Iowa
Old Press
The Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
Thursday, February 17, 1944
FIRE AT MANCHESTER BRINGS LOSS OF $35,000
2-STORY BUILDING HOUSING CLOTHES FIRM DESTROYED.
Independence and Earlville Fire Departments Give Assistance.
(Courier Special Service)
Manchester, Ia.—Fire of undetermined origin destroyed the two-story brick and frame Clarence Torrey building in the business section here about 4:30 a.m. Thursday, with loss estimated at $35,000.
The structure was occupied by a Gildner Brothers clothing store and their loss was placed at $25,000, with that to the building set at $10,000.
Merchandise of the clothing firm was stored on the second floor. It was believed that the blaze started in the basement furnace room.
When the flames threatened the entire block fire departments were summoned from Earlville and Independence.
Ed Bolsinger is manager of the Gildner store.
Just about a year ago the three-story brick Meggenburg building on a few doors away was razed by flames and has not been rebuilt because of wartime restrictions.
[transcribed by LZ, Mar 2021]