Windham County Reformer

FIRE GUTTED BROWN BLOCK.

Stubborn Blaze in Bellows Falls Christmas Morning.

A stubborn fire broke out early Tuesday morning in the fruit store of John Baldesaro in the Brown block on Canal street in Bellows Falls. The fire spread to adjoining stores and the whole block was soon in flames. A furious wind was blowing at the time and the thermometer was 8 below zero, causing the firemen intense suffering. The block was occupied by the Bellows Falls bakery, Cometa lunch room, John Baldesaro's fruit store, Frank Silino, boots and shoes, Exener & Holmes, cigars and restaurant, and J. E. Byrne's barber shop. The entire block was gutted inside of an hour. C. W. Stewart, proprietor of the Bellows Falls bakery, lost $3000, insured for $2100; Frank Pitcher of the Cometa lunch rooms had just started and had all new fixtures with no insurance; John Baldesaro was partially insured; loss about $1500; Frank Silino's loss is about $500, and he is insured; Exener & Holmes' loss was $1200 with partial insurance; J. E. Byrnes places his loss at $1000. Frank Brown, owner of the building loses $5000 and is insured. The upper part of the block was occupied by tenants who escaped in their night clothes, losing practically everything. The building will be rebuilt at once.