Grand River Lumber Yard Lost to Fire, 1917

DALBY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/12/2015 at 03:15:56

The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, January 18, 1917, Page 1

FIRE AT GRAND RIVER

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Big Lumber Yard of I. J. Dalby Burned Thursday Night.
Looks Like Incendiary's Work.

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The town of Grand River is peculiarly unfortunate in regard to fires, and the last one the burning of the big Dalby lumber yard last Thursday evening has given rise to the suspicion that an incendiary is at work in that town.

On Thursday evening at ten minutes before ten o'clock the fire alarm was sounded and it was found that the I. J. Dalby lumber yard, one of the best in southern Iowa, was on fire. When the fire was discovered the whole south side of the yard was on fire, having started at a point where there had been no fire, the stove in the office being located on the north side. The flames spread rapidly, and nothing could be saved except the contents of the sash and door warehouse, the balance of the yard being a total loss. A contract had been signed by which the yard was to be purchased by several Grand River parties who had contemplated starting a new lumber yard at Grand River, but the invoice had not yet been taken. The loss was a heavy one, probably $20,000, and partially covered by insurance.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2015