Monday, October 19, 2015

POMEROY'S STORE DAMAGED BY FIRE AND VILLAGE BOARD TURNS DOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT PROPOSALS



Wickwire Bros.' Grand Central block, 2014 photo.
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February 6, 1891.

LOST BY FIRE.

The Bursting of a Kerosene Lamp Causes a Serious Loss in the Grand Central Block.

   Cortland had a narrow escape from a disastrous fire at 5:35 A. M. Wednesday morning, by the explosion of a hand lamp in the front of Hulbert H. Pomeroy's dry goods and ladies' furnishing store, 13 Railroad street [Central Avenue]. The wind blew a genuine gale but the department quickly arrived and subdued the flames. The goods and large plate window in the store front were badly damaged by fire. A hole was burned through the ceiling but the flames did not communicate to the second story.
   The building is owned by Messrs. Wickwire Brothers, upon which Messrs. Maybury & Macumber had written policies as follows: Insurance Co. of North America, $8,000; Liverpool, London & Globe, $5,000; Hartford, $2,500; Continental, $2,500. The loss is estimated at from $1,000 to $1,800.
   The east half was occupied by P. H. & F. D. Dowd, shoes, stock badly damaged by fire and water. Loss $1,000 to $1,500. Insured in Springfield F & M $1,000, Germania of N. Y., $1,000, with Bosworth and Maybury's agencies.
   Mr. Pomeroy's stock comprises a full line of dress goods, trimmings, furnishings, novelties, and fixtures valued at $6,000 to $6,800 upon which Theo. Stevenson had issued policies of $800 on stock, $200 on fixtures in the Bowery of N. Y.; stock $1,000 in Fire Association of Philadelphia, furniture on second floor, $1,000 in Westchester of N. Y. The second floor is occupied for housekeeping and the dressmaking parlors of Mrs. Pomeroy. In anticipation of the flames coming through the floor, water was poured over the same, otherwise the damage is light on this floor.
   Mrs. Pomeroy arose at 4:30 that morning with the expectation of going to Syracuse on the 6 o'clock train having packed a hand bag with various articles which she would need, also placing an envelope containing $1,800 in bills in the same. Desiring to get a larger package in the bag Mrs. Pomeroy took out the envelope with the intention of concealing it on her person before starting. Desiring some article from the store she descended with a hand lamp (being only partially dressed at the time) placing it and the envelope, which she constantly kept in her possession, upon the front end of the counter and having secured the article, was returning for the lamp and envelope, being within 12 feet of the former when it exploded. Instantly she called for help and the family responded, thinking she had fallen on the stairs.
   The front part of the store was a sea of fire in a breath and the $1,800 has not been seen since. Of the $1,800, eight hundred belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Pomeroy and the $1000 to Mr. Guy L. Wallace, Mrs. Pomeroy being his guardian. Mrs. Pomeroy being unaccustomed to negotiating bank paper, thought there would be no danger as the existence of the money had been kept secret to herself until that morning. Mrs. Pomeroy has been an industrious woman and the loss is a severe one.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Board of Trustees Refuses to Grant Their Request—Communication From the Board of Engineers.
   At the meeting of the Board of Village Trustees held last Monday evening, Mr. Peck moved the adoption of the following resolutions:
   Whereas, The Fire Department of this village, through a committee of its Board of Engineers, has presented to this Board for its approval, proposed amendments of the village charter, giving to the Board of Engineers the control and management of the property and finances of the village relating to the fire department and giving also to the Board of Engineers the exclusive right to handle, pay out, and disburse all monies and appropriations for fire purposes; and
   Whereas, It is the unanimous opinion of this Board that such a precedent is wrong in principle and dangerous in its tendency, and that such amendments giving the control of the finances and monies of the village to any class of officers who are not elected by the people, is not in harmony with the principles and provisions of the village charter, therefore, it is
   Resolved, That the approval by this Board of the amendment proposed, be and is hereby refused. Adopted.
  
   MR. EDITOR:—The Board of Engineers, believing that the resolutions of the Board of Trustees, pertaining to the proposed amendment of the village charter, do not correctly represent the character of said amendment, desire to be heard through your paper.
   With no other information than that gained from reading these resolutions, one, perhaps would be justified in concluding that the firemen had been guilty of concocting a scheme to get control of the village finances, and that by the defeat of the amendment the village had escaped a great calamity.
   The facts briefly stated are these:
   The Board of Engineers believing several changes in the charter necessary in order to make our fire-service more effective, made a crude draft of the proposed changes and requested the Trustees to meet them to consult and agree upon something which would be satisfactory to all parties. On two different occasions the Board of Engineers have tried to get such conference. The first failed because of the lateness of the hour, the second because only two trustees were present. The Board at last left a copy with the Trustees asking that they consider it, supposing that of course the whole document would receive their careful consideration. But notice what is done as shown by the resolutions of February 3rd. It is all bad because some things in it are not approved.
   The following synopsis embodies the chief points to which we call attention:
   1. To correct an error in the amendment of last year, pertaining to the election of officers.
   2. To restrict the exemption from taxation to active firemen only.
   3. To constitute the chief a fire marshal with power to investigate the cause of fires which occur under suspicious circumstances, summon witness, take evidence etc.
   4. To authorize the election of a property clerk.
   5. To authorize the Board of Engineers to make out the annual fire budget subject to approval by Board of Trustees by a three-fifths vote.
   6. Jurisdiction of Board of Engineers over current expenditures of fire department.
   7. The control and management by Board of Engineers of all fire apparatus and all buildings or rooms which have been assigned to fire-department use by the Trustees or by the people.
   8. To empower Board of Engineers to appoint a superintendent of fire alarm telegraph.
   9. To empower Board of Engineers to fix salaries of persons employed by the fire department, subject to approval by Board of Trustees. [C. F. D. was a volunteer fire department at this time—CC editor.]
   10. Board of Engineers to adopt rules and regulations for government of fire department subject to approval by Board of Trustees.
   11. To empower Board of Engineers to suspend or remove an officer or member of the department.
   12. To empower board of Engineers to order necessary repairs and pay for the same by order on village treasurer.
   13. To limit the use of fire department funds to the fire service and to require that none of such funds be paid out except by resolution of the Board.
   14. To limit the liabilities of the village in the matter of expenditures for the fire department, to the amount appropriated by the people.
   15. To prevent the diverting of moneys voted by the people for special purposes, to any other use than that specified in the call for the appropriation.
   16. To empower Board of Engineers to purchase apparatus with moneys appropriated for the same.
   17. To provide penalties for giving false alarm with intent to deceive or for interfering with the fire-alarm-telegraph.
   While it is true that the Board of Trustees have power to allow the Board of Engineers to take the initiative in certain matters of repairs etc., such power though asked for, has not been given to the Engineers and as a result the effectiveness of the fire service is lessened. The choice of a trustee rests upon political considerations largely, while the members of the Board of Engineers are selected because of special qualifications as firemen. Which would it seem would be the better fitted to judge of the needs of the fire service?
   The duties of our aldermen are yearly increasing, and even with the best qualifications as firemen it is impossible for them to look after the minutiae of fire matters. This is an admitted condition now. Ought there not then to be some body of men empowered to take the initiative in certain matters which are liable to require immediate and skillful attention? And who are better fitted than the Board of Engineers?
   It should be borne in mind that this proposed amendment gives to the Trustees the power to check any and all action of the Engineers pertaining to finance by a three-fifths vote. The Trustees even have power to disband the whole department, Board of Engineers and all. Where is there the possibility of harmful use of power by the Engineers? Would it not be wisdom to allow this Board certain powers with proper checks?
   A property clerk is needed to care for the property of the department, to make and keep an inventory of the same etc. Such an officer was elected in December last and the Trustees refused to ratify the election because as they said the charter gave them no power.
   Fires often occur under suspicious circumstances. Possibly the Trustees have the power to allow somebody to make so investigation. If so they have always had it but never an investigation. Do we not need a man commissioned with authority to do this work? Other towns seem to see its necessity. The section pertaining to it is copied from the Syracuse charter. Again, does not the safety of our houses demand a skilled superintendent of fire-alarm-telegraph? While a chief may or may not have the requisite skill to manage it properly, he has other duties too numerous to admit of his devoting his time to it, and it demands constant care or else becomes unreliable.
   We as a board asked for a conference for the purpose of coming to an agreement upon the needed amendments, hardly expecting the Trustees to be perfectly satisfied with it as at first drawn, but instead of a discriminating discussion of the many points, all are disposed of in one breath. Can any one tell why?
   JOHN F. DOWD, Chief,
   J. GRASSMAN, 1st Asst.,
   A. H. WATKINS, 2d Asst.,
   C. E. THOMPSON, Sec.,
   C. P. WALRAD, Treas.,
   O. D. RAYMOND, M. F. CLEARY, N. J. PECK. S. J. SORNBERGER,
F.W. KINGSBURY, C. H. DRAKE, JOHN H. PHELPS, Representatives.

Postal Service Report.
   Assistant postmaster E. M. Seacord kindly furnishes the following report of the work of the Cortland post-office during the first month of 1891:
   There were collected 2,010 local letters, 26,656 mail letters, 704 local postal cards, 4,576 mail postal cards, 2,150 papers and packages, making a total of 36,296 pieces collected. During the same period there were delivered 208 registered letters, 64,149 mail letters, and 15,266 postal cards, besides 43,915 papers and packages, a total of 123,533 pieces of mail, making a grand total of 159,829 pieces handled in the various avenues and workings of the office as against 147,705 during January, 1890.

I. O. O. F. Annual Banquet.
   The annual banquet and ball of Vesta Lodge, No. 255, I. O. O. F., was held in Odd Fellows' hall, on Friday evening last, and was a decidedly interesting social affair. The attendance was all that could be desired since the floor was filled with dancers and enough spectators were nested around the outside of the room to form a pleasing harmony with the life on the crashed carpet. An orchestra of nine pieces furnished the music.
   It was noticed that the interest in these annuals is increasing and better satisfaction given than the former style of only a few of those in possession of the inner workings of a lodge assembling for a spread. The present system permits of an enlargement of acquaintances as well as enjoyment of a social hour. An elegant supper, without doubt prepared by the active ladies, was served by the gentlemen of the lodge. The latter deserve credit for their vigilance in looking after the wants of guests in quest of either coffee, tea or water. After the supper hour, dancing was resumed.

Schermerhorn Street School.
   From time to time the teachers in the Schermerhorn [Grace] street school give interesting public exercises on Friday afternoon, inviting parents and friends in to witness the proficiency of their children or wards.
   Last Friday the following programme was most pleasingly and successfully presented by the third and sixth grades of this school, under the guidance of Miss Knapp; receiving the hearty approval of the audience—every sitting of the department being occupied:
   Song—"Drive the Nail Aright Boys," Peter McGuire, Max Higgins, Glenn Walters, Eddie Leonard, Joseph C. Fisher.
   Recitation—"My Little Partner," Lucy Terry.
   Composition—Indians, Mamie Haynes.
   Recitation—"Only Now and Then," Joseph C. Fisher
   Vocal Duet—"The Little Fisher Maiden," Maud Kinney, Grace Brown.
   Composition— "The West," John McTighe.
   Humorous Reading, Eva Baker.
   Recitation—"There's a Boy in the House," Glenn Walters.
   Violin Solo, Lola Bates.
   Recitation—"Grandfather's Barn," Paul Higgins.
   Composition—"Elephants," Maud Kinney.
   Instrumental Duet, Eva Baker, Maud Kinney.
   Select Reading— "Doll's Cradle Song," Julia Nichols, Josie Sullivan, Nora Littleton. Mary Grant, Jennie Pollard, Ella Du Chette, Dora DuBois, Carrie Schouten.
   Dialogue—"The Boys," Arthur Bradley, Arthur Morgan, Cortez Sandwick, Fred Nichols, Claud Ryan.
   An Original Poem, Carrie Jackson.
   Vocal Trio, Eva Baker, Nellie McGraw, Grace Brown.
   Dialogue—"Keeping Store," George Robson. Eva Tice. Josie Sullivan, Jennie Pollard, Carrie Schouten, Joseph C. Fisher.
 

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