From the Elizabethville Echo, 24 November 1927:
One Of Town’s Largest Industries Swept By Flames
ENTERPRISE HOSIERY MILL GUTTED BY FIRE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $40,000 IN BLAZE THAT THREATENS HOMES & PLANING MILL
Fire which started about 2:30 o’clock, Sunday morning, swept the plant of the Enterprise Hosiery Mill located on the east side of Vine Street, town, and in a short time destroyed it. The blaze was discovered by Fred Enders and other neighbors of that street, near the front of the building, in the northwest corner, and with an automobile, Mr. Enders proceded to give the alarm throughout the town.
The local fire company responded and laid two lines of hose in a short time, but by the time the third line of hose was laid the front of the building collapsed and threw showers of spars into the air, which were carried several hundred yards and endangering outlying buildings. The double dwelling property owned by Mrs. Catherine Jones of Harrisburg is occupied by the families of Lester Feidt and Guy Klinger and with the flames at their height firemen exerted their efforts in saving that property as well as the home of Mrs. Isaiah Matter. The weather boarding was scorched by the intense heat of the flames.
The planing mill being located close by, and separated b a lot owned by that company, and grown up with dense weeds and dead grass, presented a grave hazard; with sparks falling in sprays, Fire Chief Stanley Bolton called for the Millersburg Fire Company as well as the Pillow Fire Company who responded with their apparatus. With these two companies in reserve to combat immediately any spread of the fire, the local company confined their efforts to the mill and nearby properties, of which the latter were saved.
Although the cause of the fire is unknown, it is thought it may have originated in the dyeing department or directly above it. This was located in the front part of the basement. where the fire was discovered. Some insurance covers the loss.
The company was incorporated about 1887 when C. W. Enders and I. T. Buffington were the principal stockholders and the business of the plant increased when in 1901 an addition was made to the first building. The plant was purchased about four and a half years ago by the present managers, Mr. Max Lipschitz and Louis Werner Jr., who say that at the time of the blaze about fifty employees were on the payroll, and that more than 148 machines were in their equipment. Although they have taken no inventory as yet, they estimate their loss at between $35,000 and $40,000.
According to the manager, the plant had been working full and and several nights a week for the past month, and that they were working on orders at the present time that would have continued to April of next year, when work would have started on new orders. On Saturday, with their foreman, Paul Lehr, Mr. Lipschitz and Mr. Werner had made a business trip at which they had purchased a number of machines to replace others in the factory. At the time of the plant’s purchase by them, the new managers overhauled the entire plant, and built new floors, enlarging the basement, and replaced a number of machines, consuming three months to put the plant in shape.
Several barrels of alcohol, and drums of oil exploded during the blaze, but did not endanger the lives of firemen. The alcohol was used in the dyeing operations of the plant.
Mr. Werner and Mr. Lipschitz appreciate the efforts of the local and neighboring fire companies and the sentiment and offers of assistance proffered by the local people, and the act of Mrs. Lester Feidt, who prepared hot coffee for the firemen. On Monday morning a gang of workmen started to clean the debris of the fire, and the managers of the plant have informed a reporter of THE ECHO that they are considering plans to rebuild the factory, and are ready to receive estimates for the construction of a new building.
The building destroyed by fire was about 45 x 120 feet, and of frame construction. The old section had a basement and was two stories in height. This was the second disastrous fire for this town within a year, the Edgemont Garage having been destroyed about a year ago. The owners of the Hosiery Mill have installed temporary offices in the Jones property opposite the mill property, where business may be transacted.
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News clipping from Newspapers.com.
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