Iowa Old Press
The Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
Monday, November 19, 1945
GROCERY, DRUG STORES HARD HIT IN NIGHT BLAZE
Second Bad Conflagration for the Town in Less Than Year.
Independence, Ia. – Fire of undetermined origin caused damage estimated at $25,000 by Chief Paul Soener, at two stores here Sunday night.
It was the second bad fire for Independence in less than a year, the historic Hotel Gedney having been destroyed Mar. 3, 1945, with loss placed at more than $300,000.
Principal loss Sunday was suffered by the Independent Meat and Grocery Co., and the adjacent Schroeder drug store, both on Main street. The flames were brought under control early Monday morning.
Chief Soener said the fire apparently started in a small storage closet back of the refrigerator in the grocery store. The fire was not discovered until the flames ate through the floor into the second story apartment of Dr. W. Rosler, retired dentist, who rushed downstairs and spread the alarm.
The grocery stock was completely destroyed, with an estimated loss of $20,000. Loss in the drug store was confined to water damage. Much of the stock was saved by carrying it into the Larson shoe store next door.
Also over the grocery store and drug store, which are in one two-story brick building, are the offices of Dr. B. B. Sells and Dr. Paul Leehey, physicians, and the R.F. Clark insurance office. These suffered some water and smoke damage.
The building is owned by Dr. Sells and W. F. Glenny.
[transcribed by L.Z., Mar 2021]