Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1910 — NEWTON COUNTY POOR HOUSE BURNS. [ARTICLE]

NEWTON COUNTY POOR HOUSE BURNS.

The big 32-room house on the Newton county poor farm was totally destroyed by fire at 12:30 Monday night, together with practically all the contents. The Kentland Enterprise says of the fire: “There were twelve inmates at the farm. Two or three have been sent to friends and the remainder will be cared for in improvised quarters at the farm and in a house on the old' “Pumpkin Vine” Fajr grounds adjoining, which the county leased yesterday of Mr. Geo. Harriman. Mr. Hooker fixed up a home for his family in a building used as a shop, and will care as best he can for the inmates until a new house can be built, which at best will be along in the coming summer.

“The building was erected in the egrly 90’s, at a first cost of $4,100.00. Additions have been made since, a heating plant installed and the well house built. To replace the property as it was before the ■fire, considering the advance in the pride of building material, would probably cost between $6,000 and $7,000. The county carried $2,500 insurance on the house.

“Concerning the origin of the fire Supt. Hooker has formed no idea. He says that as far as he knows there were no matches in the room in which tlje fire was first discovered, and he is quite satisfied that the fire was not caqsed by the heading plant.”