Fire Destroys Block

FIRE RUINS CAMPION BLOCK; MAGILL '16 GETS TREASURY POST;BOATHOUSE STARTED; FRATERNITY FINANCES STUDIED

The most disastrous fire in Hanover since 1882 wrought over $200,000 worth of damage to stores on the east side of Main Street when a blaze in the cellar of Saia's restaurant, during the early morning hours of February 8, spread into Emerson's florist shop next door and then into Campion's clothing store, wiping out the stock and fixtures in these places and ruining the offices and rooms on the second floor. Most of the damage was covered by insurance.

The fire in Saia's basement was detected at 12:30 a.m. and the Hanover Volunteer Hose Company had hoses directed against the flames seven minutes later. Wearing smoke masks and breathing through air tubes pumped from outside, the town firemen battled both the blaze and freezing weather and appeared to have the restaurant fire under control when flames broke out in the adjoining florist shop, which was believed to be protected by a fire wall. From this point on the fire spread rapidly north into Campion's store, and a call was put in for help from the Lebanon fire company. At 2:30 telephone service was cut off because of the smoke which filled the switchboard office on the second floor. The College circuit was not damaged, and on the following day emergency telephone crews had succeeded in setting up a temporary switchboard in College Hall.

FOUR FIREMEN INJURED

Four firemen suffered injury in fighting the fire, one being overcome by the dense smoke which poured out of the burning stores in great volume. When undergraduates arrived on Main Street for the start of the first day after the Carnival week-end, the Campion block was still smoldering and all the basements were flooded to a depth of several feet.

The Saia brothers estimated their damage at $60,000, not all of which was covered by insurance. The whole interior of Emerson's florist shop was ruined, although Mr. Emerson managed to rescue his cash register and account books before the smoke became too dense. The Campions witnessed the destruction or damage of their entire stock, valued at $50,000 and including shipments of spring clothing which had just arrived. Some skis were saved by firemen who moved them in their efforts to get at the blaze, and some stock, although soaked or smoke stained, was not completely ruined. Several days after the fire, huge signs heralding a fire sale were posted on the boarded-up front of the Campion store.

Reconstruction of the damaged buildings was begun at once, with all the merchants planning to reopen as soon as possible. Emerson Gardens set up temporary headquarters in the Western Union office across the street, and Campion's announced that part of their store would reopen in March and that their place of business would be entirely restored by the start of the next college year.