Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1914 — $60,000 FIRE AT ST. JOE COLLEGE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

$60,000 FIRE AT ST. JOE COLLEGE

Big New Gymnasium Burned Early Thursday Morning. ORIGIN OF FIRE UNKNOWN Loss Partly Covered by $35,000 Insurance—Structure Will LUkely Be Re-built This Season. The big gymnasium building at St. Joseph s College, just south of Rensselaer, was totally destroyed by fire at an early hour Thursday morning, and nothing but a part of the bare walls are left. The fire was first discovered at about 3:45 a. m„ and an alarm at once given and word phoned to Rensselaer for help. It was about 4:20 o’clock when the fire alarm was sounded here, and it was perhaps a half hour later before our fire company reached the scene. When first discovered the whole

interior of the big building was a mass of flames, and seeing that any attempt would be futile to try to put out the fire, the efforts Were concentrated bv the college people with their quite efficient fire equipment, in saving the other buildings nearby, in which they were successful. V ith the combined college fire ■fight fig k ‘tifi’cvent and that of the o'ty company there were several streams o. water playing on the building;; nearby, the college ho vina erected a big water supply tank only

a few years ago, which rests on an iron framework 110 feet high, and furnished plenty of water. The fire was at a white heat within the brick walls of the gymnasium and every particle of woodwork was destroyed, while the big steel girders were bent in inumerable shapes front the intense heat. There was eight or more pianos, the band instruments, stage scenery, etc., within the building, all of which were worth several thousand dollars more, and were all consumed. The gymnasium equnpment and a The gymnasium equipment and a The contractor. Frank Medland, of Logansport, also lost some $5,000 to SB,OGu in tools, material, etc., including the unpaid 15 per cent on contract, which he would have received on completion of the work, and he had no insurance whatever. This building was erected in 190'4 and was originally but one story and besement. Last fall the building was raised entire and another story added at the bottom. The Yt'orlj of this improvement was about completed, such as plastering, cement work, etc., and it is understood that the contractors had been paid about 85 per cent of the contract price. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it might have started from var-

ious causes, such as electric wiring, spontaneous combustion or Qther causes arising from the work that was being done in co. leting the bui’ding. The loss is estimated at about > •'•9,000, and $25,000 insurance was .carried in Companies represented by B. Steward. It is a heavy blow to the college people, but they will probably begin at once preparations for re-building, the insurance money turnisblng a nest egg for replacing tile big structure !

ABOVE IS A PICTURE OF THE ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE GYMNASIUM TAKEN BEFORE THE RECENT IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE.