The following news article is from the Lykens Standard, April 23, 1926, via Newspapers.com.
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$5,000 DAMAGE DONE IN FIRE WHICH THREATENED HEART OF PILLOW BORO;
5 COMPANIES FIGHT BLAZE
BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS RAISE $3500 WHILE RUINS ARE SMOULDERING TO SECURE FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS
SECOND FIRE IN DAY PROVES NECESSITY
Fanned by a high wind, flames on Wednesday morning threatened the very heart of the enterprising borough of Pillow, causing an estimated loss of $5,000.
The fire started about 7:30 o’clock and raged for more than two hours before it was put under control. The fire originated from a brush fire on the property of Walter Row, his barn being the first to take fire from the rubbish pile which was burning.
Fanned by the high wind the blaze spread rapidly to the slaughter house and other outbuildings of George Snyder, the carpenter shop and sheds of Isaac Miller, the barns of Mrs. Emaline Brosius and Elias Kobel and the outbuildings on the property of Clinton Kemble.
Included in the buildings which were burned were barns, chicken houses, carpenter shop, garages, slaughter house, tool sheds and other small outbuildings.
Pillow, with about 400 citizens, is entirely without fire protection and were helpless with exception of bucket brigades in battling the blaze which was spreading with great rapidity. A call was sent to the surrounding territories for help, and the companies from Elizabethville, Gratz, Herndon, Wiconisco and Millersburg responded. Lykens, too, was called, but ordinance prohibits this company attending a fire when Wiconisco company responds. By mutual agreement between the two companies, Wiconisco was to answer the first call out-of-town and responded on the Pillow call.
Elizabethville was the first company to reach the scene of conflagration and used all available hose in trying to confine the blaze to the structure ignited. The Gratz company, which made a record run arrived in time to save fire dwellings and the United Brethren Church which were about to ignite from the intense heat. Their rapid work according to prominent citizens of Pillow was responsible for saving these dwellings and place of worship.
The houses of Clinton Kemble, J. A. Schaeffer, Isaac Miller and George B. Snyder were damaged. Flying embers ignited the roof of the United Brethren Church. It was extinguished and considerable damage resulted from water played on the flames.
Second Fire In Day
A second fright was given the residents when an outbuilding on the property of Frank Wiest Jr., started to burn Wednesday afternoon. Wiest conducts a potato chip factory and it is thought flying sparks from wood which was burning started the blaze. The Wiest property is quite a distance from the scene of the morning blaze. The flames were extinguished by a bucket brigade and slight damage resulted.
Subscribe For Protection
No sooner had the fires been controlled that businessmen and property holders of the borough realized their plight. A committee began work at once and yesterday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock, a total subscription of $3500.00 was assured to get fire protection for the town.
A movement was afoot some time ago to get fire fighting equipment, but some of the residents of the borough resented the action and it was left unfinished. The fire of Wednesday caught the town without protection and residents realized the hazards of being without the protection, which is assured at this time.
Organize Fire Company
A meeting of the residents of the borough Wednesday evening resulted in the organization of a volunteer fire company with 45 charted members. Frank W. Boyer was elected as chairman; H. R. Gessner, secretary; and Joseph Witmer, treasurer.
The chairman appointed a committee on By-Laws who will present the rules and regulations at an early meeting for adoption. On this committee are Thomas L. Snyder, C. L. Grimm, and H. R. Gessner.
Rural Districts Give Aid
Rural districts are giving aid to the project of a fire fighting apparatus and include the country sections of Klingerstown, Malta, Mandata, Hebe and Urban. A fire Saturday of last week at noon resulted in the residence of Clarence Grimm near Urban being a total loss. Only thru the quick response of the Herndon Fire Company in getting to the scene was the barn and other buildings saved.
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