Article

INN STABLES FIRE THREATENS BUSINESS SECTION OF HANOVER

June 1925
Article
INN STABLES FIRE THREATENS BUSINESS SECTION OF HANOVER
June 1925

Another of the old landmarks of the village disappeared on the evening of May 13 and if there had been any great wind might well have taken a goodly portion of the business section of the town with it. Fire of unknown origin broke out shortly after 7.30 in the former Inn Stables, now used for auto storage, and within ten minutes the flames were playing around the venerable cupola.

Hanover's firemen called assistance from Lebanon and West Lebanon and then started a valiant and ultimately successful fight to prevent the spread of the blaze. The fire, spurred on by the explosion of several gasoline tanks of the doomed cars within the garage, proved exceptionally hot, severely scorching the American Express office and the residence of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Brown across the street and cracking two large plate glass windows in the new Inn Stables Garage. Even with only a slight wind, glowing embers fell as far away as the new chemistry building. Small fires on the roof of the Howe Library and in a mattress in a student's room in South Massachusetts Hall ignited in this way were quickly extinguished. The local fire officials were loud in their praise of student assistance.

The help which Lebanon and West Lebanon quickly sent was very welcome but also proved something of a handicap. With these visiting companies present, the zealous fire laddies were able to lay more hose than is good for the present Hanover water system. The many lines of hose greatly reduced the pressure and clearly demonstrated that the twelve, eight and six inch mains laid in 1893 have been outgrown. The town's water supply may be termed super-abundant but its ability to use this water is limited, by the size of the mains.

Now that it is evident that the town lacks sufficient facilities to cope with a fire which has entered the conflagration class, the people of the village are devoutly thankful for the absence of a severe wind and have started an agitation to require the laying of only noninflammable roofs in the future.