Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1902 — Kentland School House Burned. [ARTICLE]

Kentland School House Burned.

Onr neighboring town of Kentland had the misfortune to lose its school house, Wednesday night, by fire. The fire was discovered about 8 p. m. 'and was then breaking through the roof, in various places. It was a three story building and the firemen could do nothing against it because the water would not reach higher than the second story. The fire is generally thought to have started .from a stove, though another theory is that it originated from spontaneous combustion in chemicals, in the labratory. The building was erected in 1871, but was still a good building. It cost $15,000, and was insured for SB,OOO. This, of course, Coes not nearly cover the loss on building and contents. A very lamentable feature is that there * are no buildings in Kentland which can be utilized to their schools in. Even the churches, if they can be secured, will not afford nearly room enough for the purpose. The above statement of the cost of the building- was telephoned over by Judge Thompson and we are confident is correct, although other parties say it was $30,000.