Monday, September 2, 2013

Fire at Old Gillett Novelty Works


 
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 1, 1896.

LAST NIGHT'S BLAZE.

Old Novelty Works Nearly Went up in Smoke.

   Shortly before 10 o'clock last evening some one came running up South Main-st. shouting "fire." LaBre Ingraham at once turned in an alarm at box 432 at the Messenger House corner.

   The department soon arrived at the scene of the fire which proved to be in the two-story wooden building at the rear of 134 Main-st. The lower floor was occupied by A. D. LeRoy, manufacturer of the Climax Welding compound. The second floor was occupied for storage by L. L. Gillett, the owner of the building. The entire building was formerly occupied by Gillett's Novelty works.

   The fire was in the front of the south wing occupied by Mr. LeRoy. Orris and Water Witch turned two streams in at this side, while the Emeralds attached to a hydrant on Tompkins-st. and directed their stream into the burning building from the rear. The Hitchcock Co. was promptly on hand but it was unnecessary for them to lay any hose. The flames had not secured such headway but that they were soon subdued by the large volume of water. The flames broke through the roof in several places, but by prompt action were checked.

   The building and machinery were owned by L. L. Gillett who carried an insurance of $1,800 in the New York Central Lloyds, placed with Pierce, Cone & Bates. This will cover his loss. Mr. LeRoy had no insurance, but $100 will probably cover his loss. Mr. E. A. McGraw had several carriage tops and cutters stored in the second story which were damaged not to exceed $25, mostly by water.

   The fire is thought to have originated from a spark from a small portable forge which had been in use just previous to stopping work for the day. The fire started near this forge.

   To-day Mr. LeRoy is moving his goods to his residence, 54 Clinton-ave., where he will soon begin the erection of a building in which to continue the manufacture of the compound.


 
To Picnic at Glenwood.

   Mr. P. S. Millspaugh, traveling passenger, agent of the Lehigh Valley railroad, was in Cortland last night and completed arrangements with a committee from the Presbyterian Sunday school for a picnic at Glenwood [located 3 miles north of Ithaca on the west side of Lake Cayuga--ed.] on Cayuga lake on Friday, August 7. A special train for Ithaca will leave the Lehigh Valley station at 9 o'clock. At Ithaca the electric cars will transfer the party to Renwick landing where a special steamboat will take all on board and will then take a trip down the lake. The boat will go as far as may be desired, but the plan is to get back to Glenwood, which is one of the most delightful resorts and picnic grounds on the lake, at about 1 o'clock. Dinner will then be served and a stop will be made here until some time after 4 o'clock. The train will leave Ithaca at such a time on the return as to bring every one back to the station at Cortland at 6 o'clock.

   The fare for the round trip, including train, street cars at Ithaca and steamboat on the lake will be 60 cents for adults and 40 cents for children. This will be one of the finest excursions out of Cortland this year. There is variety enough in the trip so that no part of it will get tiresome and it is just long enough.




Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 8, 1896.


THE GLENWOOD EXCURSION.

Presbyterian Sunday-school Spend a Day on Cayuga Lake.

   The Presbyterian Sunday-school excursion to Glenwood on Cayuga lake yesterday proved to be one of the most enjoyable outings of the season. Certainly no one could complain of a lack of variety on the trip. There was the railroad ride to Ithaca, the trip across the city by streetcar and a delightful boat ride down the lake to Glenwood. There were a little over two hundred tickets sold and the entire trip was made without the slightest accident.

   A large majority of the excursionists took their dinner with them, and those who did not secured dinner at Hotel Evans, the new summer hotel at Glenwood. A delay in the dinner arrangements, caused by a failure to properly deliver a telegram sent from Freeville after the train started notifying the hotel people of the number expecting to get their dinners only sharpened the appetites of the excursionists and caused them to enjoy the excellent dinner even more when it was served.

   A number came back to Ithaca early in the afternoon and spent the remainder of the day on the campus, others took a short trip down the lake, while the remainder enjoyed themselves in various ways at Glenwood until 4 o'clock when the last boat left for Renwick. The return train arrived at Cortland at 6:30, enabling all to reach home before dark.


 

Reference:


Crooked Lake Review, Steamboating on Cayuga Lake: http://www.crookedlakereview.com/articles/136_167/148may2008/148palmer2.html

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