The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, May 20, 1915, Page 1

BIG FIRE AT GRAND RIVER.
H. L. Van Nostrand's Implement House and
J. F. Hines' Store Burned Last Wednesday
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At one o'clock yesterday morning the fire bell sounded its alarm and awoke the entire town and upon investigation it was found that the Van Nostrand implement house was on fire and that it had gained such headway that to save anything therein was an utter impossibility. The people turned their attention to the other buildings adjacent - the "Busy Corner" store and the Farmers State Bank. For a while it looked very much like the entire town would go and had the wind been a little stronger, what is today one of the liveliest little towns on the map would have been in ashes.

No one can figure out anything but incendiaries, as there had been no fire where the blaze was discovered since the implement house was constructed. Just what the object anyone could have is another mystery, as Mr. H. L. Van Nostrand had no insurance compared with the stock he had stored in the building, and he informed us if he has an enemy in the world he does not know it. Others think it might have been the work of tramps, as they have found the back door open in the morning on several occasions. Be it as it may, no one will perhaps ever know how the conflagration first started, as the fire had made such headway that it was impossible to get into the building.

The next building to catch on fire was the store of Mr. Hines. Here a great many of the goods were removed, but in bad condition, as it seems impossible for people to keep their heads in time of calamities of this kind. The loss will fall heaviest on Mr. Hines, as his building and stock came under the same blaze. The insurance carried by Mr. Hines and Mr. Van Nostrand will not cover their loss by at least fifty per cent. Mr. Switzer and Mr. Baker, owner of the implement house, had no insurance and their loss is a total one.

The way the men, women and children turned out and worked, both in fighting the fire and trying to save the goods, was simply wonderful. They seemed to be trying to see just how much help they could render. It is needless to say that Grand River needs some kind of fire apparatus to fight fire with, for it has been said so often since the laws was incorporated that the little children are even aware of the fact.

J. F. Hines' loss on building and fixtures will reach fully $4,000 with about half the amount in insurance. Mr. Van Nostrand's loss will be in the neighborhood of $2,000 with only $500 insurance.

Mr. Hines could not say this morning whether he would rebuild this season or not and will not perhaps know until he gets his insurance adjusted. The lots where the implement building stood are owned by [illegible] Baker and he has planned to erect thereon the garage spoken of in our last issue. We all hope to see this corner built up again with good substantial brick buildings, which will no doubt be done whenever they are replaced.

The city well proved that it was the right move in the right place, supplying water as long as water was needed. There should be at least two if not three more wells like it in town, and then we could have water, if nothing more.

~ Grand River Local.


Transcription by Sharon R. Becker
 
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