Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1908 — DISASTROUS FIRE AT BROOK. [ARTICLE]

DISASTROUS FIRE AT BROOK.

McMillen Hotel, Horn's Restaurant and VanDervoort's Meat Market Burned. Brook was visited by an SB,OOO fire about 1 a. m., Monday, in W’hich the McMillen hotel, Horn’s restaurant and VanDervoort’s meat market were destroyed. Brook has no fire protection, but a bucket brigade was formed and the fire finally extinguished after burning these three buildings. The total loss is estimated at SB,OOO with insurance for about two-thirds that amount. The fire at Goodland last Saturday morning at an early hour which destroyed the Ross harness shop and implement store (formerly owned by Peter Brook) and the Masonic building next to it, makes a fire loss for that place approximately $150,000 in the past dozen years, and would have paid for six or eight good waterworks systems. That town also has no fire protection, and whenever a blaze gets started the people have to stand by and see the property go up in smoke. The loss last Saturday morning is estimated at $15,000 with SII,OOO insurance.