Iowa Old Press
The Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Monday, July 7, 1941
$7,500 Blaze Damages Manchester Building
Special to The Gazette.
MANCHESTER—Fire which for a time threatened the entire business district here was finally subdued early Sunday after it caused an estimated $7,500 damage to a building which housed the Cloud Motor Company and the Manchester Maytag and Appliance company.
The blaze apparently started shortly before midnight. E. M. Hughes, dry goods merchant, noticed flames on the roof and turned in an alarm. Origin of the fire was undetermined. George Feltes, Worthington, owner of the building and operator of the garage and appliance store, said there was no electrical wiring in the garage section, where the fire apparently started.
The Manchester fire department fought the blaze for several hours and prevented the upper story from collapsing. Six new automobiles and 20 used cars, stored on the first floor, were hauled to safety by about a hundred volunteers who gathered to watch the fire.
Forty new washing machines and other electrical equipment were destroyed at a loss of $3,5000 and damage to the building was estimated at about $4,000. The roof and entire east side of the structure were ruined. The building was being remodeled at the time of the fire, and Feltes said the work will begin all over.
Traffic on highway 20 was detoured for several hours. Concern was felt for the safety of the Delaware County courthouse across the street, as well as for other adjacent buildings. None, however, was damaged except by smoke.
[transcribed by L.Z., Mar 2021]