.  During
the excitement, a party named Seifert, of Cressona, had an artery in his arm cut and bled profusely.  He
was given first aid by Professor Ziegenfus and then brought to Schuylkill Haven to a doctor.  The farm
was formerly tenanted by Oliver Wagner.  The owner carried no insurance.                                                                                        
The Call of June 29, 1917

SLIGHT FIRE FRIDAY EVENING

A breeze of excitement swept over this locality on last Friday night, shortly after nine o'clock when the
fire alarm whistle was sounded.  The fire, a rather incipient one, was in the butchering establishment of
Mark Maberry on Coal Street.  The owner had been rendering fat and was about to close up his place
when the flames were discovered.  Although the firemen responded promptly, the flames were
extinguished by a bucket brigade.  The loss will only amount to a few dollars and the fire was caused by
a defective flue.  During the excitement, Mrs. Jacob Shadel of Willow Street, received painful injuries.  
She was going to the scene of the fire when struck by a bicycle ridden by a party named Fenstermacher.
 Mrs. Shadel was knocked heavily to the ground.  Her injuries consist of slight bruises and lacerations.  
She suffered greatly from shock and was compelled to take to her bed immediately following the
incident.  Fenstermacher escaped with slight bruises.                                                                                                                                                
The Call of February 14, 1919

FIRE AT THE UNION KNITTING MILLS

The fire alarm awakened a good portion of the town Saturday morning at one o'clock.  The fire was at the
Union Knitting Mill boiler house.  It was discovered by Mr. Michael Sauer, one of the night watchmen.  
He promptly sent in an alarm and then made for the fire hose of the plant and in a short time had
extinguished the flames.  The Liberty Fire Company responded with its truck but its services were not
required.  The Schuylkill Hose Company also responded but due to alleged incorrect ward fire alarm
signals, they first drove their truck to Spring Garden.  When their mistake was discovered they turned
and made for the scene of the fire.  The loss was slight and was covered by insurance.                                                  
The Call of February 14, 1919

SLIGHT FIRE ON BERNE STREET

A slight fire occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Geary of South Berne Street.  Several buckets
of water, however, extinguished the flames with only a slight loss.  It is understood the lighted head of a
match broke off and landed in the lace curtains with the result that the same were in flames in an
instant.                                                                                                                                                                
The Call of June 27, 1919

SATURDAY EVENING FIRE

Fire Saturday evening, about ten thirty destroyed several small sheds, the property of W. F. Stine, the
local box manufacturer.  The same were located close to the box factory and the large barn of W. F.
Doherty.  It was only by the hard work of the Liberty boys with their chemicals and the Schuylkill Hose
Company with a stream of water that the flames did not ignite these buildings.  The sheds together with
contents were destroyed, which included some baled hay, feed, harness and a large delivery wagon.  
The horse and a cow were gotten out in safety.  Firecrackers are believed to have caused the fire as
Mr. Doherty who lives close by states he was sitting on the porch of his home and heard one or two
shots that sounded like firecrackers.  The thought came to him that it would be dangerous to have
firecrackers near the sheds as he knew baled hay had been received by Mr. Stine that afternoon.  In an
instant he noticed the sheds were ablaze.  The three fire companies responded to the alarm.
During the fire Floyd Maberry and Lewis Eichorn were badly burned when while standing upon a ladder
between the two buildings, the wind shifted and the flames were swept on them.  Maberry was badly
burned about the arm, neck and chest and required the attention of a physician.  His case is particularly
unfortunate as at this particular time his wife is confined to bed with illness and several of the children
are down with the measles.  During the fire, several other firemen, well known about town, almost
ignited some of the other buildings by their fire and brimstone language caused by their falling into a
cesspool, the building itself having been turned over in order to prevent the flames spreading to it.
The Call of August 6, 1920

YOUTHS BURN DOWN STABLE

Paul Auchenbach, aged about four, and one of Oscar Ney's children, both of Garfield Avenue, got hold of
some matches and set them off in an unused pig stable at the rear of the Ney home.  The stable
contained small quantities of hay and was very dry.  In an instant it was a mass of flames.  The
Auchenbach youngster had a narrow escape from being burned to death.  It was only by the prompt work
of Mrs. Ney, who at the risk of herself being burned, fought her way through the smoke and flames and
rescued him.  Mrs. Ney had her hair singed and was burned about the hands and arms.  A pet dog of the
Ney family was burned and the pig stable and adjoining pen were burned to the ground.                                       
The Call of April 29, 1921

FIRE DESTROYED BARN, LIVE AND FARM STOCK

Fire destroyed the barn, several outbuildings, two cows, calf, chickens, grain and farming implements
of William Wildermuth residing in North Manheim Township just around the curve above the Killian Dam
Tuesday afternoon.  The loss to the owner is in the neighborhood of several thousand dollars and is
felt keenly as almost all of the savings of hard labor were consumed in the flames.  Mr. Wildermuth was
preparing to discontinue work at the P. and R. shops and this year embark in the pursuit of farming.  In
anticipation of this fact he had made a number of recent purchases of stock, implements, etc.  The list
of articles destroyed is as follows: the building itself, two cows, a calf, chickens, straw, two tons of hay,
three new plows, two new cultivators, a new hay rake, a new one horse wagon, a new two horse wagon,
a new spring wagon, on new set of harness, etc.
The fire is said to have started by a match in the hands of their adopted twelve year old son Grant,
which while being struck, broke and the flaming end went through a window in the barn and quickly
ignited.  The boy ran to the pump for water and having filled two buckets was bound for the barn and
could no doubt have extinguished the flames but two large pet dogs thinking he wanted to play,
jumped at him, tumbled him and upset the water.  By the time he had procured more water the flames
had made such headway the water was without avail.  The barn was closed at the time, hence the
presence of the livestock and reason for their being consumed.  The young man evidently was too
badly frightened to make much attempt at rescue.  Mrs. Wildermuth, when she saw the flames, became
faint.  Neighbors attracted by the fire worked hard but could save very little.  The fire companies from
town were summoned and played several streams of water and chemical on the roaring furnace but
their arrival was too late to be of material service in checking the flames.                                                                                       
The Call of August 5, 1921

ATTEMPT MADE TO BURN DOWN ICE HOUSE

What is termed a bold attempt to burn down the ice house of Mrs. Morgan Bittle along South Berne
Street was made early Monday morning.  The fire was discovered shortly after three o'clock and the
entire building in a minute's time seemed to burst into flames.  The alarm brought all the fire companies
to the scene.  The Liberty Company used chemicals and the Schuylkill Hose pumped water from the dam
adjoining.  In a short time the flames were extinguished.  For a time it was thought the houses located
nearby would take fire and considerable excitement reigned.  The fire started about the middle of the
rafters on the rear wall and burned fiercely for a time and then died down before the fire companies
arrived.  This fact caused suspicion and an investigation resulted in almost proof positive that oil was
thrown about and the fire instead of starting at the bottom of the building started in the rafters.  The thin
weather boarding at places was burned completely through and in other sections not even scorched.  A
considerable amount of ice is contained in the building.  The loss is given as several hundreds of
dollars.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of November 11, 1921

$12,000 DAMAGE BY EXPLOSION

Considerable damage resulted last Friday shortly after the noon hour when a kier or vat at the
bleachery of the Bast Mill exploded.  The explosion sent the lid of the container straight through the
two upper floors.  The concussion shattered the entire section of the bleachery, snapping off heavy
timbers and splintering the floors and sides of the building.  Goods in storage as well as goods in
process of bleaching were scattered broadcast and considerable damage done to machinery in the
bleachery proper as well as in the two rooms above the bleachery.  Two of the employees, Miss Tillie
Gentzlinger and Miss Freeze were in the building and near the scene when the explosion occurred.  
The former was bruised about the head and leg being struck by flying timbers, while the latter was
somewhat scalded by escaping steam.  Had the explosion occurred during the work period other
employees might have been injured.
The concussion was heard distinctly in other parts of town and it was first thought the boiler at the
Columbia Street bridge operation had gone up.  Others thought of another powder mill explosion.  As
soon as the location was discovered many persons flocked to the scene.  The impact and shock was
sufficient to hurl timbers skyward and they were picked up in yards and found on house roofs quite
some distance from the mill.  Knitted goods were twined and twisted about the broken timbers and
steam pipes and machinery were bent and twisted in all shapes.  The week's wash in a neighbors yard
had been blown clean off the line and the top of the kier blown through both the storage room on the
second floor and the cutting room on the third floor.  
The cause is said to have been the blocking of the safety steam valve.  This valve was found among
the wreckage and an examination found that this valve instead of opening and permitting steam to
escape when it reached a certain pressure had become blocked and failed to function.  The loss is
estimated by the firm to be between $10,000 and $15,000.  There were 2200 pounds of knitted goods in
the kier that exploded and 3500 pounds of goods in the cutting room, all of which were ruined.  The kier
itself will have to be rebuilt and also a portion of the building.  The sixteen by twenty three story frame
addition and elevator shaft under construction at the mill was not damaged.  It is proposed to rebuild
this addition as well as a considerable portion of the mill proper and bleachery in the spring of 1922.    
The Call of December 2, 1921

GAS PLANT TOOK FIRE

Thursday afternoon the gas plant caught fire and but for the timely discovery by Councilman Carr, a
neighbor, would have been destroyed or badly damaged.  The cause of the fire was due to the flooring
of the second story about the super heater igniting from the excessive 1400 degrees of heat in this
tank.  At the time the employees of the plant were absent, having just left the plant shortly before.  A
few buckets of water sufficed to extinguish all flames.  Sheet iron will be placed about this super heater
to prevent recurrence of fire.  The loss sustained is slight.  The three fire companies responded but
their services were not required.  Fully four hundred school children were attracted to the scene and
would have surely been in the way of the firemen had it been a more serious fire.                                                                       
The Call of January 13, 1922

FIRE SCARE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

With the streets almost impassable with snow and a stiff gale blowing, the fire whistle, Wednesday
morning at 9:30 sent the shivers down the backs of everyone who heard it by reason of the fear of a
disastrous conflagration.  Correct and prompt location was obtained from the telephone operators at
the Bell Exchange and this fact aided the firemen ever so much in promptly responding to the alarm.  
The fire was at the Mrs. J. Kantner residence on William Street.  It was a chimney fire near the roof of
the building.  Willis Reed promptly brought a chemical fire extinguisher from the mill and with the aid of
George Stelfox reached the roof of the building and made effective use of it.  The Liberty Hose
Company was first on the scene and with chemicals extinguished all traces of the fire.  Weather boards
were torn from the building and a thorough examination and search made for further evidences of fire
before the department left the scene.  The Schuylkill Hose was second on the scene of the fire and the
Rainbow Hose Company with the chemical truck third.  Considerable damage was done to the rear
second story of the building and the kitchen of the home.                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of May 9, 1924

FIRE ROUTS COMMUNITY TUESDAY MORNING

Fire in the summer kitchen of the property better known as the "Company House" property of the P. &
R. C. & I. on Coal Street, routed this community Tuesday morning about four o'clock.  The siren and one
look toward Spring Garden convinced everyone that a big fire was in progress.  This because of the
blaze and the reflection cast in the sky.  The building was entirely burned down together with its
contents consisting of wash tubs, jarred and canned goods, garden tools, etc.  The same being the
property of George Biehl and William Staller who occupy the brick dwelling adjoining.  Long before the
siren whistle was sounded the Rainbow Hose Company had a stream playing on the flames.  The fire
was discovered by some early risers and members of the fire company were aroused and were soon on
the job with the chemical truck.  A messenger was later dispatched to the light plant and the alarm
given.  Streams of water were played on the burning structure by both the Rainbow Hose Company and
the Schuylkill Hose Company.  The Liberty Company was on hand but did not go into service.  The
building being of frame construction was a mass of flames before the first firemen arrived.  Luckily the
nearest buildings were of brick, otherwise a more serious conflagration would have resulted.  The work
of the Spring Garden Company was retarded by the bursting of two different sections of "new" hose
purchased last year and given very little service up to this time.  Just what caused the fire is uncertain.  
There had been fire in a stove in the building Monday to furnish hot water for the weekday washing.  
This fire had been allowed to burn itself out.  It is thought sparks smoldered in the stove and caused
the fire.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of June 13, 1924

SLIGHT FIRE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

A very slight fire at the home of Edward Fisher of Garfield Avenue, Wednesday afternoon about 3:30
o'clock brought out the entire fire department post haste, half the population and caused all kinds of
excitement until the nature of the alarm was learned.  Sparks from a wood fire in an adjoining neighbor's
home are believed to have set fire to the roof around the chimney of the Fisher home.  That the low fire
in the kitchen stove of the Fisher home should have caused the fire, as was at first thought, appears it
have been impossible.  Water from buckets and chemicals were used to extinguish the flames.  The
alarm was sent in by Mrs. William Wessner and the firemen informed the location of the fire was on
Garfield Avenue, North Ward.  Despite this fact when several of the fire trucks reached the corner of
Centre Avenue and Dock Street, they were misled to believe the fire was on Pennsylvania Avenue or
Stanton Street.  One fire truck dashed out Centre Avenue, around on Stanton and Pennsylvania Avenue
and then found its way to Garfield Avenue.  Along came the Schuylkill Fire truck and they too were
directed out Centre Avenue.  Dropping a line of hose at the plug, where had congregated a number of
people, hundreds of feet of hose from the plug on Centre Avenue to Stanton Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue were unwound before the error was discovered.  While there wasn't so much flame at the fire
on Garfield Avenue, there were enough sparks and rightly so, emanating from the firemen who were
fooled as above mentioned to have started quite a conflagration.                                                                                                                                
The Call of August 3, 1923

FIRE THREATENED FARMER'S HOUSE

Fire, shortly after six o'clock Tuesday evening, threatened the destruction of the county property or
residence, occupied by James Webber and family, in North Manheim Township near Spring Garden
Junction. The splendid work of the firemen who used chemicals saved the building but the small
kitchen adjoining was completely destroyed.  Nearby farmers, some of the patients at the county
institution and town folks who responded as soon as the whistle at the county electric light plant gave
the alarm of fire, saved all the furniture and household goods of Mr. Webber.  Hand chemical
extinguishers were used to good advantage.  Water for replenishing the chemical engines of the
Rainbow and Liberty companies was supplied from a hydrant that is connected with a spring on the
premises.  Mr. Webber is the farmer at the Almshouse.  The discovery of the fire was made while he and
his wife were eating supper.  When discovered, the flames could probably have been extinguished
without much damage but Mr. Webber having the use of but one hand, his arm having been broken
over a year ago, and up to this time has not regained the use of the hand, was greatly handicapped.  
The fire rapidly spread to the woodwork of a small unused shed adjoining a summer kitchen.  This and
the summer kitchen were completely destroyed.  The cause of the fire is said to have been due to a
three year old grandson of Mr. Webber setting fire to some paper in the small building.                                        
The Call of July 4, 1924

BIG FIRE NARROWLY AVERTED HERE

Children celebrating the Fourth with fireworks near the paint shop of Lowrey Fritz on West Main Street,
are said and thought to have caused a fire which destroyed the paint shop and for a time threatened
the Berger Garage adjoining on Tuesday evening shortly before six o'clock.  Upon the sounding of the
alarm residents by looking skyward were quick to detect the thick black smoke arising from the scene.  
The entire fire department was on hand within a few minutes and when it was announced the Berger
Garage was on fire great fears were entertained for a serious conflagration.  
Firemen upon arriving found the garage had not as yet caught fire although the burning building was
but two or three feet from the recently constructed addition to the garage.  The paint shop however was
a roaring furnace.  Two streams of water and chemicals were quickly played upon the Fritz building and
the Berger Garage.  In a few minutes the fire had been extinguished and the public breathed a sigh of
relief.  The roof of the Berger Garage was burned in spots as was some of the woodwork at the cornice.  
Had this garage been of frame construction it would like as not have required several hours of the
toughest kind of work to extinguish the flames.  The Fritz building was completely destroyed.  
One of the remarkable things about the fire was the prompt action in driving every car in the garage to
safety on the nearby streets.  chauffeurs responded willingly and in a few minutes every car, almost one
hundred, had been removed from the garage.  Mr. Fritz estimated his loss at between $400 and $500, as
a considerable quantity of paint was destroyed.  Mr. Fritz was near Landingville at the time of the fire.  
He heard the siren fire whistle and saw the black clouds of smoke in the sky.  Upon arriving in town he
found it was his own property that had been destroyed.  Mr. Fritz has the sympathy of many friends as
less then a year ago death called his wife and helpmate and now this additional ill fortune adds
additional hardship to his efforts to rear a family of several young children.                                                                                        
The Call of April 9, 1926

MATCHES SET FIRE TO BED CLOTHING

While playing with matches on the bed, children of Floyd Maberry of Liberty Street set fire to the
bedding while the mother was in the yard placing the weekly wash on the line.  The screams of the
youngsters brought the mother to the rescue.  An alarm was given and fire extinguishers from nearby
persons extinguished the flames with but slight damage and without serious injury to the youngsters.  
About the same time the fire alarm was sent for the Maberry fire, a brush fire was discovered on Goat
Hill.  For a time it looked like the nearby dwellings were threatened and two of the fire companies were
directed to the spot by pedestrians who noticed the smoke from the brush fire.  The Schuylkill Hose
obtained direct information of the location of the fire from the telephone exchange and drove to the
Maberry fire and used fire extinguishers to good effect.  The brush fire was extinguished before the
arrival of the fire trucks, the Rainbow Hose Company making the run of fully a mile from their fire house
to the fire in good time.                                                                                                                                             
The Call of July 2, 1926

GAS FILLING STATION DESTROYED BY FIRE

Fire, starting shortly after six o'clock Tuesday evening, completely destroyed the gas filling station of
McCullough and Barron on the Scott farm, a short distance north of town.  The large barn together with
the dwelling of Harry Hillibush were completely burned to the ground.  The Rainbow Fire Company with
their pump and chemical truck were the first of several companies from Pottsville and Cressona to
arrive on the scene.  Little work could be done to save the barn or filling station as they were doomed
upon arrival of the local company.  Efforts had to be confined to save the property of Terry McGovern
known as Ridgeview Inn.  This building was very badly scorched and the window panes broken by the
heat which was terrific.  
The barn was a frame structure and unoccupied.  Being very dry it burned like tinder.  The heat from the
burning buildings was such that the traffic on the highway for an hour was impossible.  The trunk lines
of the Bell Telephone Company were burned down shortly after the fire started.  Temporary
communication however was restored as soon as the flames had burned themselves and as soon as
the workmen could get close enough to the destroyed structures to make the repairs.  The fire is said
to have started in the kitchenette of Harry Hillibush, who lives with his mother, and who within a year
had built the home on a sort of bungalow style.  He was employed and had charge of the gas filling
tanks at this place and operated a small store in connection with this work.  When the discovery of the
fire was made it had already gained such headway that not a piece of furniture of household goods
could be saved.  Every possession excepting the clothing upon his back and that worn by his mother
who was absent at the time was lost.  
A Durant automobile sold by Guy Moyer to Mr. Freeman but a few days ago and which was at the rear of
the barn along the railroad tracks was destroyed.  One automobile in the barn was recovered.  The fire
is said to have started from a spark thrown by a passing locomotive.  While responding to the special
still alarm of fire sent to Schuylkill Haven, the chemical truck of the Rainbow Hose Company collided
with The Call truck, striking it in the rear and taking off several of the wheels.                                                                                
The Call of July 2, 1926

FIRE BADLY DAMAGES STANTON  MILL

Fire was discovered shortly before two in the morning on Wednesday in the frame building on Haven
Street formerly used by J. E. Stanton for his underwear mill.  The flames had gained such headway when
the firemen arrived that they could not be confined to any one portion of the building.  As a result the
building was badly gutted and the contents mostly sewing and knitting machines, practically ruined.  The
flames broke through the weatherboards at several places but the fire was mostly confined to the first
floor.  The firemen prevented the fire from eating its way to the second floor although the flooring at
some places was badly burned.  The heat from the flames was so intense that the sewing machines on
the second floor had been badly damaged.  The large knitters on the first floor have been practically
ruined.  
Just what caused the fire is uncertain.  The building has not been occupied for some time although
inspections and examinations of the same were made frequently by the owner.  There is a report that
boys during the day had been using firecrackers around the building and that they had several times
been warned and chased away by adults.  Whether a smoldering part of a firecracker ignited the
building from the outside or whether a cracker had been thrown inside the building will probably never
be known.  At least four streams of water and one of chemical were played on the flames while at their
height.  The Schuylkill Hose was the first company to have a stream of water on the blaze, having
hooked with the plug at Paxson Avenue and Haven Street.  Later their stream was replaced by the
Liberty boys.                                                                                                                                                      
The Call of January 14, 1927

SLIGHT FIRE ON MONDAY MORNING

A slight fire occurred at the butcher shop of Harry Cottler on Coal Street on Monday morning between
ten thirty and eleven o'clock.  It did little damage as the flames were confined to or between the heavy
sheets of plaster board on the floor of the second floor.  Chemicals were used by the Rainbow Hose
Company.  The smoke coming from the building was very dense and for a time gave the appearance of a
raging fire within.  It is believed the fire started from sparks from one of two wood fires in two rooms on
the first floor which were kept up to dry out the concrete work that is being done in the building.  The
fire started in the concrete block addition to the frame section of the building.  All the apparatus of the
fire department was brought to the scene but not required.  The damage was slight.                                                
The Call of May 27, 1927

CHIMNEY FIRE CAUSES EXCITEMENT

A slight fire in the chimney in the home of Charles Underdoor of Saint James Street, or the extreme end
of this street better known as the "Eck" on Wednesday evening caused quite a bit of excitement and
had the fire trucks chasing over the town.  The Liberty fire truck happened to be back on Saint John
Street where plugs were being tested.  Coming out of Saint John Street upon the sound of the alarm
sent, many people following it.  The Schuylkill Hose Company sent its first truck out Dock Street.  Near
the Catholic Church it passed the Rainbow truck coming in town.,  The second Schuylkill truck was sent
up Main Street with the intention of having it sent out Dock.  On Main Street it passed the Rainbow truck
coming down Main Street.  The Liberty boys went to the scene of the fire but found a few buckets of
water had been sufficient to extinguish the fire.  The other truck of the companies also arrived on the
scene later.                                                                                                                                                       
The Call of January 18, 1929

BURNING OVERCOAT BRINGS OUT FIRE DEPARTMENT

A burning overcoat in the hallway of the home of Isaac Huy on Willow Street about quarter to six o'clock
Thursday morning, resulted in an alarm of fire being sent in.  The fire was extinguished with little
trouble.  The Huy home was filled with dense smoke as was also the home adjoining.  Only one of the fire
companies, however, arrived at the scene, namely the Rainbow Company.  The other two companies as
well as many individuals were hunting the fire on Railroad Street, as this was the information given out
to the employees at the light plant by telephone and box number 33, corner of Liberty and Railroad
Streets, was accordingly registered at the fire houses.  The Schuylkill Hose Company had difficulty in
getting their truck into service, succeeding in getting it only as far as the corner of Wilson and Saint
John Street.  Only after twenty minutes could it be moved from this location.  Repairs are, it is
understood, now being made to it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
The Call of July 19, 1929

FIRE DESTROYED RIDGEVIEW INN FRIDAY MORNING

Fire early Thursday morning completely destroyed the frame dwelling a short distance above Schuylkill
Haven and south of Seven Stars, which for some time has been known as Ridgeview Inn.  Fire was
discovered by the occupants but not until the entire house was in flames and the escape of the
occupants was made with great danger.  The watchman at the Schuylkill Haven Car Shops reported
having heard the screams of the frightened occupants of the Inn and upon looking in the direction from
which they came, saw the building in flames.  The Humane and the Good Will Hose Companies of
Pottsville responded and played streams of water upon the several gas tanks adjoining the building as it
was entirely too late to save the Inn building proper.  Joseph Zacone, the proprietor, suffered burns to
his hands and arms.  The cause of the fire is said to have been an exploding oil stove.                                           
The Call of May 4, 1928

PAINFULLY BURNED WHEN GAS WENT UP

Howard Koenig, working at his car in the garage of William Raudenbush on Becker Street, Sunday
morning, was painfully burned about the face and legs when a large open can of gasoline exploded.  Mr.
Koenig was underneath his car.  The open container of gas had been used to wash parts of the machine.
 In some way or other it burst into flames.  Mr. Koenig attempted to push the flaming container of
gasoline out of reach of another machine stored in the garage.  In trying to do so it upset and spilled the
liquid on his trousers.  He was at once enveloped in flames.  Persons attracted by the commotion
wrapped clothing and blankets about his person and extinguished the flames but nor before he had
been painfully burned.  The flaming gasoline set fire to a part of the garage and an alarm of fire was sent
in.  The fire siren sounded about the noon hour.  All the companies responded but their services were
not required as neighbors had extinguished the flames with little damage to the building.                                        
The Call of July 13, 1928

OIL STOVE CAUSES FIRE WEDNESDAY

Flames from an oil stove on which the family supper was being prepared, communicating with the
woodwork, caused a slight fire in the basement or summer kitchen of the W. H. Wagner home on Center
Avenue, shortly before six o'clock Wednesday evening.  Water used by members of the family and
neighbors extinguished the flames but not until the entire house had been filled with smoke and the
walls and ceiling as well as the woodwork damaged.  All the companies responded but their services
were not required.  Fire Chief Schumacher however ordered the Liberty Company to use chemicals on
the walls and ceilings as a preventative against any smoldering sparks breaking into flame later in the
evening.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
The Call of November 9, 1928

PAINFULLY BURNED IN EXPLOSION

Mrs. Jay Rickson of Union Street was painfully burned Monday afternoon when naphtha which she was
using to clean dresses suddenly exploded.  The flames shot from an open doorway to the porch on the
second floor and luckily were noticed by employees at the Thomas Knitting Mill.  Messrs. Robert Coldren
and Foster Fahl quickly responded with fire extinguishers and aided other persons to extinguish the
flames.  Mrs. Harry Huling, residing next door, had the presence of mind to trip Mrs. Rickson who in her
excitement was rushing about in her flaming garments.  She then rolled her in rugs and extinguished
the flames and prevented more serious and more painful burns.  An alarm of fire was sent in and all
companies responded but their services were not required.  The Rickson apartments were badly
damaged by the flames.  Mrs. Rickson was burned deeply on the arms and neck.  Her eyebrows and
eyelashes were singed as was also her hair.  At this writing she is resting as comfortably as might be
expected.  Mrs. Rickson was engaged in cleaning garments with naphtha.  A low flame from the gas
stove is believed to have ignited the fumes and although Mrs. Rickson was standing on the back porch
in the act of hanging up a garment that had just been cleaned, the explosion and rush of flame were as
one and in an instant the garment she was hanging up had been ignited.                                                                
Below is memorabilia from various events in Schuylkill Haven related to our fire departments.
From left to right: a glass from the Fireman's Day Parade during the 1950 anniversary, a ribbon
from a truck housing at the Schuylkill Hose Company on August 26, 1950, a ribbon from a
Rainbow Hose Company truck housing on May 26, 1951 and two ribbons from the 1956 and 1964
Schuylkill County Volunteer Firemen's Association conventions.
Pottsville Republican of August 21, 1885

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN'S FIRE COMPANY

Schuylkill Haven is now supplied by water works and the young men of the town have organized a fire
company and propose getting a steamer and other suitable apparatus.  To raise funds they announce a
grand picnic at Island Grove near Connor's Crossing, to be held on the fifth of next month.  
The fire company is officered as follows: John F. Bader, President, Samuel L. Martz, Secretary, Frank
Butz, Treasurer.  We believe the company is negotiating for the purchase of one of the steamers
belonging to the Good Intent Company of this city.                                                                                                                        
Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1885

"The undersigned met on the above date for the purpose of organizing a Fire Company in the Borough
of Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  Said Fire Company to be known as the Good Intent
Fire Company, Number 1, aforesaid Borough.  Our intention for organizing said Company is to protect
property in case of fire, also loss of life which is liable to occur, as well as prevent accidents which is in
our power so to do , to which we fix our signatures."
John F. Bader                       Julius E. Weiser              S. Boussum
Samuel W. Reibsaaman       Franklin A. Bubeck          Levi E. Sterner
Edward E. Maberry               Abraham Huy                   Samuel Martz
Edward Renninger               James J. Lash                  Frank Eiler
Isaac E. Huey                        George Rupp                   Charles W. Ney
This action was brought about after discussing the question of organizing a Fire Company at a picnic
held at "Cullie's Woods", sometime previous.  This was the origin of one of the oldest institutions in
Schuylkill Haven devoted exclusively to the service of the public.  The first meetings, with John F.
Bader, Chairman, Edward E. Maberry, Secretary and Frank Eiler, Treasurer, were held in the old house
abutting Bader's Hotel, now owned and operated by Guy Luckenbill at 412 Dock Street.  Realizing that
funds were necessary to carry on this work, it was decided to hold a picnic and dance on September 3,
1885, music to be furnished by the Black Horse Band.  The sum of $7.67 was realized on this affair.
September 13, 1885, a committee was appointed to look into the question of a new carriage and on
September 26, the committee reported that a new could be purchased for $450 from the firm of W. W.
Wunder of Reading, Pennsylvania.  A committee was appointed to solicit funds throughout the entire
town to pay for this carriage.  The sum of $59.75 was realized from the canvass.  At the same time, the
name of the Company was changed to the Spring Garden Hose Company of Schuylkill Haven.
October 13, 1885 the Company was officially organized and the following officers were elected:
President, John F. Bader; Vice President, Samuel W. Reibsaaman; Recording Secretary, Edward E.
Maberry; Financial secretary, Isaac E. Huey; Treasurer, Charles W. Ney.  Due to the fact that  the carriage
committee was so royally entertained by the Rainbow Fire Company Number One of Reading,
Pennsylvania on their visit to inspect carriages on October 26, 1885, the name of the Company was
changed to the Rainbow Hose Company Number One in honor of the Reading Company.  At this same
time a committee was appointed and the first Constitution and Bylaws of the Rainbow Hose Company
were drawn up and on December 2, 1885, a Charter was officially granted to the Rainbow Hose Company
by the Schuylkill County Common Pleas Court.
The new carriage was delivered on Christmas Day, December 25, 1885 and was displayed in front of
Metamora Hall on Main Street where the Company was holding a fair.  Needless to say it was the center
of attraction for all the citizens of Schuylkill Haven, crowds gathered around the carriage all day and
evening and it was also inspected by many out of town Fire Companies.  The carriage was first housed in
the stable of John Bader and was later moved to the rear of the property known as Hotel Deer, owned by
Benjamin J. Luckenbill.  It was discovered that this building was not suitable to house such an
expensive piece of equipment.  Therefore, new doors, new floors, papering, windows and a tower on
the roof were immediately installed.  April 24, 1886, a bell was purchased from the proprietor of the Half
Way House for the sum of four dollars and placed on the tower of the temporary Hose House.  Three
members were appointed "bell ringers" with the privilege of ringing the bell for practice at any time they
felt it necessary.  June 12, 1886, the meeting place was changed to a room with a rental of two dollars a
month in the Union Hotel, now remodeled and owned by William Gehrig at the corner of Coal Street and
Garfield Avenue.
A drum corps was organized October 4, 1886 with Joseph Tyson as leader and participated in their first
parade on October 18, 1886.  This Drum Corp was later changed into a band.  In July, 1887, the meeting
place was again changed to the third floor of the building at 315 Dock Street.  A janitor was appointed to
keep the rooms clean at a monthly salary of twenty five cents, his duties did not consist of cleaning
cuspidors and occasionally bills of ten cents were submitted for services rendered, namely, cleaning
spittoons.  July 28, 1892, a festival was held on Dengler's Field now the site of Christ Lutheran Church.  
Records show that the demand for clam soup was so great there was a shortage of milk and a cow had
to be brought to the grounds and milked to furnish the necessary milk.  December 5, 1892 at a special
meeting, the site of the present original building was purchased for the sum of $900.  February 14, 1894,
the contract for the present building was awarded and on December 17, 1894 the building was
completed at a total cost of $3176.
On January 25, 1894, owing to the many burglaries and rowdyism that were prevalent at this time, a
special meeting of the Company was held.  All twenty four members were present and were sworn in by
the Chief Burgess for a two month period.  Their duty was to patrol the town during the night and break
up the lawlessness.  Their pay for this service was to be any contributions that could be collected from
the citizens.
Up to this time the ladies had always given their full support to the Company and in March, 1895, a
Ladies' auxiliary was officially organized.  The years from 1895 to 1910 were busy years with the Company
holding many bazaars and festivals to raise funds to pay off their debt.
On June 14, 1910, the Friendship Hook and Ladder Company Number Three merged with the Rainbow
Hose Company.  After this merger it was found that the present building was not adequate to
accommodate the additional equipment and increased membership.  In June 1911, a contract was
awarded to erect an addition to the original building at a cost of $2790.  In order to keep up with modern
times, in 1920 the Hook and Ladder truck was motorized at a cost of $2673 and a new pumper was
purchased at a cost of $6735.  In this same year the old horse carriage of the Company, which was
purchased in 1835, was presented to a Fire Company recently organized in wade, Pennsylvania.  As a
respect of honor, this Company was named rainbow, thus forming the third generation of Rainbow Hose
Companies, from Reading to Schuylkill Haven to wade.
During the years from 1920 to 1935 the Company participated in many community activities.  Probably the
most outstanding being the 175th Anniversary of the Borough in 1925.  In 1936 the two trucks were
rebuilt and modernized at a cost of $6525.  From 1936 to 1950 several block parties were held to raise
funds with the purchase of a new truck in mind.  In 1951 a new Seagrave Ladder truck and a new
Seagrave Pumper truck were purchased at a cost of $30, 293.  With these new trucks, in the years 1951
to 1954, the Company participated in many parades and won many prizes.
In 1954 the Company purchased the Charles Rose property adjacent to the present building at a cost of
$6000.  The property was torn down and used as a parking lot.  Also in 1954, the Company purchased the
Willow street Playground at a cost of $1200.  The men of the Company restored the playground
equipment and added new equipment.  In 1955 the Ladies' auxiliary erected a new fence at the
playground for the protection of the children.  
In 1956, the Rainbow Hose Company, along with the other companies in the Borough, was host to the
Schuylkill County Firemen's Association Convention.  In February of 1959 a committee was appointed to
start raising funds for the 75th Anniversary of the Company to be held in 1960.  In May of 1959 a contract
for a new truck building was awarded and the trucks were moved into this new building on November
20, 1959.  The cost of the building was $35,020.  The downstairs rooms of the original building have been
remodeled and redecorated by members of the Company and will be the new social rooms for the
members.  In March, 1960, the Company purchased the Harry Christ property and that building
demolished to provide additional parking space as well as sufficient space where Company affairs can
be held.
July 24 to July 30 the Rainbow Hose Company is happy to be able to celebrate its 75th Anniversary.  We
feel justifiably proud of our record during the past seventy five years.  We assure the citizens of
Schuylkill Haven that we will continue to do our best to carry out the purposes of organization, as stated
at the organization meeting in 1885 by the men who organized our Company, "to protect property in case
of fire, also loss of life which is liable to occur, as well as prevent accidents which is in our power so to
do."
This history of the Rainbow Hose Company was obtained from the 75th Anniversary book
published by the fire company in 1960.  There are many interesting facts contained in the article.
Below is an image from the Bell Telephone company magazine in May 1954.  It shows Schuylkill Haven
resident George Bubeck in uniform with an engine of the Rainbow Hose Company and at practice with
the Rainbow Hose Company Drum and Bugle Corps.
Stories just added from the 1940s:
A couple is rescued from a fire on Orchard
Avenue, a home burns on Centre Avenue, fires
on Saint Peter Street and Moorenoll Street, a fire
in a Christmas tree in the McGoey home, and a  
stolen truck crashes and catches fire.
Pottsville Republican of October 14, 1886

FARM HOUSE BURNED

This morning between twelve and one o'clock, the farm house belonging to the Saylor estate and
occupied by Lucien reber, on the Long Run road between Cressona and Schuylkill Haven, was
discovered on fire and was burned, together with most of the contents.  The family had been cooking
apple butter during the day and it is supposed the fire originated from a spark that had lodged on the
roof, and such rapidity did the flames make that it was with difficulty that the inmates were rescued.  
Loss will approximate $2000, fully insured.                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The following two early articles relate the borough's problem with
providing water in the fire plugs and the insurance implications.
Pottsville Republican of October 4, 1887

COMMUNICATION

The action of the Schuylkill Haven Borough Council on Monday evening last in refusing to pay any more
water rent was a very unwise move, as they have no fire engine there and the citizens and property
owners will be at the mercy of the flames should a fire occur.  Besides the insurance companies will
more than likely materially increase their rates or withdraw their risks.                                                                                                        
Pottsville Republican of October 8, 1887

FIRE PLUG ISSUE CONTINUES

Someone communicated to the different fire insurance companies on this and New York state informing
them of the detachment of service to the borough fire plugs and in consequence leave the town without
water supply in case of fire.  We property holders are not at all alarmed, as we are a very careful people,
besides our town is more substantially built and not as compactly as most towns and in case of fire we
have the canal running along the whole town backed by a people with heroic temperament, who work
like trojans when occasions of necessity present themselves.  The insurance companies that fall in the
trap must really be not very considerate.  The rate in our town has always been the same before and
since the water was put in and since the water is here we have been promised by the Schuylkill County
Board of Fire Underwriters to have a man come here to lower our rates and many of our people have
dropped their insurance altogether on account of the unequal rating of our town, we must adhere to
these rates and in consequence many would rather carry their own risks.  Just think, houses on our
front street rated $1.75 per $100 per year.  If the companies desire to lose almost their entire holdings
here, let them now insist on a higher rate and we will have plenty of advocates of a home mutual fire
insurance company, which is now, and for some time has been, seriously agitated.                                                             
Pottsville Republican of September 27, 1907

FIRE AT GAS WORKS

Fire early Sunday damaged the gas works of the Schuylkill Haven Gas and Water Company to the extent
of several hundred dollars.  The flames were discovered at about six o'clock by a crew of a P and R
locomotive and they gave the alarm of the engine whistle, which was later taken up by the school house
bell.  All three of the town's fire companies responded promptly and soon had the fire extinguished.  As
soon as the firemen finished their work, General manager Aldrich, Superintendents Werner and
McKnight had on the ground the combined forces of the Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville plants with a
gang of laborers from the P and R storage yard, and by three o'clock in the afternoon had the plant
running again.  The building being of brick, tin covered roof, doors and windows and window casings
and the small amount of oil about the machinery constituted all of the inflammable matter, but the fire
was so hot the Babbitt metal plunger in the oil pump at the foot of the gas generator was welted out of
all semblance to its normal shape.  The big gas generators, built of steel and intended to stand terrific
heat, were not damaged in the least.  The damage was confined to the woodwork before mentioned, the
oil pump, engine and blower belts in pipe connections.  Repairs to the building were begun this morning
by contractor Rudy Moyer.  The roof will be replaced by a metal one, all floor supports will be of metal,
and as soon as they can be obtained, a flooring of metal plates will be laid.                                                                                               
Pottsville Republican of March 13, 1908

DR. DECHERT SUFFERS FROM FIRE

Fire on Thursday night gutted the second story of Dr. Dechert's stable, which is located at the rear of the
doctor's residence.  The fire was discovered shortly before ten o'clock and so promptly did all three of
the fire companies respond to the alarm and so rapidly and systematically did the firemen work that the
fire was confined to the second floor of the building where it originated.  The cause of the fire is
believed to be spontaneous combustion from some hay that had been put in there the day before.  The
hay and the hostler's room and its furnishings were destroyed and the second story of the stable was
badly charred.  The damage amounts to between 4300 and $400.  The doctor's fine horses, carriages,
harness, etc., were all on the ground floor of the stable and were gotten out when the fire was
discovered.  The first floor of the stable suffered only from the water that was poured in on the flames
by the firemen, the damage being slight.  Dr. Dechert, who has been seriously ill, was not informed of
the loss.  The doctor is improving in health steadily and is able to sit up for an hour each day.  His
physicians predict his ultimate recovery.                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Pottsville Republican of July 16, 1908

NEW FIRE COMPANY IS ASSURED – TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING

As has already appeared in this column, there has been a fire company organized in the South Ward of
the town.  The special reason for the creation of the new company is that in their particular section of
the town there is no fire apparatus.  Between the greater section and this district and the Rainbow,
Schuylkill and Hook and Ladder Companies, there is the Reading Railroad and very frequently trains
block all crossings and on account of the air brakes on the trains they are unable to move , sometimes
as long as ten minutes or more.  In the meantime should a fire be in progress, the building would be at
the mercy of the flames and might be altogether too far gone to get control of same when theses
companies could get across again.  This section below the railroad, particularly Berne Street and the
Long Run Road and the Schuylkill Mountain Road are being built up so rapidly that additional fire
protection is now necessary.  The following milk and business places are located in this district: Reed
and Leininger, Schuylkill Haven Rolling Mill, Saul and Zang, Gerber Shoe Company, S. Thomas Knit Mill,
Daniel Sharadin Est, Meck and Company, Daniel Phillips Lumber Yard, Samuel Riney, Daniel Riney, Daniel
Bitzer, J. F. Bast, Charles Bittle, Milton Meck Lumber Yard, Thomas Bast, Mrs. Mary Hoffman, Frank
Runkle, H. J. Dohney, Daniel Sharadin Furniture Store, and others.  The School Board is now enlarging
its school building to four rooms which will hereafter take care of a great many more of our children and
this institution needs the best kind of protection for we need only to think back a few months to the
awful calamity that befell Cleveland, Ohio.  The South Ward represents the second ward of the borough,
contains besides the manufacturers and business places, many new and beautiful homes.  The new
organization has been met with hearty approval and the movement is being sanctioned by the citizens in
general.  It is the aim of the organization to have as many members of the other wards as possible, while
the home of the fire company will be in the South Ward, its assistance and help will be rendered to the
extreme parts of the town and for that reason they invite all the residents of Schuylkill Haven to join
their ranks and become associated with them.  On Monday night, July 20th at 7:30 there will be a special
public meeting held at the mill of J. F. Bast to consider further details of the organization.  The question
of purchasing a steamer will be taken up and arrangements made for same.  Everybody is urged to be
present at the meeting.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
The Pottsville Republican of July 20, 1908

EXCITEMENT CAUSED BY FIRE

Saturday afternoon at about four o’clock, fire was discovered in the private hallway of the D. M. Wagner
furniture store building that leads to the lodge rooms.  The blaze was in a pile of burlap and was caused
by someone carelessly throwing down a lighted match.  The blazing burlap was thrown into the street
and the Schuylkill Hose Company, which was summoned on a still alarm, extinguished the blaze.                    
The Pottsville Republican of July 24, 1908

FIRE AT HARNESS SHOP

Spontaneous combustion caused a slight fire in Squire C. H. Goas’ harness shop on Saint John Street on
Thursday night, and for a time caused great excitement, as Squire Goas’ building is of frame and adjoins
another frame building, which in turn, adjoins the Hotel Grand.  On the other side of the shop, separated
by a ten foot driveway, is Adam Moyer’s big livery stable and Keystone Hall, and to the rear of the shop
is another section of the livery stable.  The fire was on the second floor, which is used by the Squire for
a work room.  The timely discovery of the fire by Adam Moyer and the prompt sounding of the alarm
resulted in the extinguishing of the flames before much damage had been done.  Squire Goas’ loss is
not over twenty five dollars and the damage to the building, which is owned by D. D. Yoder, of Reading,
will be fully covered by half that amount.  
The Pottsville Republican of August 2, 1909

SCHUYLKILL HOSE COMPANY MEETS

The Schuylkill Haven Fire Department met as required under a recent ordinance passed  by Council at
Hotel Grand parlors one evening last week.  Daniel S. Byerly, representing the Schuylkill Haven Hose
Company, was chosen chairman of the meeting.  The following committee was appointed on Rules and
Regulations: Schuylkill Hose Company, W. J. Saylor, F. J. Hesser; Rainbow Hose Company, Luke Fisher,
Ed Maberry; Friendship Hook and Ladder Company, George Gerhart, Charles Weiser; Liberty Hose
Company, George P. Saul, J. H. Filbert.  The following are the permanent officers of the department:
Chief Engineer Luke Fisher, First Assistant Frank J. Heim, Second Assistant Benjamin Luckenbill, Third
Assistant Samuel Bast.  The work of the department was outlined in a number of speeches and many
improvements in fire service are contemplated and will be brought about.  A second meeting will be
held this month when the Rules and Regulations will be presented and acted upon and other business
transacted.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Pottsville Republican of August 12, 1909

SLIGHT FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

Late yesterday afternoon the stable of Joseph Meyers, situated in the center of the town and within
several feet of Saint Matthew's Lutheran and Saint John's Reformed Churches was discovered to be on
fire.  An alarm was immediately sounded, the Schuylkill Hose Company responding.  Had it not been for
the heroic work of the bucket brigade, the whole structure together with the adjoining properties would
have been destroyed as the pressure for the hose would not throw a stream three feet long.  The fire is
supposed to have been started by hot ashes being thrown against the building.  The damage will
amount to about twenty five dollars.
The Call of March 11, 1932

HOTEL GRAND DESTROYED BY FIRE

On Tuesday morning, the Hotel Grand was destroyed by fire resulting in damages of $75000. The post
office, Prudential Insurance Co. and the State Bank of Schuylkill Haven, all with offices in the building
suffered serious damage. The fire started at about 2:45 in the morning spreading quickly. All guests of
the hotel got out safely. Nine streams of water were trained on the structure for seven hours to control
the blaze. A separate building to the rear used by the bank and Schwartz's store were slightly damaged
as was the Gray building next door. Post office employees retrieved records and as much mail as
possible taking it next door to the Gray building. As the last employee left the hotel, embers crashed
down through the skylight. Lewis Dewald has operated the hotel for the past two and a half years. The
hotel had thirty nine guest rooms and a band hall on the fourth floor. There are plans to rebuild. The
building is completely ruined. It occupied the site of the historic Washington Hotel which was built in the
early days of the town. The present building was erected by Daniel Yoder in 1895 and operated by
Preston Souder. It was then sold to Clayton Bubeck who sold it to the State Bank in 1923. Shollenberger
and Yeager operated it by lease after the bank made large improvements.
The Bressler Band lost many of their instruments. The night was cold at zero degrees with a strong wind
coating firemen with ice. H. C. Wilson, a long time resident of the hotel, discovered the fire and alerted
the other guests. The train at 2:22 woke him and he smelled smoke. Many guests gathered personal
effects and gathered on St. John Street but some escaped with only the clothes on their backs. John
Deibert saved most of his clothes but forgot his teeth and spectacles. Miss Mary Juris who lived near
the bathroom where the fore began fled in pajamas and a light coat. Wilson managed to save his forty
year collection of historical notes and photos of the town. Fire companies from Pottsville, Cressona and
Orwigsburg assisted. The firemen fought to save neighboring buildings and frequently changed clothes
that were freezing from the water on the cold night. St. John Street became a frozen river. Chief of
Police Deibert pulled the alarm which alerted the town.                                                                                                                                                        
Pottsville Republican of September 8, 1932

GARAGE WAS BURNED DOWN

Fire totally destroyed the small garage at the Merton E. Suits home on Fairmount at one o'clock this
morning.  The barking of his dogs woke Mr. Suits and he saw the light of his burning garage, then a
mass of flames.  Oliver Wagner, who lives above, also saw the fire about the same time and both turned
in an alarm.  Mr. Suits turned the water from the garden hose on his home only twenty feet distant until
the fire department arrived, when they aided in saving the dwelling.  The wind direction was away from
the home or probably the story would have been different.  The garage and new Oldsmobile sedan are a
total loss.  The loss will be over $1000, partly covered by insurance.  The fire companies responded
promptly, but could not possibly save the garage.  The cause is unknown.  There was no electric wiring
in the building.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Pottsville Republican of March 7, 1957

SPECTACULAR FIRE AT HAVEN MILL

A spectacular $175,000 fire destroyed the Argo knitting mill and bleachery on North Berne Street in
Schuylkill Haven today. Flames shot sixty to seventy feet in the air as an inferno consumed the three
story brick structure. Embers were blown over several blocks. The blaze was almost under control when
Therold "Dutch" Bolton, a member of Schuylkill Hose Co. emerged from an alley between the factory and
a home with severe head injuries. It is surmised he was struck by falling debris. The fire started at about
11:00 in the morning. 75 employees worked the plant which supplied partially finished goods for the new
mill at Market and Margaretta Streets. A machinist from New York was trapped briefly on the second
floor until a ladder was used to rescue him. A great deal of material was saved by employees who threw
it out of windows into the street. Firemen ran lines to Stoyer's Dam and were able to save neighboring
homes. The sprinkler system worked but had little effect. Three explosions shook the building
presumably from the ignition of barrels of chemicals. The mill was a total loss but the firemen saved all
neighboring houses.

During a conversation with the late Harry Naffin (former Haven resident and owner of Messner and
Hess), he related details of the fire.  He and Therold Bolton were on the second floor at the start of the
fire. They were calling for water for the line they had at hand. Harry noted that threw a glass door panel
on a stairway to the third floor they could see a blazing fire.  Shortly after they moved from it, the door
exploded spreading fire into the dust filled ceiling.  Harry and Bolton quickly dropped the hose and ran
for their lives. He also reported large bales of burning cloth rolling out of the back of the mill and falling
into the Schuylkill River, floating downstream until extinguished.                                                                                                                        
Pottsville Republican of September 25, 1947

TWO DIE IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN FIRE - DEFECTIVE CHIMNEY IS BLAMED
Robert Bernet, 81, Nellie Sterner, 53, Victims; Double Funeral Saturday

An 81 year old Schuylkill Haven man and a 53 year old housekeeper who tried vainly to rescue him died
in a fire which swept the home of Stanley Bernet at 216 East Union Street, Schuylkill Haven, late
Wednesday afternoon.  The victims are Robert Bernet, father of Stanley Bernet and Miss Nellie M.
Sterner.  Mr. Bernet died of a heart attack in bed on the second floor before firemen could reach him.  
Dr. Joseph Matonis, Deputy Coroner said Miss Sterner died of suffocation in the cellar where she had
gone apparently to check a defective furnace which set fire to the house and filled the building with
smoke.
Claude Sausser, fire chief of Schuylkill Haven, blamed a blocked chimney for the tragedy.  Sausser said
that Stanley, who is employed at the Stoyer garage, built a fire in the stoker operated hot air furnace at
noon and then returned to his job.  His wife Verna, who is employed at the Alpha Mills, directly in the
rear of the home, also returned to her work after lunch, while Stanley's father, a retired Pennsy
railroader went upstairs to take a nap.  Miss Sterner who was also employed at the home of Charles N.
Meck next door, was busy at the Meck home.  Mrs. Meck said she left the house at 2:30 which is the last
time that Miss Sterner was seen alive.
Sausser believes that the housekeeper, smelling smoke, went to the Bernet home shortly afterward and
tried in vain to arouse the elder Bernet and was overcome as she went to the cellar. Smoke was first
noticed pouring from the house by employees of the Alpha Mills who sent in an alarm and Mrs. Bernet
rushed to the home, which she tried to enter but was driven out by the fumes.  When firemen arrived,
they donned masks and entered the second floor by a ladder, carrying the body of Mr. Bernet Sr. to the
street.  It was not known until half an hour later that Miss Sterner was in the house when Edward Bolton
of the Rainbow Hose Company stumbled over her body near the furnace in the cellar.  She was
pronounced dead by Dr. N. Albert Fegley.  
Fire Chief Sausser said an investigation later revealed that the blocked chimney resulted in the doors of
the furnace being blown open and the fire spread to the cellar rafters, thence to the partition between
the two homes and up toward the attic.  He said that the damage is extensive.  All three fire companies
of Schuylkill Haven, the Rainbow, Schuylkill and Liberty responded and put out the fire with some
difficulty and only after the use of masks which permitted them to get at the seat of the blaze.  The alarm
was turned in about 3:30.  The Stanley Bernets have two children, Nancy and Carl, the latter a seaman
now on leave but both were absent from home at the time of the fire.
A double funeral will be held from the D. M. Bittle Funeral Home on Saturday afternoon with Reverend B.
E. Snoddy in charge of the services.  Burial will be in the Union Cemetery.  Bernet, born and reared in
Pottsville, was a resident of Schuylkill Haven for fifty years.  He was a son of the late George and Louise
Krebs Bernet.  He was a member of the Trinity United Brethren Evangelical Church.  Surviving are three
sons: Aaron, Willis and Stanley, all of Schuylkill Haven and one daughter Mary, wife of Herbert Deibert of
Hamburg; one sister, Mrs. Eugene Fisher, Philadelphia; nine grandchildren; a half brother, Frank Bernet,
Reading and four stepsisters: Mrs. George Maile, Schuylkill Haven, Mrs. Edward Sterner, Pottsville, Mrs.
Bertha Kraut, Philadelphia and Mrs. Elmer Sterner, Port Carbon.
Miss Sterner was born and reared and spent her entire lifetime in Schuylkill Haven.  She was a daughter
of the late Robert and Mary Stigman Sterner and was a member of the Trinity United Brethren
Evangelical Church.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8/15
Pottsville Republican of February 29, 1892

A Grand Opening - A Great Surprise - Fully Two Thousand People on the Streets

The grand opening of the fair of the Schuylkill Hose Company was a surprise to the many who knew no
enterprise.  The arrangements were quietly planned but Peter F. Bauer is entitled to the sole credit for
the hard work and without a doubt his earnest appeals, together with a practical smile which he picked
up in Pottsville, while at Rosengarten's, did the business.  Captain Helms, who by the way, belongs to
the Rainbow Hose, by accident, met Major Losch in Pottsville, the major having just returned from the
Pittsburgh G. A. R. convention where he was elected a national delegate.  The major received the news,
took the first train for his Schuylkill Haven and at once entered into the work.  The Humane Hose and
Steam Fire Engine Company of Pottsville, was the object of attack, they being the first visiting fire
company.  They arrived at 8:00 o'clock and were received by the Schuylkill and Rainbow fire companies,
with a brilliant display of fireworks over the entire route, and while marching and countermarching the
scene was indeed magnificent and old and young were surprised.
AT THE FAIR
The visitors were at once marched into the fair, Metamora Hall, where they received another ovation
from the hard working lady committee, of which Mrs. Willis Bryant is chairman.  The visitors were
received by Major S. A. Losch in one of his old time speeches which took the house.  John Reber of the
Humane responded in a happy, short address, but surprised the major by presenting to his company, a
fine fire horn, which will be described hereafter.  The president of the company, Albert W. Felix,
received the same, but the surprise was so sudden, indeed, it was a shock but Al was equal to the
occasion, received the call bugle and ordered the guests to banquet.  They proceeded at once to the
Central Hotel, where they were entertained with a feast of reason and a flow of soul.  H. A. Hesser and
Major S. A. Losch, in connection with proprietor Bauer, worked until midnight to send their guests away
pleased.  The fair promises to be a great success and I will note it right along for you.  The ladies of this
fair are a power judging from the work they are doing.                                                                                                                                                                
Pottsville Republican of June 4, 1892

FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

At 11:30 last night the underwear and stocking factory of Lautenbacher Company was discovered to be
on fire.  This at a time when rain was pouring down in torrents.  The Rainbow and Schuylkill Hose
Companies were quickly at the scene and soon had four streams playing and at once got the fire under
control.  The southern end of the manufactory is a perfect wreck as it was here around the fire room
where the fire originated.  The entire stock was destroyed, consisting of underwear, hosiery, etc.  Loss
as of yet is unknown.  Elijah Emerich, the Steward of the County Almshouse, has the principal interest in
the establishment.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
FIRES
Pottsville Republican of May 15, 1899

FIRE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

The flames spread rapidly and communicated to the stable of George Gerber, Esquire.  Both stables At
6:30 o'clock last evening, a stable in the rear of the Reformed Church at Schuylkill Haven caught fire.  
were entirely destroyed and a portion of the church roof was burned away.  The fire is believed to have
been caused by several boys who were playing in the stable and had matches.                                  
Pottsville Republican of June 25, 1925

ASSISTANT ROAD FOREMAN OF ENGINES BOYER
DROPS DEAD DIRECTING RAILROAD TRAFFIC DURING FIRE

John O. Boyer of Schuylkill Haven, assistant road foreman of engines at the Reading Railway Company,
dropped dead in the station at Schuylkill Haven at 6:30 o'clock Thursday morning while standing at the
telephone, directing the movement of trains during the fire at Schuylkill Haven.  He was found a short
time later at the phone with the receiver tightly wrapped in his hand.  Heart trouble was the cause of his
death.   A peculiar coincidence is the fact that his wife dropped dead three years ago on the street, just
a block from where he died this morning. He was a native of Schuylkill Haven and prominent in fraternal
organization circles.  
Mr. Boyer was born in Schuylkill Haven forty eight years ago and resided there continuously.  He was the
son of the late Edward and Sarah Long Boyer of Schuylkill Haven and is the last surviving member of his
family.  His wife who died suddenly of a heart attack three years ago, was before her marriage Lillian I.
Brownmiller and was a sister of County Commissioner Roy Brownmiller.  Two sons Paul of Schuylkill
Haven and Edward, at home, survive.  Deceased was a member of Page Lodge of Masons, member of
the Consistory and Shrine and a thirty second degree Mason.  He was also a member of Junior American
Mechanics, the P. O. S. of A., Knights of Malta, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, member of the
Relief association of the Reading Company.  He resided at 226 Dock Street.                                                                                        
The Call of October 3, 1930

TEN YEAR OLD SAVES MOTHER FROM FIRE

Fire Wednesday morning gutted a portion of the brick cottage of Herbert Schaefer on Edgewood and
completely ruined the furniture in two rooms of the home.  The timely discovery of the fire by James, the
ten year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer, who smelled smoke and came downstairs to investigate,
probably saved the lives of other members of the family and his mother, who for the past several weeks
has been confined to bed with illness.
Poor water pressure and delay in discovering the exact location of the fire gave the flames an
opportunity to make headway.  The fire alarm was sent in by telephone, therefore, the firemen had to
first obtain the information.  They were told the fire was in Edgewood.  The Schaefer home is at the end
of this part of the town and on a somewhat lower level than the others.  The fire therefore, was not
readily discovered, even by residents of Edgewood.  Fire companies arriving on the scene connected
with a fire plug a hundred yards or more from the scene of the fire, were disappointed when nothing
more than a small muddy stream came from the hose.  They could not throw the water to the windows of
the first floor.  Water was then run from a booster pump of the Schuylkill Hose Company and thence
pumped onto the flames.  Chemicals were also used.  The Liberty Company connected with another plug
but no water from the large hose lines was thrown on the fire at the time.
For a time it looked as if the blaze would be a stubborn one to fight but in a short time they were
extinguished.  The father and owner of the home, Herbert Schaefer, had filled up the furnace in the
cellar and had left for work at the Bausher Dye Works in Hamburg about six o'clock.  Hardly had he
arrived at the plant for work when he was given a message that his home was afire.  Woodwork near the
furnace ignited and the fire ate its way through the floor into the dining room above the furnace.  The
furniture in this room and the adjoining living room front was burned or charred and scorched with the
exception of a large living room suite.  Fortunately the door from the dining room to the other part of the
house had been closed and the flames did not get into the other rooms.  The Schaefer boy who
discovered the fire noticed this door closed and after opening it and being confronted with the flames
and smoke, had the presence of mind to close it.  Arousing the other members of the family and
neighbors, it was found that the escape from the second floor through the hallway had been cut off.  
Neighbors then procured ladders and carried Mrs. Schaefer, who had been carried and assisted to the
roof, to the ground, where she was cared for by persons in the neighborhood.  Mr. Schaefer carried
insurance to the amount of four thousand dollars on the home and with three more monthly payments
would have had the home, built several years ago, completely paid for.                                                                                                          
The Call of March 20, 1931              

EARLY MORNING FIRE CAUSES LOSS OF $40,000

Fire on Wednesday morning between three and four o'clock, completely destroyed the 150 by 40 foot
one story concrete block and steel building, together with contents, of A. E. Meitzler on Centre Avenue,
Schuylkill Haven.  Not an item or article could be saved from the burning structure.  The building was
occupied by A. E. Meitzler as an auto body and fender works and auto paint shop.  Very modern and a
great number of equipment, as well as a large supply of paints, varnishes and supplies used in the paint
shop, also auto equipment, parts and supplies were destroyed.  Three automobiles, two Packards and a
Buick, were also destroyed.  The plant had been in operation for a number of years and was modern in
every respect.
A one story wooden structure to the rear and side of the large building was almost completely destroyed
and a frame garage of R. C. Gehrig, adjoining, was gutted.  Mr. Meitzler estimated his loss at between
forty and forty five thousand dollars, partly covered by insurance.  Five streams of water and three
streams of chemical were poured into the burning building and upon surrounding structures and
despite the terrific heat and danger from exploding paints and oils, the firemen fought stoically and in
close proximity to the flames.  Almost at the moment of its discovery, the building was a mass of flames,
the fire having started, it is believed, in or near the portion of the building occupied as the Duco plant.  
By reason of the very inflammable character of the materials stored therein, the flames spread rapidly to
every part of the building.  When firemen arrived, the entire building was a roaring, seething furnace.  
The bungalow of R. C. Gehrig, located across an open forty foot lot, was steaming and had it not been for
its being covered with asbestos shingles, would have been burned.  The glass in the windows of the
home cracked under the intense heat.  A large fern inside the home and close to one of the windows
was scorched and a thermometer in the kitchen burst from the heat.
The members of the Gehrig family, consisting of R. C. Gehrig Sr., Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Gehrig Jr. and a one
month old son, were the occupants of the home and were aroused from their slumbers by the roar of the
flames and the intermittent popping or explosions.  The apartments and garages of Clayton Bubeck to
the rear and side of the Meitzler Plant were scarred from the flames.  Occupants of the apartments were
ordered to gather valuables and be prepared to vacate on a moment's notice.  The Boyer garage, also a
concrete block structure, to the north of the Meitzler plant and separated by only a space of twelve or
fourteen inches, escaped with damage of but several sections of roof being burned and a number of
window glasses being broken.  Twenty three cars in the Boyer Garage were removed in safety.
Two automobiles in the Gehrig garage were removed in safety while the flames were rapidly eating their
way toward the structure.  All three fire companies responded rapidly to the alarms.  The Rainbow
Company was first to have two streams of water playing on the fire from a plug at the Kimmel Store.  The
Liberty Company used the plug near the Reider factory building while the Schuylkill Company pumped
from the plug on Garfield Avenue.  The fire seemed to be discovered by several persons at almost the
same time.  Mrs. C. B. Reed, residing almost directly across from the scene, noticed the glare and heard
the explosions and awakened her husband.  His calls of fire quickly aroused others in the
neighborhood.  John Moyer, residing nearby also, was awakened by the noise of the waves of heat
coming through an open window along side of his bed.  Thomas Herritt, residing in the Bubeck
apartments, appears to be the one who pulled the fire alarm from the box at the arch on Garfield
Avenue.  Bruce Sheesley, also residing in the Bubeck apartments, jumped in his car standing outside
and drove to the Rainbow firehouse.  All persons state that when they first discovered the fire, the
building was in full flame.  The roar of the flames and the explosions could be heard squares away and
the glare of the flames in the sky attracted many out of town persons who felt an unusually big fire was
in progress.
Shortly after the arrival of the firemen, the "thinner drum", containing glycerine and other combustible
materials exploded and flames were shot high into the air and into all parts of the building.  The heat
was intense and scorched the trees in the vacant lot adjoining, as well as badly scorching the Gehrig
bungalow.  Firemen were fortunate in being supplied with a splendid force of water.  This because of
the fact that the twelve inch main from the Pottsville dams being on Garfield Avenue and crossing
Centre Avenue only several hundred feet from the Meitzler plant.  Mr. Meitzler was not aware of the fire
until awakened shortly before four o'clock and after the plant was almost totally destroyed, by a
telephone call from E. B. Pflueger, local insurance agent.  It took him only a few minutes to come from
his home on West Columbia Street.  Her could give no explanation or cause of the fire.  The plant was
without a night watchman, but every precaution was always taken in the operation of the plant to guard
against a fire.  
As soon as an insurance adjustment is made, Mr. Meitzler intends rebuilding the plant.  The concrete
block walls are little damaged excepting on the front of the building where a portion may have to be
ripped out.  The mass of twisted, fabricated steel from the building and the twisted machinery and
supplies of the plant were viewed during the week by a large number of people.  Most every machine
passing through town on Centre Avenue came to a stop nearby and the occupants alighted and viewed
the scene.  By splendid work the flames were prevented from completely destroying the portion of the
building occupied as the office.  While the flames ate through the partitions and scorched the office
equipment, they were prevented from completely consuming the contents by a stream of water and later
by chemicals.  A great deal of credit is being given to the members of the local fire companies for their
very quick response and splendid work.  It was at once apparent upon arrival of the firemen that the
Meitzler structure was doomed.  There was an uncertainty as to what moment the exploding combustible
material in the building would send out a stream of flame over nearby property.  This however did not
occur.  A fairly stiff breeze fanned the flames away from the Boyer garage but took them in the path of
the nearby frame buildings.  On many of the house roofs nearby could be seen persons who were
prepared to beat out sparks that were being carried overhead for quite some distance.  
Thick, black clouds of smoke topped off the flames that leaped high in the air and appeared to mount
higher and higher as more and more combustible material appeared to be fed it.  The roar of the flames,
as that of a high waterfall or river, could be heard for some distance and with it could be heard the
frequent explosions.  During the fire, different persons were heard to inquire concerning the large
police dog owned by Mr. Meitzler and which was kept in the plant.  Fortunately for this animal, he died
several weeks ago.  Another comment heard from many persons was that concerning the result of the
fire had it occurred several weeks ago when the water supply was very low.  There is no doubt about it,
the flames would have communicated to additional nearby buildings and the extent of the fire may have
been very great, despite the fact that the fire trustees of town had made arrangements to pump water
from the creek that crosses Centre Avenue.  
A fire on this same avenue and almost directly across the street from the Meitzler plant very badly
gutted the Reidler Knitting Mill on Saturday morning at 1:30 o'clock, August 10th, 1929 and threw out of
employment fifty persons.  The cause of the Meitzler fire has not been exactly determined.  One cause is
that of short circuit wires on a smashed auto that was brought into the shop on Tuesday for repairs.  All
records in the office are believed to have escaped damage.  Some papers may be scorched but
examination of some in the desks revealed little damage.  The roof of the building covering the part
occupied as an office was not completely burned away.
The Call of April 3, 1931

HELD FOR THEFT FROM FIRE RUINS

larceny preferred against them by A. E. Meitzler.  The case was the result of the local police officers
having discovered the men in the act of stealing materials and equipment from the fire ruins of the
Meitzler works on Centre Avenue.  The men were carrying equipment to their parked auto on Garfield
Avenue between eight and nine o'clock Wednesday evening.  When confronted by the officers, the car
contained a spreader jack that occupied almost the entire length of a touring car, a blow torch, several
jacks and several vises.  While these two men were at the Squire's office awaiting, Mr. Meitzler
happened to go out to his place of business and there discovered another group of men loading up
some of the materials from the ruins into a machine.  The men offered the information that, "There must
have been a fire here."  Meitzler said there was a fire.  "We're taking brass and some of this other
material away and expect to sell it to a junk dealer for good money."  "Yes!", said Meitzler.  "Who gave
you permission to take it away?"  "Meitzler did and oh well, he won't care anyway."  Mr. Meitzler,
however then most emphatically told them he did care and ordered them from the place.                                        
The Call of April 17, 1931

SATURDAY EVENING FIRE BRINGS OUT DEPARTMENT

Fire, early Saturday evening was discovered on the second story of an unoccupied portion of the frame
Lebanon Paper Box Company.  When the fire was first discovered, flames and thick smoke were
shooting out of the windows of the second floor.  A prompt response of the three fire companies, the
Liberty being first on the scene, prevented what might have been a serious fire.  The flames were
quickly extinguished after three streams of water were played on them for a short time.  The fire started
round and about several crates of paper boxes stored in that portion of the building for a number of  
years.  Nothing but these several crates were stored on this floor.  A thick firewall with fire doors
prevented the flames from getting into the portion of the building used by Mr. Scott for the manufacture
of boxes.  
Examination of the premises shows the flames spread outward and upward from the crates.  A portion of
the rafters of the roof were burned as well as the flooring and window frames near where the crates of
boxes had been stored.  The flooring directly underneath the location of the crates was not burned, it
hardly being scorched.  The heat being intense, nearly ninety six panes of glass in the numerous
windows of the second floor were cracked or broken.  Firemen, all of whom were attired in their
Saturday evening or Sunday best clothes, certainly must be complimented for their work and willingness
to ruin or damage their clothing to fight fire.                                                                                                                                                                                                 
The Call of July 15, 1932

OVERHEATED STOVE CAUSES FIRE HERE

Fire starting about five o'clock Wednesday afternoon, badly gutted contents and the second story of a
frame building of James Lash, located to the rear of South Garfield Avenue, Berger Street.  The building
is used by Mr. Lash as a garage and storage house for paints, etc. on the first floor.  The second floor is
used by Kimber Fenstermacher and Oliver Ditzler as bachelor quarters.  Their furniture, consisting of
new kitchen cabinet, new bedroom suite, etc., were entirely destroyed.  Smoke was first discovered
along Dock Street and for a time it was so thick that the location of the fire could not be exactly
determined.  Neighbors, with garden hoses, were first at work and soon were assisted by Rainbow Hose
Company.  A stream of water within a few minutes time extinguished the blaze.  Firemen however, were
at first unable to get close enough to use chemicals by reason of the intense heat.  The inside of the
building is charred and the furniture and contents badly damaged.  The cause of the fire is said to have
been an overheated stove in which it is said a fresh fire had been started.  Only one of the three
companies went into service. The Schuylkill Hose Company had lines of hose run to the fire but when
they came to pump water from the plug at the corner of Broadway, they could not do so.  Examination,
according to reports made to this newspaper, were to the effect that this plug, a new one and recently
placed, had not as yet been tested or put into service.  The water had not yet been turned into it.                
The Call of October 28, 1932

FIREMEN CALLED OUT SUNDAY

Firemen of Schuylkill Haven were called to fight what threatened to be a stubborn fire, Sunday afternoon
about 4:30 o'clock, when a stable at the rear end of the Pflueger Estate property on Main Street was
discovered a mass of flames.  Almost as soon as the fire was discovered, smoke in thick clouds shot
skyward and immediately flames too leaped high in the air.  Forgetting all about Sunday attire, firemen
soon had several lines of water and also of chemicals on the flames and within twenty minutes, the fire
was pronounced out by Chief Sausser.  The building, of one and a half story frame construction, had
been used as a storage house and garage.  The autos of Russel Phillips and of Barber Lehman, usually
stored in the building were not in it Sunday afternoon.  The flames burned big portions of the roof and
the sides of the upper story.  The building, it was stated by the owner, will be razed.  During the
progress of the fire, the flames leaped across the property line and ignited the side of the Lazos
property at the end of the lot.  Chemicals were used to extinguish the flames here.  The scene of the fire
was very close to the scene of the disastrous fire several years ago when the Michel property was
burned, and Sunday afternoon, until the firemen had the flames under control, there was some
uneasiness lest the flames communicate with the other nearby buildings and result in another serious
fire.                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of December 2, 1932

FIRE DEPARTMENT OUT FOR BURNING AUTO

An auto in flames on Saint Peter Street brought out the entire fire department Monday morning, just the
time many folks were about to crawl into bed.  It was 12:15 when the fire siren's notes sounded.  It was
found that the auto of Russel Strause was in flames, and was on Saint Peter Street, about one hundred
feet from the Schuylkill Hose house.  Chemicals from a fire extinguisher on the truck of the Liberty
Company served to save the machine from destruction.  Mr. Strause states he was pushing the auto of
Mr. Wilson, which became stalled on the Orwigsburg state road.  When he reached a point midway
between the state road and East Main Street, his car burst into flames.  It way believed the fire was
caused by the emergency brake having been on .  With the flames coming up through the floor boards,
Mr. Strause drove the car into town and onto Saint Peter Street, expecting to be able to get a fire
extinguisher at the Schuylkill Hose house.  This building however, was locked.  It was then that the fire
alarm box nearby was pulled.  The companies responded in a remarkably short time.  The loss to the
machine was not very great.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
The Call of February 24, 1933

SOUTH WARD HOME DAMAGED BY FIRE AND WATER

Fire, Thursday afternoon, completely ruined the interior of the two and a half story brick dwelling on the
northwest corner of Columbia and Saint Charles Streets in Schuylkill Haven.  The furniture and
household goods of Mrs. Minnie Shirey, who with her five children, occupied the home, was badly
damaged, particularly by the tremendous amount of water that had to be poured into the building to
extinguish the flames, which seemed to be between the rafters.  The fire was discovered by neighbors
who ran into the home and appraised Mrs. Shirey of the fact that her home was afire.  Smoke was issuing
from underneath the roof and from an upper story window.  The lower rooms too, rapidly filled with
smoke, making it almost impossible for the neighbors who responded to save much of the furniture.  
Some of the pieces from the lower floors were saved but that on the upper floors and all of the clothing
of the mother and the children whose ages are two, five, eleven, thirteen and seventeen years, was
ruined either by smoke or water.
The furniture in one of the upper rooms, that had just been placed for the use of a daughter of Mrs.
Shirey, who was wedded during the week, was also badly damaged by smoke and water.  The three
companies responded and with a high wind blowing, no time was lost in getting four streams of water
into the building, as well as several streams of chemical.  Even with the large amount of water and
chemical fluid, smoke continued to pour from the upper windows in thick clouds.  The Schuylkill Hose
had two streams playing on the fire while the Rainbow and Liberty each had one stream.  Chemical hose
was used by the companies also.  
Perhaps for the first time in a great many years, included in the story of a Schuylkill Haven fire, can be
the statement that the water supply and pressure was more than sufficient.  It was unnecessary to use
the pumpers, the pressure in the mains being sufficient for all purposes.  Three sections of hose burst
for one of the companies and one connection of the Y at the pumper of the Rainbow Hose Company fell
apart.  Only the latter perhaps, was due to the water pressure.  The bursting of the hose was due more
to bad hose, the occurrence again most forcibly demonstrating the importance and need for drying
towers or racks in the fire houses so that the fire hose can be properly aired and dried after use.  It is
believed the fire was caused by an overheated chimney.  There were in use in the home, a kitchen
range and living room heater, neither of which, however, it was stated, were heated to any degree.  The
property was formerly the Benneville Eckert home.  It is now owned by the Schuylkill Trust Company.  
The damage will amount to several hundred dollars while the loss to the occupants is equally as heavy.
The Call of September 11, 1931         

ALMSHOUSE BARN DESTROYED BY FIRE

Mike Lipco, who has been an inmate at the Schuylkill County Almshouse for four years,  is being
detained in the Town Hall cell on suspicion of having deliberately set fire to the barn at the Almshouse,
Wednesday evening.  He will be given a hearing before Squire Kline on Friday and unless he confesses
to the act, will be remanded to jail to await further developments as the Schuylkill Haven police have
gathered together quite a great deal of evidence that seems to connect him with the crime and is
sufficient to hold him on suspicion.  Lipco was noticed coming down Garfield Avenue at three o'clock in
the morning by Officer Singer.  Singer followed and overtook him at Connor and inquired of him his
name.  The name given was sufficient for the officer as it was the name given to the police by Steward
William Powell immediately following the fire.  The man had a fallout with the steward on Wednesday and
was ordered off the premises.  He was heard to remark quite boldly that "he would get even with the
steward."
At the time of his arrest, he was somewhat under the influence of liquor and liquor was taken from his
clothing.  He denied all knowledge of the fire but later admitted that while he was sleeping in the Union
Cemetery, he happened to get awake and said, "What's going on?"  When taken near to the scene of the
fire, he would not look at the ruins but gave it a sly side glance and then smiled.  Investigation soon
revealed that he had purchased coal oil at the store of Mrs. John Bubeck at seven o'clock Wednesday
evening.  Mrs. Bubeck identified him. First he denied having made the purchase and then admitted he
did and that he used it to rub on his limbs.  Witnesses have been procured that claim they saw the
fellow running from the barn down into a ditch nearby and then running along the Lehigh Valley Railroad
toward the cemetery.  The fire at the barn started at the Schuylkill Haven end of the building, where
there is a doorway that leads to a ladder to the top of the loft.  Evidences of oil or gasoline having been
used to start the fire, is said to also have been discovered by those who first reached the scene.  The
fellow has maintained innocence, but his efforts have shown that he is pretty well hardened and very
sly.
Pete Gallagan, night gatekeeper, sent the fire alarm to the Schuylkill Haven light plant.  The whistle at
the Almshouse light plant was tied down and both alarms went off about the same time but not until the
entire upper part of the building was in flames.  Attention of employees was directed and efforts given
to the saving of the livestock so that no water was poured onto the flames until the arrival of the fire
companies from Schuylkill Haven.  Five streams of water were finally turned on the flames but the
building and contents were doomed and it apparently appeared to be just that much wasted effort and
water.  The terrific heat drove bystanders back to within a hundred yards or more while the fire was at
its height.  Several streams were ordered off about ten o'clock but two were continued until about
eleven thirty.  At daybreak water was again thrown on the mass that had begun to flare up.  This was
continued until 8:30 a.m., when the fire departments of town removed their apparatus.  All during the
day at frequent intervals water was poured onto the smoking ruins that frequently burst out into flame,
from a line of hose, the property of the Almshouse.
The full six pieces of the Schuylkill Haven Fire Department had been rushed to the scene and all put
into service, excepting one.  The Liberty Company worked with chemicals on the pig stable as did also
the Friendship Fire Company Number One of Orwigsburg.  The Liberty Company pumped two streams of
water from the plug in the yard near the gatekeeper's office.  The Rainbow Hose pumped from another
plug and the Schuylkill Hose pumped form the creek at a point near the highway.  The creek was
dammed up for this purpose and this work in itself was a very dirty job and very nauseating by reason of
the filthy condition of the creek.  The odor from the water thrown from this stream was noticeable all
about the premises.  The Good Will of Cressona and the Citizen's Number One of Palo Alto also
responded but their pumpers were not put into service.
Hundreds and hundreds of persons were attracted to the scene of the fire.  Along the highway, for
some distance cars were parked until ordered moved by the highway patrolmen, who at the time were
busy directing traffic near the Fair.  The upper end of East Main Street afforded an excellent point from
which to view the flames and even at this great distance the heat of the fire was wafted into the faces of
the spectators.  The road to Bowen's Grove was almost completely blocked for a time and the fields
adjoining were used for parking places for hundreds of machines.  A large number of the north and
southbound traffic passing by the scene stopped for a period as the fire made a spectacular
appearance.  Immediately upon learning the location of the fire, twelve or more Scouts from Troop 2 of
Schuylkill Haven went to the scene and assisted in directing traffic.
Long into the night there were few motorists that passed on the road and did not first stop for a time to
view the fire from the highway or from the nearby fields.  Temporary quarters for the cows and horses
have been established in the large barn on the opposite side of the road.  Thursday afternoon, repairs
to the pig stable were begun.  The barn destroyed had been rebuilt in 1874 after being completely
destroyed by fire.  J. H. Minnig, who at the time was the teamster at the institution, relates about the
excitement that then prevailed.  The fire occurred at night during the summer.  One cow and a calf were
burned to death and the crops were also destroyed.                                                                                                                                                                         
The Call of November 13, 1931

FOUR YEARS FOR SETTING FIRE TO ALMSHOUSE BARN

For setting fire to the large barn at the County Almshouse, on the evening of September 9th, Mike Lipko,
a former inmate at the institution, was given four to eight years in jail.  The jury that heard the evidence
during this week's session of criminal court was out just about one half hour.  The indictment presented
was for arson and was brought by County Detective Buono for the Commonwealth.  The evidence
against Lipko was gathered and put into shape by Burgess Scott and the police officers of Schuylkill
Haven.  Lipko denied all knowledge of the affair.
Evidence submitted, however, proved that he had made threats against Steward Powell of "getting
even" for having discharged him from the institution and that he had purchased coal oil from Mrs. John
Bubeck's store and had been refused coal oil at Heister Klahr's store.  Photographs had been taken of
the immediate vicinity of the Almshouse barn showing a deep gully or ditch near to and its very close
proximity to a door of the barn from which it was stated he had been seen running and jumping into the
ditch.  These were also used as evidence.  Evidence was submitted by Steward Powell, by Luke Fisher,
by two inmates of the institution, by Mayor Scott, Officer Singer, Mrs. John Bubeck, Heister Klahr and
Reuben Bair.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
The Call of March 24, 1932

TWO SLIGHT FIRES IN LOCAL MILL

Two slight fires last week at the J. F. Bast Knitting Mill of Schuylkill Haven were quite sufficient to
provide more than enough excitement and annoyance for members of this firm.  Fortunately, a sprinkler
system in the mill extinguished one of the fires and the timely discovery of the second one prevented
what would have been a serious fire.  Aside from the excitement incident to the fires and the loss
sustained, is the uncertainty to the cause of the same.  This latter fact has the firm somewhat puzzled.
The first one of the fires was discovered last Tuesday morning about 8:30 o'clock when water began to
drop from the ceiling.  Employees noting the same reported to the office and an investigation was
begun.  It was first thought that a water pipe had burst in a room used for the storing of goods.  This
room is kept locked.  However, when the door was unlocked, a rush of water greeted the men.  Smoke
also poured from the room.  The sprinkler system had done its work and had extinguished a blaze in a
large quantity of finished goods.  The sprinkler system was still poring water down upon the area
affected.  This was first shut off and windows facing on the Schuylkill River, but fifty or more feet above
its level, were opened.  The fire had been completely extinguished, but large quantities of silk on large
rolls, silk yarns, silk tapes, and threads had been soaked with water.  A conservative estimate of the
damage was given at $6000.
Tuesday morning, when Mr. Bast arrived at the mill, the night watchman reported having quite a scare
early in the morning, making the remark that during the heavy electrical storm of Tuesday morning, the
mill seemed to be surrounded by a ball of fire.  This preceded a heavy crash of thunder.  Only one
electric socket, suspended from the ceiling, was in the storage room.  The lamp had not been kept in the
light socket.  Examination showed the fire started at a point underneath the electric light socket.
Thursday morning's discovery of a fire between the weather boards of the frame section of the mill was
even more fortunate.  Mr. William Schweigert in going to a certain part of the basement, noticed the
smoke.  Other men called could not at first discover the cause.  For some time they continued their
investigation without result and then one noticed flames licking their way up between a partition.  Fire
extinguishers were used freely with good result.  Had the fire not been discovered and the flames
gained headway in the frame partition, a more serious fire would have resulted.  No explanation of the
cause of the second slight fire can be figured out by the members of the firm.                                                                                
The Call of September 29, 1933

TRIED TO GET CHEWING GUM FROM FIRE ALARM BOX

The entire fire department of the town was called into service shortly before one o'clock Tuesday
afternoon but fortunately the alarm of fire was a false one.  The alarm was sent in from Box 18, the
corner of Jacques and Broadway or near the Buechley Lumber Yard.  Several false fire alarms have
been sent in during the past several years and in no case was the party apprehended , but in this case it
was different and the defender appears to have been an innocent youngster doing his second year in
school.  
Fire Chief Claude Sausser happened to be passing the Schuylkill Hose house on Tuesday and heard the
alarm registering in the fire house.  He noted the location and quickly getting the light chemical truck
out, drove to the location and arrived just about the time the fire whistle began to sound the alarm for
the second time.  He noticed a group of children in the vicinity and making an investigation, soon
learned the name of the child.  The youngster, not realizing what he had done, innocently told the story
of how older children had told him that with his penny he could get chewing gum from the fire alarm box.
 Not being able to find the customary slot on the fire box that is on the chewing gum machines, he was
told if he would pull the lever he would get a stick of gum free.  He promptly did as told but no gum came
from the machine.
For the protection of the general public, parents could well give their children a talking to about the
practice of tampering or even touching fire alarm boxes.  They might also impress upon them the gravity
of the offense and the danger in sending in fire alarms "to see the fire engines go by," as is frequently
done in large cities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
The Call of February 2, 1934

THREE ALARMS OF FIRE HERE IN SIX HOURS

Schuylkill Haven had three alarms of fire Tuesday within a period of six hours.  Fortunately, by reason of
the discovery in good time and the prompt arrival of the firemen, the loss was not very great in any one
of the fires.  The first alarm was sounded shortly after five o'clock in the afternoon when fire was
discovered at the home of Reverend John Reber on Market Street.  It was caused by an overheated
terra cotta pipe from the furnace in the cellar.  The pipe had been built close against the joists and the
washboard and had ignited in the stairway.  Chemicals were used and the flames extinguished without
any great amount of damage.  Considerable excitement, for a time, was caused as much smoke was seen
to be coming from the building.  At seven o'clock on the same evening, the fire department was again
sent for and chemicals from one of the pieces of apparatus was used to extinguish flames in the same
residence.  Fire, which evidently had been smoldering from the overheated furnace pipe broke out in a
closet on the second floor.  Not any great amount of damage was done.
About 11:30 o'clock, the third alarm of fire was blown, as flames had been discovered leaping from the
building of the Schuylkill Haven Provision Company on Margaretta Street.  The fire had been discovered
by two employees. Messrs. Moyer and Ketner, who were at work in the building.  The alarm was sent in
by them and upon the arrival of the department, chemicals were used.  Until the arrival of the
department, the fire had been fought with extinguishers and a bucket brigade.  For a time it looked as if
the entire frame structure would be burned.  Hose lines were immediately laid but the flames were soon
under control by the use of chemicals.  The fire, it is believed, was caused by an overheated chimney
constructed of cinder block.  The chimney passed between two sections of the office and very close to
woodwork in the partition.  This became ignited and spread rapidly.  Office furniture and equipment was
damaged to considerable extent.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of April 20, 1934

CHIMNEY FIRE HERE MONDAY

Fire in the chimney, Monday afternoon, did considerable damage to the home on Haven Street occupied
by Attorney Luther Bashore and family.  The discovery was made about two o'clock and when firemen
responded, they found thick smoke curling out from underneath the roof on all sides.  The entire house
was filled with smoke and it looked as if the entire house was afire.  Nevertheless there was no sign of
flames.  Not until firemen chopped through the wall on the first floor were flames found.  Chemicals
were used but the fire had evidently been burning for some time and it required quite a time before
firemen were sent home.  Despite the fact that the fire alarm ward whistle sounded the South ward,
firemen were prompt to arrive at the scene which was in the East Ward.  The floors and walls were badly
soaked with chemicals and walls had to be torn open at a number of places to make sure all fire had
been extinguished.  Hose lines were laid and were in readiness for use and water sent through one of
the lines for a few minutes that the result that a section of hose of the Schuylkill's burst.  Fortunately,
the rear of the home did not have as steep a pitch as the front part of the house.  This saved three
firemen who were on top of the roof, probably severe injuries, as they slid off, and only were enabled to
stop their progress when they reached the rear portion of the roof.                                                        
The Call of January 3, 1936

FIRE DESTROYS AUTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING

Fire, last Saturday morning at four thirty o'clock, was discovered in the garage of Henry Hummel on Coal
Street and brought the entire fire department to the scene.  Smoke in thick and heavy clouds was rolling
from the building and flames could be seen confined to one corner near the rear of the building.  
Breaking through a pane of glass, the flames were detected as confined to one particular spot and this
was at once noticed to be an automobile.  Chemicals and booster pressure water lines were used to
good effect.  The rear door of the garage was finally forced open and firemen braved the smoke and
pulled out the car which was still afire and belching forth volumes of smoke.  The side of the building
and the ceiling were burned somewhat and large areas scorched.  The machine, a second hand Pontiac,
was almost completely ruined.  It is believed the fire started in the car and it is understood the same had
been placed in the garage for the night but a few hours earlier.  In addition to the damage to this
machine and the building, a Pontiac of Homer Zimmerman, stored in the garage, was badly damaged.  
The same will have to be repainted, the top and inside of the car also must be given a complete
overhauling.  The auto of Miss Edna Klahr, also stored in this building, was damaged but not to any great
extent.  The fire was discovered by Elmer Moyer, who resides nearby, who being awakened by one of
his children, noticed the reflection in the garage.  He turned in an alarm.  The building is a large frame
one and was some years ago occupied by a garage by George Stump and later by Henry Hummel.  
Hummel now occupies a large brick garage on Centre Avenue and uses the frame building for
occasional storage purposes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of January 24, 1936

OVERHEATED FLUE CAUSED FIRE THURSDAY MORNING

Fire, Thursday morning, about eight o'clock, in the home of Franklin Felty of North Berne Street, resulted
in the destruction of all of the wearing apparel of the entire family of four, damage to carpets and
furniture and several rooms of the home.  The fire was caused by an overheated flue from the hot air
furnace in the cellar.  The flue extended from the furnace to the upper rooms of the home through a
partition.  This flue became hot and ignited the woodwork surrounding it.  The wall in the kitchen was
damaged and some of the furniture.  In the closet on the second floor near top the flue, all of the
clothing was destroyed.  Ceiling, walls and woodwork in the second story rooms were damaged.  
Furniture in the living room on the first floor was also damaged.  Mr. Felty stated to The Call man that all
of the clothing, excepting that which they were wearing for both him and his wife and two children, had
been destroyed.  It was stated that the draft on the furnace had been set up in the morning between
four and five o'clock.  At the time the fire was discovered Mr. Felty was in bed and was awakened by the
smoke.  The wife was at work and the maid was busy downstairs and had not noticed the smoke.
Mr. and Mrs. Felty began housekeeping last summer with practically all new furniture, much of which is
ruined.  The Liberty Fire Company was the first company to respond.  Chemicals were used with telling
effect and although the flames had broken through the weather boarding on the outside and smoke
poured from the windows.  Firemen and the public were somewhat "at sea" by reason of the fire siren
not being blown and only the three blasts indicating fire in the South Ward.  This is explained by the fact
that the fire siren was found to be frozen.  The first alarm was sent in to the light plant by telephone and
when the men at the plant attempted to use the siren, they found they could not.  The ward signals were
then sounded.  Later, the alarm was sent in from a box in the neighborhood and the ward signals again
sounded.  Fire trucks experienced quite some difficulty in getting to the scene of the fire by reason of
the drifted condition of the streets from the high winds of Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Fortunately for the entire section of Berne Street and the fire department, the fire was discovered
before it had made any great headway and fortunate too, was the fact that the fire had not broken out
during the midst of the very high wind during the early morning hours.  For a time, concern was felt by
the next door neighbors of the Felty home, for the reason that the body of Mrs. Freeman Boyer laid cold
in death in the Shollenberger home.  An odd coincidence in connection with the fire is that in front of
the Felty home, corner of Caldwell and Berne Streets, is a fire plug.  Inquiry regarding whether it would
have been possible to obtain water from the plug or any other fire plug in town, brought the information
that it should be possible to do so because it is not felt that the water in the service line to the plugs,
three to four feet underground, is frozen.  This of course, would hold good only in case all of the plugs
are in perfect condition so that all surplus water drains from the plugs.                                                                                                                
The Call of June 5, 1936

FIRE DESTROYED GARAGE SUNDAY

On Sunday afternoon, fire completely destroyed a small, frame, unoccupied garage, owned by Edwin
Lindermuth at the rear of Paxson Avenue near Haven Street.  The flames leaped high and across a
narrow alley and ignited the weatherboards of the home of George Cripple.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Cripple
suffered considerably from shock.  The flames threatened destruction of this house before the arrival of
the fire department.  Several streams of water were put on the blaze but the garage was almost burned
down before the arrival of the department.  Paint on several homes nearby was badly scorched and
shrubbery and grapevines in the yards of nearby residents were destroyed.  The fire also ate out a
section of the grass plot of A. R. Maberry and in his garden, shrubbery was destroyed and some
grapevines.  A large elm tree on the Haven Street side of the Maberry lot was badly scorched by the
heat and several window glasses in the rear of this home cracked from the heat.  A large iron pipe flag
pole was bent and dropped to the ground from the heat.  At the Cripple home, the flames were just
about beginning to eat their way through the weatherboards at the top of the front part of the house
facing the fire.  A corner of the cornice on the house of Jim Confehr had ignited from the flames but was
discovered in time.  
The heat was intense and from the flaming garage arose thick clouds of black smoke that could be seen
all over town.  The tardiness in the arrival of the fire department was due to no negligence on the part
of the firemen.  The alarm was sent in first from box Number 17 at the corner of Dock Street and Paxson
Avenue.  The siren on the light plant was not blown for fully eight minutes after this was done.  Had it not
been for the fact that a telephone message was sent direct to the light plant, the whistle might not have
been blown at all.  Investigation showed the fire alarm system was not in the best of working condition.  
At the light plant, the inside electric siren blew and called the men at the plant to the board.  On the tape
however, only single punches were recorded.  This indicated a test, as it was told to The Call man.  At
the Rainbow Hose Company fire house, the ticker showed the alarm was sent in from boxes 21, 12 and
17 and investigation shows that the alarm had been sent in from these three different boxes, being Main
and Grant Streets, Haven and Hess Streets, and Dock Street and Paxson Avenue.  At both the Schuylkill
and the Liberty fire houses, the ticker showed the alarm had been sent in from box 17 at Dock Street and
Paxson Avenue.  Not any of these alarms were registered at the electric light plant.  It is understood the
fire alarm system is tested weekly.  However, it certainly was in bad shape on Sunday afternoon.  The
loss to the properties will total several hundred dollars.  The cause of the fire has not been determined,
although it is stated it might have been started by youngsters who were playing in the same.                           
The Call of May 28, 1937

FIRE DESTROYS HOME DURING HEAVY STORM

Thursday afternoon, Schuylkill Haven was visited by one of the hardest and most severe electrical
storms in years.  Rain descended in torrents and the electric flashes were frequent and sharp and
accompanied by deafening peals of thunder.  Lightning struck at five different parts of the town, one
resulting in complete destruction of a home.  The first alarm was sent in for fire at the home of Mrs.
Frank Heim of saint John and Union Streets.  Lightning struck on top of the roof near a roof opening.  
Smoke was seen coming from the roof.  Fire Chief Claude Sausser, upon investigating, found fire in the
woodwork between the uppermost floor and roof of the building.  Water was used and the flames quickly
extinguished.
As the firemen were responding to the Heim fire, another alarm was sent in.  This was from the extreme
northern end of the town, Willow Lake.  When firemen arrived, they found the bungalow of Mr. Paul Ney,
close to the Mellon Skating Rink, in flames.  The structure was completely destroyed, together with all
the contents including all furniture and clothing.  A stream of water was used by the Rainbow Hose
Company but the building was too far gone when discovered to save it.  The bungalow was located
between the carousel building and another large bungalow at Willow Lake.  The husband is employed at
the Reider Shoe Factory.  The family had recently purchased new furniture.  Not an article of furniture
was saved.  The wife had gone to her mother's home during the storm and the only clothing, therefore
that the family has is that which they wore at the time.
The American Legion last evening took action to accept contributions of cash money or clothing for this
family.  At the Legion meeting, quite a bit of cash was contributed and Friday morning, more cash was
received.  Persons who wish to help contributing clothing, furniture or cash, should please notify W. V.
Young or Fred Burkert.  The Ney family carried no insurance and are therefore worthy of the charity of
the public.  
Lightning also struck at the home of Harvey Heim.  The bolt hit the chimney but fortunately did not do
any great damage.  The five kilowatt transformer on Willow Street was struck and ignited and completely
destroyed.  Electric service was shut off for a time until another connection could be made.  Lightning
also struck in at the Refowich Theatre and blew out the large main switch.                                               
The Call of June 25, 1937

TIMELY DISCOVERY OF FIRE SAVES FIRE HOUSE

Saturday morning, shortly before the six o'clock whistle blew, the members of the Schuylkill Fire
Company were required to put out a fire in their own fire house on Saint Peter Street.  And by the way,
had this fire not been discovered just in the nick of time, adjoining frame dwellings and garages would
surely have been ignited and there would have been an honest to goodness fire in town.  The fire was
discovered by a Mr. Hinkle, who sent in the siren alarm connected at the fire house.  This siren aroused
people in the neighborhood and firemen nearby.  Fire Chief Claude Sausser, living in the vicinity, was
one of the first to respond.  He thought sure the fire apparatus housed on the first floor would be
destroyed immediately, so he quickly drove the same out of the fire house.  Ray Hummel sent in the
alarm and brought the entire fire department to the scene.  Water from booster tanks and chemicals
were used with good effect and the flames extinguished but not before a considerable amount of
damage had been done.
The fire evidently started in an old couch sitting in a corner of the social rooms on the second floor.  
This was entirely destroyed.  One window frame was burned out entirely.  All of the woodwork in the
room was blistered.  The linoleum and carpet was burned in spots.  All of the glass in a number of
windows on the second floor was broken from the heat.  The glass in the pictures on the walls was
broken.  The papering is all discolored and the woodwork on the walls is all blistered.  Some idea of the
intense heat can be obtained when it is known that the heavy wood of a corner of a pool table had
already ignited.  The fire evidently had been burning or smoldering for some time and when discovered,
clouds of smoke rolled from the building.  The loss will amount to several hundred dollars.                                    
The Call of July 16, 1937

SLIGHT FIRE AT KAUFMAN'S DAIRY

Fire, a few minutes after midnight Wednesday, was discovered at Kaufman's dairy.  Someone sent in the
fire alarm and the entire fire department responded.  Water from the Rainbow Company's booster tank
was used and in a few minutes was all over.  And then the public began to arrive in automobiles and on
foot and in a few minutes time there was an unusually large crowd of persons on hand.  Streets for
squares about were filled and somewhat blocked with autos.  And then it began to rain and what a
ducking a large number of persons, who came unprepared for rain, received.  Mr. Kaufman states the
fire started in a small room where milk bottle caps were stored.  Several cases of these were destroyed.  
The flames communicated to the woodwork and were working up through an air shaft.  He estimates the
damage at $250.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of December 10, 1937

EARLY THURSDAY MORNING FIRE HERE

Fire, Thursday morning about eight o'clock, did damage to the contents of the State Liquor store and the
Schwartz Money Back Store, both in the Gabul Luongo building on Saint John Street, two doors south of
the Call.  The cause of the fire was an overheated heating plant in the basement and directly under the
rear of the liquor store.  The flames ate their way through the flooring after having burned off several
rafters.  Smoke poured from the rear end of the building in thick clouds and also through the second
story of the building occupied as apartments.  The family of the owner, Gabul Luongo, residing directly
above the Liquor Store, to the rear of the building, was appraised of the fire by one of the employees.  
Mr. Luongo has been on the sick list for the past few days.  His wife has been practically an invalid for
the past several years.  She was quickly removed from the building and taken to the home of her
stepson in Orwigsburg.  Furniture and clothing in the apartments of Mrs. Mae Fetter, Mr. and Mrs. Christ
Kantner and Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rizzuto, also residing in the building, were damaged somewhat by the
heavy smoke that got into them.  The entire stock of the