Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1910 — Newton County Poor Farm House Destroyed by Fire Monday Night. [ARTICLE]

Newton County Poor Farm House Destroyed by Fire Monday Night.

The 32 room dwelling house on the county farm of Newton county, not far from Kfentland, was destroyed by fire last Monday night. The superintendent discovered the fire shortly after midnight. Mrs. Hooker, wife of the superintendent, was notified by her husband to look after the children while he looked after the inmates and she escaped in her bare feet with the children from the rapidly burning building. They lost alf of their clothing and furniture, sustaining a personal loss of about S3OO or S4OO. The inmates scarcely left the building before the roof fell in. The county furniture was all lost, but it is partly covered by SSOO insurance. The building was valued at $6,000 or $7,000 on which $2,500 insurance was carried. The origin of the fire is unknown. The building was erected about sixteen years ago.