The story that appeared in the Elizabethville Echo of November 6, 1924 describing the Great Gratz Fire, differed only in the fact that it speculated as to how the fire started, including the statement that “some… suspect incendiarism.” In later years, these suspicions kept alive the rumors as to the cause, including the belief by some that the fire was the result of Ku Klux Klan activity.
GRATZ HAS BIG FIRE EARLY TUESDAY MORNING
No Fire Fighting Apparatus, Five Towns Sent Help
The whole town of Gratz, six hundred population, was threatened by a fire early on Tuesday morning, when the Union House in the center of that borough, Smith’s Restaurant and moving picture hall, stable, garage and seven barns, with crops were destroyed.
Gratz does not have either firemen nor water protection. Calls were sent out for assistance and five nearby towns, Elizabethville, Wiconisco, Lykens, Millersburg, and Valley View, responded by sending their apparatus and men, even from Harrisburg companies with truck were on their way soon after four o’clock when the fire was under control and they were notified to turn back.
Though the origin of the fire is not known there are some who suspect incendiarism. Thomas Kerstetter, who was the tenant proprietor of the hotel, and his family were fast asleep when the flames were discovered licking their way up along the side of the three story building, and they were not easily aroused. With their children, Thomas Kerstetter and Bobbie Kerstetter, 6 and 5, the parents quickly got out of the building and neighbors helped to remove clothing, furniture and valuables.
George Adams owned the building, for which report says he paid $30,000 several years ago. Harry Smith owned the restaurant, grocery, moving picture house, and one barn, all destroyed by the blaze. Other buildings which are a total loss were: the garage of Earl Hoffman and Russell Hoffman; Adams’ Stable in the rear of the hotel; George Hepler’s two barns with more than 175 tons of hay; Miller Brothers’ Barn with 450 bushels of wheat; George Umholtz, Ira Rothermel and Daniel Koppenhaver, each a barn.
Some insurance was carried by nearly all of the owners, but the total will not nearly cover the loss.
The hotel was the polling place for the borough and the fire fighters took the ballots and election equipment to the Gratz National Bank where the board held the election.
A number of hunters who had come from Valley View saw the fire in the ice house and sounded the alarm by discharging their guns and blowing their automobile horns shortly after one o’clock.
When the fire was brightest we are informed that the reflection in the sky was seen a distance of twenty-five miles. There was great excitement on the street when people from other towns began flocking in.
Some of the telephone wires were burnt off and some were cut to prevent their falling on electric wires, and out of thirty three telephones only two were in service for some time. Mrs. Laura Keiter, the night operator at Elizabethville was on the job, for by her promptness, assistance from Elizabethville, Wiconisco, Lykens, Valley View and Millersburg was soon on the way. The whole town seemed to be doomed, and about two o’clock a call was sent to Harrisburg, and about four o’clock, news had reached Gratz that a special train, two coaches , and two flat cars, fifty men of the Good Will, Hope, Friendship and Mt. Pleasant Fire Companies were on the way to Millersburg. The flames were under control when the word came, and the call for the Harrisburg Companies was annulled.
A veritable gale fanned the flames but bucket brigades worked hard to save property on the outskirts of town. Properties east and west of the hotel were saved by the Elizabethville and Wiconisco Fire Trucks, the first to arrive. Elizabethville’s Chemical apparatus in charge of Harold Romberger rendered excellent help.
A haystack on a farm on the eastern outskirts of town was set afire by a flaming piece of wood carried by the high wind.
The common opinion seems to be that if the ice house was not set on fire, that a lighted cigarette may have been the cause, since the fire had its origin there.
The fire was carefully watched, water was drawn all day Tuesday to entirely outen the embers and the Elizabethville Truck was on duty all day, arriving home at 9:45 p.m.
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News story from Newspapers.com.
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