Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1904 — G. W. MICHAELS’ HOUSE BURNED. [ARTICLE]

G. W. MICHAELS’ HOUSE BURNED.

Pine New Brick Formhouac Southeast of Towu Destroyed by Fire. The new brick-veneered bouse on G. W. Michaels’ farm southeast of town, the former Fred Fatka farm, was totally destroyed by fire last Saturday night. The honse was pretty well along toward completion, was all plaatured, except white coating, and the finishing lumber was in the house ready to pat on, except the doors. A fire was kept in the furnace and also a coke fire was burning in a stove to keep the plaster from freezing, and a man was in the house looking after the fires until midnight, when he went to his own home some distance away. About two hoars later the honse was discovered to be on fire. Nothing could be done to save it and it burned to the ground. The house was of brick veneer, and was probably the best and most modern farm residence in Jasper county. Mr. Michaels’ loss is about $3,000, with $1,700 insurance, He thinks that the fire was caused from the coke in the stove forming a gas, and that it exploded the stove, scattering the red hot coals over the floor. Several of the men who worked on the house, including Hiram Day’s men and Lee Jessup, the carpenter, lost several dollars worth of tools in the fire. Mr. Michaels will rebuild as soon as possible on the same foundation, which was not damaged to speak of, and he will also use most of the old brick. Mr. Michaels has been particularly unfortunate with having property destroyed by fire, and had his business college and residence destroyed at Logansport a few years ago, and also lost a winter residence in Florida. He has lost a comfortable fortune by fire in the past eight or ten years.