Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 147, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1920 — BUSINESS SECTION OF PARR IS IN RUINS [ARTICLE]

BUSINESS SECTION OF PARR IS IN RUINS

Wiped off of Map in Early Morning Conflagration. ORIGIN OF FIRE UNKNOWN ___________ * " A COSTLY FIRE, THE ORIGIN OF WHICH IS UNKNOWN, PRACTICALLY DESTROYED THE ENTIRE BUSINESS SECTION OF PARR, SIX MILES NORTH AND THREE AND A HALF WEST OF THIS CITY<, AT AN EARLY HOUR THIS FRIDAY MORNING IN WHAT WAS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE OF THE NUMEROUS CONFLAGRATIONS | WHICH HAVE VISITED THE TOWN IN THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS. the cement building on the north side of the street, and THE SMALL RESTAURANT, THE PROPERTY OF “BILLY” MYRES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET, WERE THE ONLY BUILDINGS LEFT STANDING A FEW HOURS AFTER THE FLAMES BROKE FORTH. THE INSURANCE CARRIED ON THE BUILDINGS WAS NOT VERY HEAVY AND THE LOSS TO THE OWNERS WILL BE SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLRS.

The fire was first discovered by George Myres at two o’clock this Friday morning and at that time was confined to the blacksmith shop and pool room. A hurry-up call .was sent to this city and Firemen Cleve Eger 'and Harve Robinson were soon on their, way to the burning village with chemical appliances and with the aid of the “bucket brigade” made a fight against the flames without success. However, they did succeed in saving the greater part of the stock in the burning buildings. The flames attracted the people from miles around but the lack of fire fighting equipment compelled them to stand idly by as the flames got in their work of destruction. The buildings destroyed were the Myres pool room, a one-story structure, valued at SI,OOO and uninsured; a blacksmith shop, uninsured; the ite house containing about thir-ty-five tons of ice, the property of Myres & Thomas, uninsured; the J S. Lakin store room, which was unoccupied, valued at $3,000, insured for $1,200; and the Odd Fellows’ building, occupied by the general merchandise store of Myres & Thomas, valued at $4,000, with sl,500 insurance. Practically the entire stock of this store was saved. The Parr Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows occupied the upper story of their building and it is reported that they saved none of their paraphernalia, furnishings and records. The loss will be a very severe blow to that institution. -- The origin of the fire, although unknown, is believed to have been strated from lighted cigarette butts thrown on the floor in the pool room earlier in the evening. The fire this morning was practically a repetition of the one which I occurred about 15 years ago m I Parr at which time the entire business section was destroyed. The town has beeh visited by several costly fires since that time and the need of adequate fire protection is keenly felt by the citizens, and no doubt arrangements will be made in the near future whereby the town can be protected against such severe losses.