LAST UPDATED:  MAY 15
Just added on this page:
A series of new articles from the fifties including:
a major fire in Brommerstown causes a near tragedy, a forest
fire near the Indian Head and quick responses avoid disater at
the Casket Company, Union Knitting Mill and the electric
substation.
FIRES
Below is memorabilia from various events in Schuylkill Haven related to our fire departments.
From left to right: a glass from the Fireman's Day Parade during the 1950 anniversary,   a ribbon from a Rainbow Hose
Company truck housing on May 26, 1951 and two ribbons from the 1956 and 1964 Schuylkill County Volunteer Firemen's
Association conventions.
Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1885

"The undersigned met on the above date for the purpose of organizing a Fire Company in the Borough of Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill
County, Pennsylvania.  Said Fire Company to be known as the Good Intent Fire Company, Number 1, aforesaid Borough.  Our intention
for organizing said Company is to protect property in case of fire, also loss of life which is liable to occur, as well as prevent
accidents which is in our power so to do , to which we fix our signatures."
John F. Bader                       Julius E. Weiser              S. Boussum
Samuel W. Reibsaaman       Franklin A. Bubeck          Levi E. Sterner
Edward E. Maberry               Abraham Huy                   Samuel Martz
Edward Renninger               James J. Lash                  Frank Eiler
Isaac E. Huey                        George Rupp                   Charles W. Ney
This action was brought about after discussing the question of organizing a Fire Company at a picnic held at "Cullie's Woods",
sometime previous.  This was the origin of one of the oldest institutions in Schuylkill Haven devoted exclusively to the service of the
public.  The first meetings, with John F. Bader, Chairman, Edward E. Maberry, Secretary and Frank Eiler, Treasurer, were held in the
old house abutting Bader's Hotel, now owned and operated by Guy Luckenbill at 412 Dock Street.  Realizing that funds were
necessary to carry on this work, it was decided to hold a picnic and dance on September 3, 1885, music to be furnished by the Black
Horse Band.  The sum of $7.67 was realized on this affair.
September 13, 1885, a committee was appointed to look into the question of a new carriage and on September 26, the committee
reported that a new could be purchased for $450 from the firm of W. W. Wunder of Reading, Pennsylvania.  A committee was
appointed to solicit funds throughout the entire town to pay for this carriage.  The sum of $59.75 was realized from the canvass.  At
the same time, the name of the Company was changed to the Spring Garden Hose Company of Schuylkill Haven.
October 13, 1885 the Company was officially organized and the following officers were elected: President, John F. Bader; Vice
President, Samuel W. Reibsaaman; Recording Secretary, Edward E. Maberry; Financial secretary, Isaac E. Huey; Treasurer, Charles W.
Ney.  Due to the fact that  the carriage committee was so royally entertained by the Rainbow Fire Company Number One of Reading,
Pennsylvania on their visit to inspect carriages on October 26, 1885, the name of the Company was changed to the Rainbow Hose
Company Number One in honor of the Reading Company.  At this same time a committee was appointed and the first Constitution and
Bylaws of the Rainbow Hose Company were drawn up and on December 2, 1885, a Charter was officially granted to the Rainbow Hose
Company by the Schuylkill County Common Pleas Court.
The new carriage was delivered on Christmas Day, December 25, 1885 and was displayed in front of Metamora Hall on Main Street
where the Company was holding a fair.  Needless to say it was the center of attraction for all the citizens of Schuylkill Haven, crowds
gathered around the carriage all day and evening and it was also inspected by many out of town Fire Companies.  The carriage was
first housed in the stable of John Bader and was later moved to the rear of the property known as Hotel Deer, owned by Benjamin J.
Luckenbill.  It was discovered that this building was not suitable to house such an expensive piece of equipment.  Therefore, new
doors, new floors, papering, windows and a tower on the roof were immediately installed.  April 24, 1886, a bell was purchased from
the proprietor of the Half Way House for the sum of four dollars and placed on the tower of the temporary Hose House.  Three
members were appointed "bell ringers" with the privilege of ringing the bell for practice at any time they felt it necessary.  June 12,
1886, the meeting place was changed to a room with a rental of two dollars a month in the Union Hotel, now remodeled and owned by
William Gehrig at the corner of Coal Street and Garfield Avenue.
A drum corps was organized October 4, 1886 with Joseph Tyson as leader and participated in their first parade on October 18, 1886.  
This Drum Corp was later changed into a band.  In July, 1887, the meeting place was again changed to the third floor of the building at
315 Dock Street.  A janitor was appointed to keep the rooms clean at a monthly salary of twenty five cents, his duties did not consist
of cleaning cuspidors and occasionally bills of ten cents were submitted for services rendered, namely, cleaning spittoons.  July 28,
1892, a festival was held on Dengler's Field now the site of Christ Lutheran Church.  Records show that the demand for clam soup
was so great there was a shortage of milk and a cow had to be brought to the grounds and milked to furnish the necessary milk.  
December 5, 1892 at a special meeting, the site of the present original building was purchased for the sum of $900.  February 14,
1894, the contract for the present building was awarded and on December 17, 1894 the building was completed at a total cost of $3176.
On January 25, 1894, owing to the many burglaries and rowdyism that were prevalent at this time, a special meeting of the Company
was held.  All twenty four members were present and were sworn in by the Chief Burgess for a two month period.  Their duty was to
patrol the town during the night and break up the lawlessness.  Their pay for this service was to be any contributions that could be
collected from the citizens.
Up to this time the ladies had always given their full support to the Company and in March, 1895, a Ladies' auxiliary was officially
organized.  The years from 1895 to 1910 were busy years with the Company holding many bazaars and festivals to raise funds to pay
off their debt.
On June 14, 1910, the Friendship Hook and Ladder Company Number Three merged with the Rainbow Hose Company.  After this
merger it was found that the present building was not adequate to accommodate the additional equipment and increased
membership.  In June 1911, a contract was awarded to erect an addition to the original building at a cost of $2790.  In order to keep up
with modern times, in 1920 the Hook and Ladder truck was motorized at a cost of $2673 and a new pumper was purchased at a cost of
$6735.  In this same year the old horse carriage of the Company, which was purchased in 1835, was presented to a Fire Company
recently organized in Wade, Pennsylvania.  As a respect of honor, this Company was named Rainbow, thus forming the third
generation of Rainbow Hose Companies, from Reading to Schuylkill Haven to Wade.
During the years from 1920 to 1935 the Company participated in many community activities.  Probably the most outstanding being the
175th Anniversary of the Borough in 1925.  In 1936 the two trucks were rebuilt and modernized at a cost of $6525.  From 1936 to 1950
several block parties were held to raise funds with the purchase of a new truck in mind.  In 1951 a new Seagrave Ladder truck and a
new Seagrave Pumper truck were purchased at a cost of $30, 293.  With these new trucks, in the years 1951 to 1954, the Company
participated in many parades and won many prizes.
In 1954 the Company purchased the Charles Rose property adjacent to the present building at a cost of $6000.  The property was torn
down and used as a parking lot.  Also in 1954, the Company purchased the Willow Street Playground at a cost of $1200.  The men of
the Company restored the playground equipment and added new equipment.  In 1955 the Ladies' Auxiliary erected a new fence at the
playground for the protection of the children.  
In 1956, the Rainbow Hose Company, along with the other companies in the Borough, was host to the Schuylkill County Firemen's
Association Convention.  In February of 1959 a committee was appointed to start raising funds for the 75th Anniversary of the
Company to be held in 1960.  In May of 1959 a contract for a new truck building was awarded and the trucks were moved into this new
building on November 20, 1959.  The cost of the building was $35,020.  The downstairs rooms of the original building have been
remodeled and redecorated by members of the Company and will be the new social rooms for the members.  In March, 1960, the
Company purchased the Harry Christ property and that building demolished to provide additional parking space as well as sufficient
space where Company affairs can be held.
July 24 to July 30 the Rainbow Hose Company is happy to be able to celebrate its 75th Anniversary.  We feel justifiably proud of our
record during the past seventy five years.  We assure the citizens of Schuylkill Haven that we will continue to do our best to carry out
the purposes of organization, as stated at the organization meeting in 1885 by the men who organized our Company, "to protect
property in case of fire, also loss of life which is liable to occur, as well as prevent accidents which is in our power so to do."
This history of the Rainbow Hose Company was obtained from the 75th Anniversary book
published by the fire company in 1960.  There are many interesting facts contained in the article.
Below is an image from the Bell Telephone company magazine in May 1954.  It shows Schuylkill Haven
resident George Bubeck in uniform with an engine of the Rainbow Hose Company and at practice with
the Rainbow Hose Company Drum and Bugle Corps.
Pottsville Republican of March 7, 1957

SPECTACULAR FIRE AT HAVEN MILL

A spectacular $175,000 fire destroyed the Argo knitting mill and bleachery on North Berne Street in Schuylkill Haven today. Flames
shot sixty to seventy feet in the air as an inferno consumed the three story brick structure. Embers were blown over several blocks.
The blaze was almost under control when Therold "Dutch" Bolton, a member of Schuylkill Hose Co. emerged from an alley between
the factory and a home with severe head injuries. It is surmised he was struck by falling debris. The fire started at about 11:00 in the
morning. 75 employees worked the plant which supplied partially finished goods for the new mill at Market and Margaretta Streets. A
machinist from New York was trapped briefly on the second floor until a ladder was used to rescue him. A great deal of material was
saved by employees who threw it out of windows into the street. Firemen ran lines to Stoyer's Dam and were able to save
neighboring homes. The sprinkler system worked but had little effect. Three explosions shook the building presumably from the
ignition of barrels of chemicals. The mill was a total loss but the firemen saved all neighboring houses.

During a conversation with the late Harry Naffin (former Haven resident and owner of Messner and Hess), he related details of the
fire.  He and Therold Bolton were on the second floor at the start of the fire. They were calling for water for the line they had at hand.
Harry noted that threw a glass door panel on a stairway to the third floor they could see a blazing fire.  Shortly after they moved from
it, the door exploded spreading fire into the dust filled ceiling.  Harry and Bolton quickly dropped the hose and ran for their lives. He
also reported large bales of burning cloth rolling out of the back of the mill and falling into the Schuylkill River, floating downstream
until extinguished.                                                                                                                        
The Call of March 10, 1950

FIRE IN OIL TRUCK QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED

A fire in the oil delivery truck of the Losch Boiler Sales Company late Wednesday afternoon was quickly brought under control by the
driver of the truck, John Roeder, before it gained any headway to threaten the inflammable load.  The truck was parked just beyond
the railroad crossing on West Union Street.  Roeder was unable to start the truck and opened the compartment behind the cab to
check the battery cable.  When he opened the cover, dense smoke poured out, followed by flames.  He quickly secured the foam fire
extinguisher on the truck and played it into the compartment.  A call was sent in to the Liberty Fire Company which soon arrived on
the scene with its new truck.  By this time, however, Roeder had extinguished the fire with only slight damage to the oil truck.
The Call of March 17, 1950

$12,000 FIRE AT COAL OPERATION

Damage amounting to approximately $12,000 was caused when the tool and supply house and office of M. and M. Coal Company,
known as the Landingville Storage Yards, situated about one and one half miles north of Landingville, along the railroad, was burned
to the ground on Wednesday morning.  The men were working at the time and the fire was discovered about 7:30 in the morning.  The
Liberty Fire Company of Schuylkill Haven responded to the alarm and extinguished the fire, which was burning briskly, after a several
hours battle.  The building was one story high and was situated about twenty feet away from the main breaker, which also began
burning.  Little damage was caused to the breaker.  All of the building's contents including the supplies, tools and men's clothing
were destroyed.  The origin of the fire is unknown.
The Call of November 24, 1950

FLAMES COMPLETELY DESTROY PARKWAY RESTAURANT
FIRE TRUCKS CALLED OUT TWICE

The Parkway, Schuylkill Haven's largest restaurant, banquet hall and dance floor was completely destroyed by fire early Saturday
morning, with a total loss estimated at $50,000.  The destruction resulted from two alarms of fire, the first at 12:30 and the second at
7:00 a. m.  The first alarm was turned in when fire was discovered in the kitchen shortly before the restaurant was to be closed for the
night.  All fire companies responded to the alarm and after some difficulty was experienced in getting water on the fire finally
succeeded in getting the fire under control and supposedly extinguished about 2:30 a. m.  About 7:00 a. m. the fire again broke out
and the structure was almost completely destroyed.  Only the badly burned center structure which originally housed an apartment on
the second floor remained upright.
Arthur Fehr, owner of the restaurant, was sitting at the counter with Lewis Nunemacher, drinking a cup of coffee before closing,
when Clair Miller of Liberty Street yelled in the door to the men and two waitresses who were still on duty that the kitchen was on
fire.  In passing the restaurant, he noticed flames coming from the kitchen window.  An alarm was turned in.  Within a few minutes,
before Miller and the persons in the restaurant could do anything about the fire, the flames spread from the kitchen to the wood
panelled dining and dance hall at the rear of the building.  
The three local fire companies responded and battled the stubborn blaze for more than two hours before getting it under control.  
The asbestos shingles on the outside of the building proved to be a great protection to the service station and garage along side the
restaurant but made fire fighting difficult in the building itself.  The Earl S. Williams garage on the east side was only slightly scorched
and the William Campbell service station on the west side showed very little evidence of the fire next door.
During the first fire, the kitchen and dining hall were badly burned out, while the front part was only partially damaged by fire smoke
and water.  Shortly before 7:00 a. m. smoke began pouring from the building and an investigation showed that the basement was on
fire.  By the time the alarm was sent in and the fire companies returned to the scene, the rounded section enclosed by glass block on
the west side was a roaring inferno.  The fire is believed to have started the second time in that section of the basement where
paper napkins and ice cream cartons were stored.  The standing walls in which the fire were burning hindered the fighting of the fire
and finally a bulldozer loader of the Berlanti Company, which has office and storage facilities nearby, was used to push in one side of
the building.
The blaze was not conquered until the building was practically destroyed.  Firemen remained at the scene until noon time.  The
restaurant is a complete loss, estimated at $50,000.  Also destroyed in the fire was equipment owned by Bobby Berger's orchestra,
property of the Business and Professional Women's Club and the Lions Club.  Berger, who lives at 62 Railroad Street in Cressona,
estimated the orchestra loss at $1600.  The players had completed an engagement at the high school and had brought their
equipment back to the Parkway for their regular engagement for the Saturday night dance.  Gale Moyer of Cressona suffered the
greatest loss when his complete set of drums was destroyed.  The orchestra also lost a set of musical reeds, music stands, amplifying
system, orchestrations and other musical paraphernalia.  The Lion's Club loss amounted to $500 including a communications system,
banners, flags, identification buttons, racks, song books and other articles which were used regularly at the meetings each week.  
The large lion used on floats was also a victim of the fire.  The Business and Professional Women's Club loss includes chairs, books,
candles and a metal cabinet containing old records.  The only things saved were the gavel and the 200th anniversary banner.  
In fighting the fire, three firemen were injured.  Miller, who discovered the fire, in attempting to fight the fire was overcome by
smoke.  He was found unconscious and taken to the police barracks where he was treated by Dr. T. B. Tihansky.  Wilson Quinter and
Carl Fey were treated by Dr. Joseph Matonis for lacerations and cuts.  Quinter injured his foot when he stepped on a nail and Fey cut
a tendon in his hand on glass.  The firemen, fighting the fire in near freezing weather, were furnished hot coffee supplied by Robert
Brown of the Schuylkill Institutional District, who went to the almshouse and returned with two large containers of coffee and cups.  
At the second fire, Danny Ditzler, Frank Lewis and a number of other men served sandwiches and coffee, while others went to the A &
P store where they secured bread and meat for sandwiches for the firemen.  Fire Chief Claude A. Sausser stated that the fire
originated in the kitchen but that the exact cause of it is unknown.  The loss is fairly well covered by insurance.  
The Parkway, an important part of the community, was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Fehr of Friedensburg since 1948.  Mrs. Fehr is
the former Grace Guldin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Guldin.  The large one story main structure was erected by Amos M.
Strause and Harry Beck in 1941.  They operated it until 1945 when it was sold to Clyde and Verlin Dewald.  The Dewald brothers
conducted the business until 1948 when it was purchased by the Fehrs.  Shortly before it was sold, Clyde Dewald was appointed
acting postmaster following the sudden death of J. H. Brownmiller.  In the more than nine years the Parkway was in operation it was
used extensively for banquets by local groups and many county organizations.  It was a favorite entertainment place for the young
people on Saturday nights when well conducted dances were held.  The burning of the Parkway was a loss to the community.             
The Call of November 24, 1950

YOUNG PEOPLE LOSE SATURDAY DANCES

Destruction of the Parkway restaurant by fire removed last Saturday from the community a wholesome place of recreation and
entertainment for the high school crowd.  The regular Saturday night dances were an important part of the social life of these young
people.  Because no intoxicating drinks were sold at the Parkway and because the well conducted dances closed at a reasonable
hour, parents were pleased to have their sons and daughters go there for their Saturday night enjoyment.  Since the fire, much
discussion has been heard about the need for having such a place for the young people to congregate and have a good time in a
wholesome environment.  As yet, no definite action has been taken by any organization or individuals.  Here is an opportunity for
service to the community.
The Call of December 1, 1950

RUFUS SCHWENK HOME DAMAGED

Damage to the extent of about $1500 was caused at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Schwenk, 440 West Columbia Street on Tuesday
evening when fire broke out in the basement of the home and spread through the partitions to the upper floors.  The fire was
discovered shortly after five o'clock in the afternoon when Mrs. Schwenk and daughter Betty were sitting in the living room.  Miss
Schwenk heard the crackling of fire and noticed the flames and smoke coming from a register.  She turned in an alarm and the fire
companies of town responded immediately, with the Liberty truck already at the home before the alarm stopped sounding.  The blaze,
starting at the furnace flue in the basement went up through the partitions of the house to the first, second and attic floors.  The
nature of the fire made it difficult to fight and firemen finally cut holes in the roof at the partitions and poured water down through the
walls until the blaze was extinguished.  The trucks remained until 8:30 until certain that the fire was out.  Most of the damage to the
home was caused by smoke and water in the front two rooms on the first and second floors.
The Call of December 22, 1950

SPRINKLER SYSTEM PREVENTS FIRE AT REIDER SHOE COMPANY

An effective sprinkler system prevented a serious fire at the Reider Shoe Company factory early Wednesday morning when it
extinguished a fire before it gained headway but caused considerable damage by water to finished stock.  The fire began in the
cutting room on the third floor in a can of shavings and cuttings alongside a cutting table.  The leather being cut is saturated in
linseed oil and it is believed that the spontaneous combustion started the scraps burning in the can.  A hole about three by five feet
was burned in the floor and the burning mass dropped to the second floor where it was extinguished when the sprinkler system on
this floor went into operation.  An alarm bell operated by water pressure flowing through the sprinkler system when it is in operation
began ringing.  
Mrs. Barney Rodgers, who lives near the factory, heard the alarm ringing around three o'clock in the morning.  When it continued to
ring, she called Robert Reider who came to the factory building to investigate.  Upon entering the door he smelled smoke and going
into the building discovered the still smoldering fire.  He grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the smoldering fire around the hole
in the third floor.  The sprinkler system had completely extinguished the blaze on the second floor.  Water was all over the second
floor and had run into the last room located at the rear.  Directly beneath this room was the stock room which was soaked with water.  
Most of the damage caused by the fire occurred in this room.
The Call of January 12, 1951

TOWN'S SECOND DISASTROUS FIRE CAUSES $25,000 LOSS AT YODER'S HALL TUESDAY

The second disastrous fire of the winter season struck Schuylkill Haven on Tuesday evening when Yoder's hall on West Main Street
blazed spectacularly through the entire upper story and rear of the building to cause a loss estimated at $25,000.  Starting from an
unknown cause in the rear of the building, the fire swept rapidly through the frame building and entered partitions where it was
difficult to fight.  Firemen battled the stubborn blaze for an hour and a half before it was brought under control.  The Liberty trucks
remained at the scene until eleven o'clock in the evening, extinguishing the final sparks.  The Yoder building, one of the oldest
structures in town, housed the furniture repair shop of Robert Yoder, the owner, who resided in a basement apartment behind the
shop along with a housekeeper, Mrs. Stella Ryan; an apartment occupied by William Schumacher and housekeeper Margaret Gettling;
an apartment occupied by Misses Alice and Lizzie Eichert; an apartment occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Nicholson and son James,
age four; the Pensyl Flower Shop operated by Norman Pensyl of Hamburg, on the first floor front and the large hall on the second
floor used by Faith Tabernacle.  The fire damage was confined to the apartments at the rear of the building and the large second floor
hall and roof.  The other apartments and the flower shop were badly damaged by water and smoke.  
The fire was discovered shortly after 5:00 p. m. by the Nicholson family.  They were eating supper in the basement room of their
apartment at the rear of the building when they smelled smoke.  Opening the door leading to the upstairs rooms of their apartment,
they were met by smoke and flames.  A still alarm was turned in by telephone and the Liberty Hose Company responded.  Nicholson
made an attempt to remove household articles and received second degree burns of the face and right hand.  He had a narrow
escape when he was apparently overcome while attempting to mount the stairway leading to the second floor and was forced down
by smoke and flames.  He was found lying on the floor by firemen but upon being removed from the building, was quickly revived.  
Shouts of the Nicholson family were heard by Mr. Yoder who was working in his shop in the basement.  When he investigated, the
fire was well underway and the Liberty fire truck was on the scene.  A general alarm was sounded and the other fire companies came
with their equipment.  As the alarm was sounded, large clouds of dense smoke billowed above the building and appraised the people
of town of the seriousness of the fire as well as its location.  The conflagration attracted several hundred people who crowded the
narrow Tennis Avenue which runs alongside the Yoder building and hampered firemen running with hose lines and ladders.  The
smoke cleared somewhat as the flames broke through the many windows of the upper floor and as the blaze inside the rooms at the
rear and the entire upper story were extinguished, the fire ran through the partitions.  Fire Chief Claude A. Sausser stated that the
cause of the fire has not yet been definitely determined.  Townspeople commended the firemen for their quick response and valiant
efforts in keeping the fire confined to the rear and upper floor of the building and for keeping it from spreading to adjoining
buildings.  
The William Shaw family, living at 124 West Main Street, next door to the burning building, began removing furniture and other
possessions to safety at the height of the fire.  Their home was spared and they were able to move the furnishings back into the
building.  Some of the furniture and possessions in the Schumacher and Eichert apartments were also removed but a large part of
their belongings were lost or badly damaged by water.  The Eichert sisters went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Earl A. Graver at 139
West Main Street.  The other families made homeless by the fire went to the homes of friends and relatives.  Edward G. Fox, disaster
chairman of the Southern Schuylkill Chapter of the American Red Cross, reported that Red Cross workers called on the families who
were effected by the fire to arrange to meet their emergency needs.  The chapter will also assist the families where necessary in
rehabilitating them after they find living quarters.  
Firemen who were called away from their suppers to fight the fire were grateful to the people living in that area who served hot
coffee and sandwiches.  Nelson Faust, manager of the A & P Supermarket, provided meat and bread for sandwiches made and
distributed by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Thompson, Mrs. Robert Painter, Mrs. William Quinter, Betty Gilbert and Mrs. Russell Strause.  Hot
coffee was made and distributed by the Liberty Hose Company Auxiliary.  Mr. Yoder stated that the building was only partially covered
by insurance.  No insurance was carried on the contents.
The Pensyl Flower Shop that afternoon had received a large shipment of flowers costing $300 to be made up for the Frank Fisher
funeral at Orwigsburg.  The flowers were taken from the building and given away because they would soon perish in the freezing
temperatures.  Many of the flowers remained in the building and were destroyed by smoke and water.  Mr. Pensyl, who only opened
his store several months ago, was able to save his kneeling bench, candelabra and palms.  He is continuing to operate his business
from the Baussum greenhouse along the Schuylkill Haven Orwigsburg pike.
The burning of the Yoder building was the second major fire disaster in town this winter and both were in the same section.  In
November, the Parkway restaurant was completely destroyed by fire for a $50,000 loss.  Another major fire in that section was averted
when the sprinkler system at the Reider Shoe Company put out an early morning fire before it could gain any headway.
The Yoder building has had a large variety of uses during the many years since it was constructed, it was recalled today by town
residents.  Many years ago it housed the undertaking parlors of Daniel Sharadin, who later converted it into a movie theater.  Later,
Frank Reider established his shoe factory there and in more recent years the first floor served as a banquet hall, the only one of its
kind in town.  It had a seating capacity of between 100 and 150 persons.  At one time the building was owned by the Red Men's Hall.  It
was acquired by Yoder about fifteen years ago and since then has been known as Yoder's hall, the second floor occupied by Faith
Tabernacle.  It also served as a lodge hall and meeting room for various town groups in years past.
The Call of September 5, 1952

SPECTACULAR BLAZE DESTROYS LARGE BARN AT HILL FARM

Fire swept through the old Hill Farm barn located on the hilltop at the western end of town and at its height presented a spectacular,
solid mass of flame to be seen for miles around.  Within a matter of minutes the empty barn was reduced to a shell with only the
studding and roof rafters remaining.  The fire was contained to sides and roof while the floor and the lower sides remained almost
intact.  Cause of the fire is unknown.  Refrigeration equipment stored in the under part of the barn was removed while the burning
rafters crashed down on the floor above.  The refrigeration unit, which was to be installed in the new addition being built to the Hill
Farm Dairy structure across the street, had recently been brought from Indiana by the Schwartz brothers, operators of the dairy, and
was being stored in the old barn until installation.  Quick action on the part of firemen saved an adjoining small building used for
storage and two large silos.  All companies responded to the alarm. The barn was owned by Walter F. Mullen, insurance realtor, who
recently purchased it along with a large plot of ground which he intends to make a real estate development.  The original plan of Mr.
Mullen, when the property was acquired, was to tear down the barn to make way for the residential section.  It was later decided to
convert the large barn to an apartment building with five units.  Work is scheduled to begin on Monday for the excavation of the first
home to be built upon the new real estate development.  It will be a two bedroom bungalow.
The Call of November 14, 1952

TWO BURNED IN FURNACE EXPLOSION

A furnace explosion at the Farel Y. Becker garage and appliance store on Haven Street Wednesday evening caused two employees
to be hospitalized for burns of the hands, arms and face.  The two men, Richard Nagle and Robert Zimmerman, went to the basement
about 6:30 p. m. to fix the fire for the night.  When the furnace door was opened, there followed an explosion which blew all the doors
and pipes off the furnace and shook the entire building.  The two men were burned on the hands, arms and face by the explosion of
the accumulated coal gas.  Miss Mildred Becker and another employee of the Farel Becker firm took the two men to the Good
Samaritan Hospital.  Zimmerman is expected to return home today but Nagle will remain for further treatment of his burns.

PERSONAL NOTE: Richard Nagle, mentioned above, was my late father.  I heard this story from him but with more detail.  He and his
friend "Curly" Zimmerman, both seventeen, were friends with Mr. Beckers sons, Farel and Pat.  They worked for the garage.  They did
indeed go to the building to start the fire.  However, the cause of the explosion is known to me.  In their haste to finish their job and
go out for the evening, they decided a little kerosene on the fire would help get it started quicker, resulting in the deafening
explosion.
The Call of June 26, 1953

$75,000 FIRE LEVELS WIENER WAREHOUSE, GARAGES AND DAMAGES PARKWAY HOMES

A spectacular fire in the mid afternoon heat on Monday, raged through the large frame warehouse of Joseph Wiener and Sons on
Railroad Street, jumped to nearby garages at the rear of Parkway and within an hour and a half caused damage amounting to an
estimated $75,000.  The fire was first discovered at 2:05 p. m.  The alarm was the first test of the new fire sirens installed at the three
fire companies of town.  The Liberty and the Schuylkill companies had the automatic hookup but the Rainbow's, because a relay had
not yet been obtained, was manually operated.  When firemen from the three companies arrived at the scene, the center of the
shingled frame building was blazing.  Flames were shooting out of the windows.  Smoke was billowing out the upper windows and
through the roof which was also breaking into flames.  Pumpers were needed to boost pressure from the fire plugs to play streams of
water upon the fire.   Heat from the burning structure was intense.  Spectators standing across the railroad tracks and against the
buildings on the other side were forced to move when the fire reached its height.  Heroic firemen moved in close to fight the fire.
Through the excellent work of the firemen from the three Schuylkill haven companies and the Cressona Fire Company directed by
Fire Chief Claude A. Sausser, the fire was confined to the warehouse, the garages adjoining it on the south and to four garages
across the alley to the rear of Parkway.  Fortunately the windows in the Win-Ann Manufacturing Company located next to the Wiener
warehouse did not break and protected the interior of the building from the intense heat.  The 250 employees of the Win-Ann left the
building shortly after the fire was discovered.  Some of the male employees went to the roof and put out small fires started by flying
burning material which landed on the roof.  It is believed the fire started by spontaneous combustion.
Gerald and Leon Weiner, brothers who operate the salvage business, had left the building to return to their homes in Pottsville
before the blaze started.  A truck left parked in front of the building was badly damaged by the heat and frequently the tires and
woodwork broke into flame.  Firemen turned the hose momentarily from the blaze to the truck to extinguish the fire.  Utility poles
running along Railroad Street also caught fire at numerous times.  Three hundred feet of cable owned by the TV Cable Corporation
was destroyed and cable service interrupted until replacement could be made about 5:00 p. m. after the fire was extinguished.
The heat of the fire was demonstrated when Warren "Cap" Leeser, attempting to get on the roof of his home on Parkway, opened a
third story window.  The terrific heat rushed in, scorched the wallpaper and blistered the paint on a door inside the room.  Paint was
blistered and shingles scorched on the Russell Werner home and Klahr apartments on Saint John Street.  All the homes in the
Parkway block between Union and Columbia street were damaged by the heat.  
Four garages at the rear of these homes were destroyed by the fire.  These were at the rear of the homes of Austin Faust, Herman
Dewald, Robert Shenk and John Reber.  All the garages were vacant except the one of Austin Faust.  The car in his garage was
moved before the flames reached the building.  The homes on Parkway which had damage to paint and to shingles on roof and siding
were: the Quinter building occupied by Vincent Stramara and Warren Berger, Norman Neuin, Austin Faust, Herman Dewald, Robert
Shenk, John Reber, Robert Reber, Frank Reber, Warren Leeser, Edward Palsgrove and Oscar Groatman.  A pigeon loft at the rear of
the Faust garage was also damaged and twelve of Sammy Faust's pigeons roasted.  Forty pigeons were removed unharmed.  Totally
destroyed were the garages owned by Edgar Palsgrove adjoining the Weiner building.  The Weiner warehouse, which is used to
store waste cotton and nylon rags, was the former Thomas Knitting Mill.  The building and contents loss is estimated at $50,000.
The heat of the fire although not breaking the plate glass windows in the other Weiner building, the former Loos feed store and
warehouse, damaged them so that they will have to be replaced.  Tar was melted out of the roof shingles.  
Nine firemen were burned in fighting the fire.  These men, manning the hoses, received the full blast of the terrific heat.  They were
treated by Drs. Conrad and Matonis and by individuals who secured ointment for burns.  John Bayliff of the Rainbow Hose Company
and Eddie Hoy of the Liberty Hose Company, suffered second degree burns of the arms and face.  Others suffering burns on the arms
were: Kimber Fenstermacher, Isaac Gehrig, Earl Witmer, of the Rainbow Hose Company; Jake Hamerly and Adam Tobias of the Liberty
Hose Company; Austin Faust of the Schuylkill Hose Company and Jack Steidle, an electrician working for M. Luther Fidler, who was
working near the scene and assisted in fighting the fire.  
William Kissinger, watchman on duty in the Reading Company tower on Union Street, was forced to leave the tower because of the
great heat.  He had relieved Harold Trout who was on duty when the fire started.  During the fire, grateful firemen were served cold
drinks by Mrs. Harriet Fertig and Mrs. Leonard Unger.
The Call of October 16, 1953

FIRE DESTROYS GARAGES, SHED; PERILS EAST WARD SOCIAL CLUB

Two garages and a shed were destroyed and the East Ward Social Club was threatened with destruction when a fire broke out
Tuesday afternoon about 1:15 o'clock.  The two garages were at the rear of 408 and 410 East Main Street.  Mary Yeager occupies the
home at 408 and the home at 410 is unoccupied at the present time.  The shed was at the rear of the Howard Oswald home at 406 East
Main Street.  All of the Schuylkill Haven fire companies responded to the alarm.  The garages and shed were completely destroyed
and the back and one side of the East Ward Social Club were scorched by the flames and intense heat.  Two small windows at the
back of the club were broken.  Damage was estimated at between $1,500 and $1,800 and the cause of the blaze was undetermined.
The Call of January 21, 1954

BOWEN HOME, BREAKER DAMAGED BY FIRE

What started out as a chimney fire caused damage estimated at $2,500 to the home of Samuel Bowen on the Schuylkill Haven
Adamsdale Road on Monday about noon.  The Liberty Hose Company was first called to the scene and was later aided by the
Schuylkill Hose Company.  The fire is believed to have been caused by an overheated chimney which set fire to wall partitions on the
first and second floor.  Walls of two rooms were damaged.  Firemen and neighbors helped the occupants of the home remove
furniture and furnishings.  The home is occupied by Samuel Bowen, his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Stump and his
granddaughter, Mrs. Robert Eiler and her husband and family.

Approximately $5,000 worth of electrical equipment was destroyed in a fire at the Lobh Coal company on Parkway last Thursday
morning at 11:25 o'clock.  Prompt action on the part of local fire companies saved the damage from being greater.  The blaze was
extinguished in about one half hours time.  The fire started in some of the electrical equipment located in the breaker.  The breaker,
owned by Fisher Associates of Pottsville, employs about twenty five men from this area.  Patrick Dowling of New Philadelphia is
superintendent.
The Call of March 11, 1954

THREE AUTO FIRES CAUSE EXCITEMENT, LITTLE DAMAGE

Three automobile fires caused considerable excitement but little damage the forepart of the week.  On Monday afternoon, Dan
Schaeffer finished his work at the post office and went for his car which is parked in one of the frame garages at the rear of the P. T.
Hoy property on Saint John Street.  He found the car filled with smoke.  The front seat and the door upholstery were smoldering and
began burning when the car doors were opened.  The fact that the car windows were all closed prevented a more serious fire
because the car had been parked in the garage for over an hour.  
The second fire occurred on Tuesday on Saint John Street, only a short distance away from the scene of the first fire.  Mr. and Mrs.
Carl Studenroth, new residents of Orwigsburg, R. D., parked their car on Saint John Street while Mrs. Studenroth kept a dental
appointment at the office of Dr. Nelson A. Lessig.  Angelo "Chick" Barbetta, who has charge of the Haven Appliance and Television
store, discovered the Studenroth car on fire when smoke began pouring out from under the hood.  A blanket which had been thrown
over the motor and evidently forgotten was burning.
The third automobile fire came Tuesday night when gas in and around the carburetor of the car driven by Mrs. Harold Kauterman on
High Street caught fire.  Henry Harner and Mrs. Dorothy Nagle, using baking powder, extinguished the flames, with no damage being
caused to the car.
The Call of March 25, 1954

$10,000 FIRE AT VFW POST

A fire which was discovered at about 7:58 o'clock caused damage to the Veterans of Foreign Wars home estimated at between
$10,000 and $12,000.  Elmer Wildermuth, while on his way to work, saw smoke pouring from the building and sent in an alarm.  All of
the local fire companies responded and fought the blaze for about three hours.  Firemen had a difficult time but were able to keep
the fire confined to the kitchen and dining room.  The kitchen, where the fire evidently started, was almost completely gutted and the
dining room was damaged from the blistering heat and smoke.  However the front part of the building is still in use.  Kenneth Strause,
V. F. W. steward and his wife live in an apartment in the building but were not at home when the fire broke out.
The Pottsville Republican of June 23, 1955

BURNING AUTO SOUNDS OWN HORN TO CALL FIREMEN

A burning auto sounded its own horn to help summon firemen to the Highway Motors used car lot between Schuylkill Haven and
Orwigsburg early today.  Then it obligingly moved out of line so that other autos would not take fire also.  F. H. Costenbader, a
neighbor, was awakened at 1:45 a. m. by the blowing of the horn and the barking of a dog.  He called Schuylkill Haven firemen but an
unidentified person had already called them.  Fire Chief Claude Sausser went with the Rainbow Company to the scene.  When they
arrived the car had moved approximately twenty five feet out of line.  Sausser believes the blaze caused a short circuit which made
the horn blow and caused the vehicle, which was probably in gear, to move.  It was destroyed.
The Call of March 29, 1956

$18,000 FIRE RUINS INTERIOR OF KREMER AND DAUBENSPECK HOMES ON PARKWAY

Fire yesterday afternoon shortly after one o'clock completely gutted the double block homes owned by George "Jack" Kremer and
Harold Daubenspeck at 217-219 Parkway.  Damage to the dwellings, furnishings and clothing was estimated by Fire Chief Claude A.
Sausser at $18,000.  The fire is reported to have started on the Kremer side of the dwelling in the basement near the furnace.  It
followed a partition dividing the two homes and reaching the floor level branched out on both sides, following the floor joists which
ran from one side of the building to the other.  It then went up through the partitions to the second floor and the attic.  
Workers at the Walkin Shoe Company across the street saw the smoke coming from the double block and turned in the alarm.  No one
was at home at either place.  Both Kremer and Daubenspeck had been home at noon time.  Kremer threw two shovels of coal on the
furnace and had it damped when he left at 12:45.  He went to Bud's pool room where he was summoned when the fire was discovered
about 1:10.  Daubenspeck left his home about 12:50 to go to work at Shollenbergers trucking firm.  He is a member of the Schuylkill
Hose Company and of the local fire police.  When he heard the sirens, he went outside to learn where the fire was.  He saw smoke
coming from the direction of the Winn Ann Manufacturing Company and started for the scene.  When he arrived at Parkway he
discovered it was his own home that was burning.  
When firemen arrived on the scene, there was smoke pouring from the building but it was impossible to determine where the fire
was burning.  After laying hose lines and having the firemen ready to apply water, Fire Chief Sausser ordered the building ventilated
by opening windows.  As soon as the smoke was allowed to escape and fresh air enter, the building began to blaze.  Fighting was
difficult because the blaze was confined to the partitions, ceilings and walls.  Large quantities of water had to be used and much of
the damage to the furnishings was caused by smoke and water.  Firemen and neighbors carried out some of the furniture and
personal effects but moist of the contents was badly damaged.  Daubenspeck entered the building with a gas mask but because of a
faulty fit, the dense smoke entered the mask and he was almost overcome.  He was seen staggering in the building and was led to
safety and given treatment in the ambulance.  
Mrs. Kremer, who suffered from high blood pressure and shock, had to be removed to the Pottsville Hospital in the community
ambulance.  She is still a patient at the hospital.  Mrs. Kremer is the former Ella Oliver.  She and Mr. Kremer, a widower, were married
about a month ago.  She was working at the nearby Winn-Ann Manufacturing Company when the fire was discovered.  Kremer
entered the building to recover some cash, insurance papers and other valuables in an upstairs room.  As he opened the door he
was met by a gust of hot, dense smoke.  He fought his way to a partly opened window where he was seen by firemen who put up a
ladder and enabled him to descend to safety.  The two and a half story shingled structure was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Daubenspeck
and children, Bob, 16 and Grace Ann, 13 and Mr. and Mrs. Kremer and daughter Carol.  Both families had insurance on their property.
The Call of August 2, 1956

EARLY MORNING FIRE AT ALPHA MILLS CAUSES HEAVY LOSS BY WATER AND SMOKE

A spectacular fire early this morning which at its height sent flames shooting forty feet in the air, oddly caused little fire damage but
considerable water and smoke damage at the Alpha Mill on Margaretta Street.  The fire originated about 12:35 a. m. in the penthouse
containing the elevator motor and rigging on top of the three story factory building.  Flames were confined to that small building but
a strong draft from the elevator shaft sent the flames shooting into the sky.  Heavy oil soaked timbers in burning caused heavy
smoke to permeate the entire building and to make fire fighting difficult.  The fire is believed to have started in the elevator motor.  
The night watchman, Charles Brown of Friedensburg, was working in the new addition to the south side of the main building.  He
smelled smoke and went to investigate.  He opened the elevator door and saw flames shooting down from the elevator motor above.
The burning penthouse set off the sprinkler directly beneath it.  An automatic alarm bell that operates with the sprinklers sounded
and was heard by Mrs. George Wildermuth, next door, and Stanley Bernet, who lives nearby on Union Street.  The town's three fire
companies responded with all equipment to a general alarm.
Barton Biever, operator of the Alpha Mills, stated he was unable to estimate the loss.  Damage by fire was limited to the elevator, the
penthouse that contained the motor and rigging and part of the roof where the fire had started to spread.  Most of the damage was
caused by water from two sprinkler heads which sprayed the ceiling and thus prevented the spread of the fire. The large volume of
water released by the sprinklers ran down through the second, first and basement floors.  The water dripped down on table
machines, knitted yarn, partly finished garments and complete units.  Other knitted goods were ruined by smoke.
Fire Chief Claude A. Sausser immediately put two large hose lines playing water over the roof while ladders were put up along the
building to get hose lines on the roof.  The fire was quickly put under control but firemen made certain that all burning and
smoldering timbers were safe before leaving the scene.  Two of the Schuylkill Hose Company trucks remained at the fire until later in
the morning.  Most of the water damage was caused on the second, first and basement floors.  The elevator was at the second floor,
so all water coming down the shaft rushed out on this floor.  Sausser put twelve firemen to sweeping the water toward the elevator
shaft where it dropped down to the pit where it was pumped out.  Factory employees who arrived on the scene also helped in getting
the water off the floors.  This morning only a few of the 130 Alpha Mills employees had to be sent home.  Part of the mill was able to
continue operation.  Other employees began cleaning machinery and removing damaged stock.  The rolls of knitted yarn were taken
to the Schuylkill Haven Bleach and Dye Works.  The cut garments were taken to Troy Laundry.  
The sprinkler system was the hero of the fire.  Without the sprinklers and the alarm that worked with it, the fire would have gained
considerable headway before it was discovered and would have destroyed most of the factory.  Two members of the Rainbow Fire
Company suffered severe injuries while fighting the blaze.  Charles Fenstermacher received a deep gash in the right arm and Jimmy
Costanzo, while helping to take a portable pump into the basement, sustained a sever cut on the head.  Both men required immediate
services of a doctor.
The Call of August 9, 1956

OPERATION WASHOUT FOR ALPHA MILLS GARMENTS

Backyards on Margaretta and adjoining streets presented a riot of color last weekend as fifty seven families hung out 24,000 Alpha
Mill garments to dry on their wash lines.  A colorful display of briefs, snuggies, childrens' creepers, crawlers, sweaters and T-shirts
hung on lines.  These garments were in nine different colors: pink, blue, maize, white, red , navy, orchid, mint and dark green.  
Operation Washout began on Thursday when Mrs. George Wildermuth offered the use of her wash lines to dry out the finished
garments which were soaked with water in the early morning fire at the Alpha Mill.  As neighbors saw the garments being put on the
Wildermuth line, they came to the factory and offered the use of their lines.  In all, fifty seven families volunteered their yards for the
big drying operation.
On Thursday and Friday 2,000 dozen garments were strung on lines in the neighborhood and completely dried.  In addition, between
40,000 and 50,000 pounds of rolled knit goods were dried and refinished at the Schuylkill Haven Bleach and Dye Works.  The
snuggies, briefs and childrens items are damaged and will be turned over to the insurance company.  They were dried out to prevent
further damage to mildew.  The factory was back on complete operation several hours after the employees had reported for work on
Thursday and had cleaned up the water damaged machines and knitted goods.
The Call of September 13, 1956

BOILING TAR CAUSES FIRE

A fire reported to have started form tar boiling over on a kitchen stove caused an estimated $6,000 damage to the home of Michael
Chrin at 408 East Main Street on Friday and threatened the adjoining home before firemen were able to bring it under control.  
According to Mr. Chrin, he had been heating the tar on the gas stove in the kitchen and had turned off the stove to go get his wife to
steady the ladder while he carried the tar to the roof.  When he returned to the kitchen shortly after 5:00 p. m., he was met by a
sudden flame shooting across the room.  He immediately turned in an alarm and the local fire companies responded.  
Firemen found that the gas flame was still burning.  It is not known whether the jet failed to close or whether Chrin had not turned off
the gas properly.  The fire spread to the partitions and went up to the second floor and roof.  Dense smoke from the tar and the
partition fire made fighting difficult.  The firemen donned gas masks to get close to the fire and cut a hole in the roof so that water
could be played upon the blaze.  The home of Howard Oswald on the east side of the Chrin residence was threatened.  Shingles on
the side were blistered but water from the hoses protected the home.  The Chrin family moved to Schuylkill Haven almost two years
ago.  Mr. Chrin is presently unemployed and was engaged in making improvements to his property.  During the past several months
the interior was painted, a porch was added on the back and the front porch was painted and improved.
The Call of September 26, 1957

FIRE DAMAGES ZWEIZIG HOME ON WILLOW STREET

A fire of undetermined origin broke out in the Robert Zweizig home on Willow Street yesterday afternoon about four o'clock.  The fire
started in a closet in the upper front bedroom.  It spread between the ceiling and the roof.  Because of the location of the fire in the
house it was hard to combat.  Neither of the parents were home at the time of the fire.  The children along with their uncle were
playing in the yard.  The fire was discovered by Mrs. Emily Luckenbill who was going home from work at the time.  The Zweizigs will be
unable to live in the home for five or six weeks until the repairs are finished.  They are at present residing with relatives.  Damage
was estimated at $2200.  Liberty Hose Company, Rainbow Hose Company and Schuylkill Hose Company all responded to the alarm.
The Call of July 12, 1958

FOOLISH PRANK ALMOST CAUSED BAD GARAGE FIRE

The foolish prank of some unknown person could have resulted in a major conflagration last night.  Only the chance discovery by
Mrs. C. W. Heffner of a small fire at a row of garages behind North Berne Street along the river bank prevented a more serious fire.  
While walking her small dog last evening about eleven o'clock, Mrs. Heffner saw a small pencil of red light at the garages.  Returning
home she procured a flashlight and went back to investigate.  As she approached the garages, Rudy Miller, who keeps his car in one
of them, drove up and they both investigated.  They found that the garage door was burning.  Mr. and Mrs. Miller obtained a bucket
of water and extinguished the blaze.  Investigation this morning by local police revealed pieces of a railroad flare near the fire.  It is
believed that someone lit the flare and tossed it against the garage door.  Had it not been discovered in time, the fire might have
destroyed the garages, owned by Mrs. Rose Semmett, and the cars inside.  
The Call of July 24, 1958

TWO BOYS STOLE FLARES, STARTED FIRE

Two boys responsible for the burning of the garage door on the row of garages behind North Berne Street last week were
apprehended by Police Chief Lorin Honicker.  The two boys, who are in their teens, stole the flares from a caboose on the Reading
tracks.  They lit the flares and one held his along side the garage door "just to see what would happen."  They didn't want to break
into the garage.  The boys will be turned over to the county juvenile authorities.
The Call of June 25, 1959

FIVE CARS, TRUCK, TV SETS, APPLIANCES BURN; FIREMEN SAVE ADJOINING PROPERTIES

A spectacular early morning fire on Tuesday destroyed the Earl Williams garage and the adjoining Howell warehouse on West Main
Street and caused damage estimated at upwards of $50,000.  Four cars and a tractor trailer in the Williams garage and the automobile
of Russell Howell in his own building were destroyed.  Quick action by persons arriving early on the scene resulted in four cars being
removed from the burning building.  Also destroyed in the fire were between 25 and 30 used television sets, some of them belonging
to customers who had brought them in to Cliff Lockard for repairs, used ranges, refrigerators and automatic washers and a new
colored television set.  A shipment of new sets, expected to be delivered on Monday and stored in the warehouse, was delayed a day
and escaped being added to the estimated $8,000 loss sustained by Cliff Lockard's TV and Appliance store.
"Wouldn't you know it, every piece in here (the main store room filled with new merchandise in the building spared by fire) is covered
by insurance", said Lockard, "but there is no insurance on any of the used sets."  Fortunately, some of the customers whose sets
were brought in for repairs are partially covered by home insurance.  Also destroyed were automobile parts valued at $3000 and
owned by L. C. Driesbach, which were stored in the second story of the warehouse.  The adjoining welding and machine shop of
Russell Howell, only ten feet from the raging fire was burned on the side and roof, but fast action by local firemen saved it and the
large three story building fronting on Main Street.  The machine shop was burned on the one side and roof but most of the damage
inside was caused by water rather than fire.
FIRE DISCOVERED AT 1:05 AM  The fire was discovered by Robert "Dunk" Dohner and Charles Kubich about 1:05 in the morning.  
Dohner was awakened by the smell of smoke.  He first looked around his own property below the railroad tracks and then walked out
front.  At that time, Charles Kubich, who works for the Reading Railroad Company and has just come in on the Schuylkill train, walked
by Dohner's and the two looked over to the buildings across the street.  "We saw a small patch of fire, about three feet long and
eighteen inches high toward the rear of the warehouse," explained Dohner.  "I ran immediately to the fire box and turned in the
alarm.  At about the same time Kenneth "Butch" Reed and Kay Seigfried saw the smoke and small flame in the warehouse.  By forcing
the garage doors open at the bottom, Reed was able to crawl into the building.  Smoke and flame prevented him from battling the fire
and also removing Howell's car.
FOUR CARS SAVED  Shortly after the fire sirens sounded, Lee Reber, Harold Bast and Walter Archbald arrived on the scene.  Along
with Dohner, they entered the Williams garage and were able to remove four cars.  Smoke from the burning building next door
poured into the garage and flames began licking through the partition.  They were unable to see the remaining cars parked overnight
in the garage.  The cars removed belonged to Arlin and Claude Krause of the Summit Station area, who are drivers for Arrow Carriers,
Mrs. Mamie Schwalm and Walter Archbald.  A small truck which was in the service station bay of the garage was also later removed.  
The tractor part of a tractor trailer unit, owned by the Edward H. Shollenberger Sons trucking company and valued by Nelson
Shollenberger at $1,000 was destroyed.  Other cars in the Williams garage included a 1946 Plymouth owned by Williams, a 1955 Desoto
owned by Paul Zimmerman,  a 1953 Chevrolet convertible owned by James Miller of Ashland and a 1956 Pontiac that was being
readied for shipment to Germany.  The Pontiac was owned by Master Sergeant and Mrs. Donald J. Heiser.  Mrs. Heiser, the former
Dolores Sterner of 317 Dock Street, is awaiting orders to make the trip to Illesheim, Germany to join her husband and was going to
have the car shipped in advance.  Russell Howell's car, a 1953 Studebaker, was parked in the rear of the warehouse and was
destroyed.  An old car, a 1941 Ford convertible being customized by Glenn Greenawalt and parked in an addition to the machine
shop, directly behind the warehouse, was also destroyed.  Tractors of Arrow Carriers stored in the garage escaped because they left
earlier for an all night run.
WILLIAMS SUFFERS MOST LOSS  The greatest loss was sustained by Earl Williams, owner of the rambling garage structure.  In recent
years the back part of the building was used only for storage of automobiles, while the front section was used as a service station.  
Robert Hoy of Friedensburg operated the service station and small repair department for Williams.  The building was only partially
covered by insurance.
EXACT CAUSE UNKNOWN  The exact cause of the fire is unknown.  Fire Chief Paul Hinnershitz conducted an investigation on Tuesday
and determined that the blaze started in the rear of the warehouse in a section used for television repairs.  Mrs. Howell told Cliff
Lockard that she heard a cracking sound that seemed to come from that building about 9:00 p. m. Monday during the thunderstorm.  
Whether the fire was caused by lightning which started s fire that smoldered for hours before breaking into flame or whether
electrical wiring was to blame has not been determined.  
HARVEY HEIM BUILT GARAGE  Harvey Heim , one of the community's early automobile dealers, built the original garage on West Main
Street about 45 years ago.  At that time he sold the Cutting automobile.  Jim Schuckers conducted a coal business and occupied the
barn next door.  He eventually bought the garage from Heim and made several additions to the building.  Earl Williams acquired the
property in 1928 and built two additions to the front, one 40 by 30 feet and the other 30 by 30 feet.  L. C. Driesbach, after selling his
property on Dock Street, moved into the Williams garage and conducted his business there from 1956 to 1958.  An extension was built
on the west side to give more working space for an alignment rack and another extension was added to the side to house the furnace
and coal bin.  The main structure measured 60 by 100 feet with the two additions across the front adding another 30 feet to the depth.
EXCELLENT FIRE FIGHTING  Excellent fire fighting by the three local fire companies, Schuylkill, Liberty and rainbow, aided by the
Yorkville Hose Company and Humane Company of Pottsville, saved the large Howell property, formerly known as the Greenawalt
property and the Howell Welding and Machine Shop on the east and the William Campbell Atlantic Service Station on the west.  The
local firemen immediately began playing water on the sides of the Howell properties.  Amazingly, the large property which is only
about twelve feet away at the rear corner from the warehouse which was completely destroyed, has only a few scorched shingles on
the side to show for the experience.  Fortunately there was no wind blowing at the time of the early morning fire and the flames shot
harmlessly hundreds of feet into the air.  A heavy soaking rain earlier in the evening and the steady streams of water on the adjoining
properties saved them.
The Call of December 24, 1959

BUCKET A DAY STOVE EXPLODES, STARTS FIRE

A leaky water back on the bucket a day stove in the basement of the Frank Shollenberger home at 327 Dock Street was the cause of a
fire Friday night at 9:30.  Water dripping on the coals in the stove formed a steam pressure that blew off the lid of the stove.  Hot
coals were spewed over the immediate area.  Part of the wall was burned and the ceiling badly scorched.  Clothing hanging on a line
in the cellar and owned by Richard Schultz, who lives next door, was ignited by the flying coals.  Damage has been estimated at $110.  
The fire was started by an explosion and both Mr. and Mrs. Shollenberger who were home at the time, thought it was two cars
bumping together out on the street.  Mrs. Shollenberger discovered the flames in the cellar.  Raymond Lord, a tenant in an upstairs
apartment, fought the fire with a garden hose until the arrival of the Rainbow Hose Company, which had been summoned by Schultz.  
The hose company extinguished the blaze.  Fire Chief Paul Hinnershitz and Assistant Fire Chiefs John Fenstermacher and Carl Feger
also assisted at the fire.
The Call of March 30, 1960

FIRE AT KINGS STORE HALTED IN TIME

What might have developed into a serious fire was averted Saturday afternoon when a quick thinking person telephoned an alarm
into Town Hall Saturday afternoon.  The call was relayed to the Schuylkill Hose Company who responded immediately to the King's
Store Company Five and Ten at 12 East Main Street.  An overheated pipe leading from the stoker had ignited the partition behind the
card counter in the store.  When the smoldering was removed it was noticed that the floor boards were heavily charred.  In the mean
time, Fire Chief HInnershitz had one truck from the other two companies stand by in case of an emergency.  The building is owned by
realtor Gordon D. Reed.  Total amount of damage is estimated at $25.00.
The Call of April 21, 1960

EARLY EASTER MORNING FIRE CAUSE $75,000 DAMAGE TO WEST MAIN STREET PROPERTIES

An early Easter morning fire almost totally destroyed the building occupied by the Reading Restaurant and Angelo's and for a time
threatened to sweep through the entire short West Main Street between Saint John Street and the railroad tracks.  The three local
fire companies with the assistance of firemen and equipment from Pottsville, Orwigsburg and Cressona, successfully contained the
fire to the double frame property.  The adjoining Palsgrove building on the west was only slightly burned at the roof but had
considerable smoke and water damage amounting to an estimated $1,000.  The Kaufman building on the east had smoke damage that
may amount to several hundred dollars.  
Fire Chief Paul Hinnershitz estimated the total damage between $50,000 and $75,000.  The building occupied by the Reading
Restaurant and Angelo's had a loss that may run to $35,000.  Loss of equipment and fixtures of the two businesses may be another
$25,000.  All except Angelo Stramara, who operated the Angelo's bar and dining room, had insurance.  He estimates his loss at
$14,000.  The fire started at the rear of the second floor on the west side of the building.  Angelo Stramara, whose home is in
Pottsville but who maintains sleeping quarters above his kitchen, awakened about 6:00 a. m. to see flames.  He attempted to battle
the blaze with a fire extinguisher but was forced to flee the burning building only partially clothed.  He phoned in an alarm and then
finished dressing at the Reading station.  At about the same time, two of F. S. Lewis' employees who were delivering Sunday papers,
discovered the fire.  Charles Kubich of 22 East Main Street, who was driving the delivery truck, told Frederick Dasch, a junior high
school student, who was delivering papers, to turn in the alarm.
When Schuylkill Haven firemen arrived on the scene, flames were coming down a stairway from the second floor at Angelo's.  Fire
Chief Hinnershitz summoned assistance from surrounding towns.  Good water pressure from the mains and lines run from the
pumpers to the Schuylkill River provided adequate water to fight the fire.  The firemen were able to confine the blaze to the second
floor of the burning building.  The flames burned through the roof but numerous hose lines poured water into the building and
prevented the flames from spreading to the adjoining buildings.  Brick construction between the burning building and the adjoining
structures helped prevent the spread of the fire.  In addition to the Rainbow, Liberty and Schuylkill Hose Companies of town, the
Yorkville Hose Company and Good Will Hose Company of Pottsville and the Friendship Hose Company of Orwigsburg and Cressona
Fire Company assisted.
The building that burned was purchased about a month ago by the First National Bank and Trust Company from Cevetan Georgevic of
Pottsville.  It was occupied by the Reading Restaurant, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Kosmas Zachariades, and Angelos's operated by
Angelo Stramara.  The apartment above the Reading Restaurant was vacant.  The Zachariades live at the rear of the Parris Lazos
property on East Main Street.  The fire closes a restaurant that has been in business for more than forty nine years.  The Reading
Restaurant has had Greek proprietors for most of this time.  The last owners acquired the business from Mr. and Mrs. Parthenis
"Danny" Zachariades, who in turn acquired it from her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Vranas.  For a long period before that, the business
was conducted by Tommy and Charlie Katsaros and before that by the Pettis Brothers.
The Call of June 16, 1960

CHILDREN IN ATTIC SET FIRE TO HOUSE

What could have been very tragic with the loss of life and considerable property was averted Monday afternoon when neighbors saw
smoke coming from the attic window of the Thomas McCord property at 315 Saint John Street.  Neighbors formed a bucket brigade
and had the blaze under control by the time the fire departments arrived.  All three companies answered the call.  Children who had
entered and were playing in the home are believed responsible for the fire.  The house had been vacated quite some time ago and
hasn't been entirely emptied of its contents, the attic section in particular.  The fire was confined to the floor area and the necessary
replacement will be made soon.  Just about two months ago, the house was entered and thoroughly ransacked.
The six images below are all from the parade for the 175th Anniversary celebration in September of 1925.  The left column shows the Liberty Fire Company engines
preparing for and driving in the parade.  The right column shows Rainbow Hose Company engines preparing for the parade and members marching in the parade.
The Call of August 4, 1960

RAINBOW HOSE COMPANY MADE GREAT STRIDES SINCE 1885

The giant firemen's parade on Saturday, made colorful by the many new pieces of fire equipment from neighboring communities, the
bands, drum and bugle corps and marching units, was a fitting climax for the Rainbow Hose Company's week long 75th anniversary
celebration.  The newly acquired grounds and the recently completed expansion of the Rainbow building on Dock Street adequately
accommodated the visiting firemen.  In the past few years the fire company has purchased and torn down the Rose property which
adjoined on the south side and the Christ property which adjoined on the north side.  A large addition to house the two large trucks
was finished this past year and the social room, previously located on the second floor of the old building, were moved to the first
floor.  The large playground area on Willow Street, also recently approved with the addition of a pavilion and more pieces of
playground equipment also played a big part in the success of the celebration.
When the history of the Rainbow Hose Company is read, the fact that the early founders continued with their plans for starting a fire
company is amazing.  It had its start back in 1885 when a group of North Ward men at a picnic talked about the need for a fire company
for that part of town.  A meeting was held at an old house along side the present Guy Luckenbill Cafe.  The founders decided to hold
a picnic and dance to raise funds for the embryo fire company.  The magnificent sum of $7.67 was raised by this means.  The founders
appointed a committee to look into the purchase of a fire cart.  The committee reported that one could be bought for $450.  So the
organizing firemen decided to put on a house to house solicitation.  This canvass brought in $59.75.  Along about this time most
organizers would have thrown in the towel.  
On October 13, 1885, the company was organized as the Good Intent Fire Company Number One.  Due to the fact that the carriage
committee was so royally entertained by the Rainbow Hose Company Number One of Reading on their visit to inspect carriages on
October 26, 1885, the name of the local company was changed to the Rainbow Hose Company in honor of the Reading company by
that name.  A charter was granted to the Rainbow Hose Company by the county courts.  The new carriage was delivered on Christmas
day.  It was first housed in the stable of John Bader and then at the rear of the property known as the Hotel Deer, owned by Benjamin
J. Luckenbill.  This building was not suitable to house such an expensive piece of equipment.  New doors, floors, papering, windows
and a tower on the roof were immediately installed.  In April of 1886, a bell was purchased from the Half Way House for four dollars
and placed in the tower.  Three members were appointed bellringers with the privilege of ringing the bell for practice at any time they
thought necessary.  The founders were an ambitious group.  They founded a drum corps in 1886.
When the meeting place was changed to the third floor of a building at 315 Dock Street, a janitor was appointed to keep the rooms
clean at a monthly salary of twenty five cents.  Occasionally he submitted bills for an additional ten cents for cleaning spittoons.  At a
festival in 1892, the demand for clam soup was so great that there was a shortage of milk.  A cow was brought to the grounds and
milked to provide this necessary ingredient.  The Ladies Auxiliary dates back to 1895.  The women immediately went to work holding
bazaars and festivals to help pay off the debt.  By this time the company had bought its present building for $900 and made
renovations at a cost of $3,176.  When the Friendship hook and Ladder Company merged with the Rainbows, another addition was
made to the building at a cost of $2,790.  In 1920 the hook and ladder truck was motorized to keep up with the times.  The old hose
carriage of the company was given to the fire company at Wade.  As a thank you the wade firemen named their company the Rainbow
Hose Company.  In 1936 the two trucks were rebuilt at a cost of $6,525.  
The 1950s were important years in the history of the Rainbow Hose Company.  In 1951 a new Seagrave ladder truck was purchased for
$30, 923.  In 1954 the company purchased the Charles Rose property for $6,000, tore down the building and used the ground for a
parking lot.  Also in that year the company bought the Willow Street playground for $1,200 and added new equipment.  The Ladies'
Auxiliary added a new fence for the protection of the children.  In 1959 the contract for the new truck was awarded for $35,020.  In
March of this tear, the company purchased the Harry Christ property.  The building was torn down to provide additional parking space
as well as an area where company affairs could be held.  The company has made great progress since its founding 75 years ago.  It is
a great asset to the community and its present members are to be commended for carrying on the great work that was started by the
founders back in 1885.
The Call of August 11, 1960

RHINE HOME HIT BY BOLT OF LIGHTNING

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rhine of 600 Columbia Street, was struck by a bolt of lightning Tuesday night about 12:20 o'clock.  
The bolt struck the chimney, completely demolishing it and traveled down the sewer vent pipe into the cellar area.  There the water
pipes broke open, the force of the vacuum of the lightning blew off the furnace door and several windows were broken.  The home
of Vincent Hughes, living next door to the Rhines was also struck but only the water meter in the cellar was slightly damaged.  Last
fall the Rhine home was hit by lightning and at that time the television set received the full force of the strike.
The Call of June 8, 1961

GARAGE DESTROYED, YOUNGSTER BURNED

Vincent Dixon Jr., five, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Dixon Sr. of Pottsville Rd#3, is a patient in the Pottsville Hospital where he was
taken early Monday afternoon when he suffered second degree burns of the right leg and hand in a fire that destroyed his father's
garage.  Vincent and some other children were playing with matches in gasoline in the Willow Lake garage when the gasoline ignited.
Vincent was badly burned while the other children miraculously escaped injury.  The garage, a one story structure, was completely
destroyed, according to Fire Chief Paul Hinnershitz.  Mr. Dixon, an employee of Wiener's in Pottsville, repaired cars in his spare time.
A 1957 model Buick in the garage for repairs was destroyed.  A corner of the house was damaged.  The three local fire companies
responded to the alarm about one in the afternoon.
The Call of August 10, 1961

UNUSED DWELLING DESTROYED BY FIRE

Firemen were summoned at 3:45 in the morning Friday to 402 Dock Street where an unoccupied frame dwelling was on fire.  The fire
had been raging for some time before discovered by a neighbor.  The three local fire companies responded to the scene of the fire
which was directly across the street from the Rainbow Hose Company.  The dwelling was vacant, although some of the furniture had
been removed as late as midnight the night of the blaze.  The front part of the building had been converted into a small store which
was last occupied by Violet's Lunch.  The building was formerly the Clayton Koch grocery store.  No cause of the fire has been
determined.  John Donton of Brommerstown Valley is reported to be the owner of the building.  Investigation is being conducted into
the fire by local fire chief Paul Hinnershitz,  He called in Assistant Fire Marshal Mike Wisnewski, state police sergeant from the
Reading barracks to conduct the probe into the cause of the fire.
The Call of August 24, 1961

50-50 TICKETS AND PENCIL LEFT AT FIRE LED POLICE TO ARSONIST, ADMITS THREE FIRES

With the finding of three tickets from the Rainbow Hose Company 50-50 club and a pencil, the cause of three fires in Schuylkill Haven,
involving over $28,000 damage within the past month, was solved.  Last week George Sheriff, haven Street, called Fire Chief Paul
Hinnershitz to report that a fire had been started in his unoccupied dwelling at 227 Haven Street but had burned itself out.  Upon
investigation the tickets and pencil were found and through the numbers on the tickets they were traced to being in the possession
of William I. McKeone, 33, of 401 Dock Street.  McKeone was apprehended by State Police Corporal John Ripka and State Fire Marshal
Michael Wisnewski on Friday and received a hearing before Alderman William Thompson of Pottsville.  Fire Chief Hinnershitz helped
state police in the breaking of the case.
McKeone readily admitted setting afire the Pennsy Railroad station about a month ago resulting in $20,000 loss of surplus food.  He
also admitted starting the fire at 402 Dock Street.  McKeone lived in the rear of the property and reported the 3:45 a. m. fire.  $3,500
damage was involved in that fire.  When arrested, McKeone revealed he was planning on setting fire to another dwelling in the North
Ward.  He was committed to prison without bail last Friday afternoon on three counts of arson.  McKeone had previously been
arrested on arson charges and had been returned to Schuylkill County prison from Fairview State Hospital on March 2, 1960, at which
time he was immediately paroled by Judge Charles W. Staudenmeier.
The Call of March 15, 1962

FIRE AT REAGER HOME CAUSES SLIGHT DAMAGE

A smoldering fire in the closet at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Reager, Pear Street, at the rear of Fairmount brought out the town's
firefighting equipment but did only slight damage before firemen extinguished the blaze.  Smoke was noticed coming from the home
and an alarm was turned in about 1:30 this afternoon.  Assistant Fire Chief Carl Feger stated the fore was probably started by
spontaneous combustion when a rag used to apply wax to the floor burst into flame.  The rag, which had been hanging in the closet,
fell to the floor and ignited items on the floor.  Because the closet door was closed, the ignited articles smoldered and produced a
large volume of smoke.  The firemen, wearing gas masks, broke through a wall to make certain the fire was not burning between
partitions.  Damage was slight.
The Call of May 10, 1962

FIRE DESTROYS TWO GARAGES

Just a week from the day Franklin Eckert of 324 Saint John Street returned home from the hospital where he had been hospitalized
almost five weeks following a stroke, the combination garage and repair shop located in the yard to the rear of his home was
damaged beyond repair by fire and the adjacent garage of Nelson Faust, 400 Saint John Street, was also destroyed.  The fire started
around 4:50 p. m. Friday afternoon when sparks from papers being burned in an incinerator got into the Eckert garage.  The blaze
quickly spread to the Faust garage.  The Eckert four car garage was used mostly for storage of washing machines being repaired by
Eckert.  Most of the loss in the fire was washing machines and parts of machines including motors.  One car space in the garage was
rented out but no cars were in the garage at the time of the fire.  Fire Chief Paul Hinnershitz estimated the Eckert loss at $2500 and
the Faust loss at $500.  Shingles on the Loeper home, located next to the Eckert home, were badly scorched.  The Rainbow, Schuylkill
and Liberty Companies responded to the general alarm.  Eckert, who is confined to his bedroom, is still in serious condition.
The Call of January 24, 1963

FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE EDNA BARR'S HOME

The back part of the two and a half story home of Edna Barr, 121 High Street, retired school teacher, was badly damaged by fire and
water this morning during a stubborn fire which according to Fire Chief Paul Hinnershitz is believed to have started in the cellar in a
heating coil on a pipe leading into a rear building.  The fire followed through into the partitions of the first and second floors.  
Miss Barr was awakened by the smell of smoke around 5:45 a. m.  She aroused a neighbor, Arthur Fenstermacher, who turned in the
alarm.  The three local fire companies responded and upon arrival found the smoke so dense in the house that the firemen had to
use a smoke ejector.  The men using Scott air packs which have tanks of air attached, were required to use fourteen before they
could enter the home.  The below freezing weather did not help any in fighting the fire.  A valve on the fire plug in front of the East
Ward building froze but later was gotten open.  The firemen also experienced some difficulty when some of the booster lines froze
after the water had been turned off.  The fire was finally brought under control about ten a. m.  The home has been so badly damaged
by the fire, the bursting of a water pipe and the burning of the electric wires that Miss Barr will not be able to live in the home until
repairs have been made.
The Call of February 21, 1963

FIRE AT WILLOW LAKE ON SUNDAY

The Rainbow and Liberty Fire Companies responded to a fire alarm Sunday afternoon around 2:300 o'clock when a fire broke out in
the cellar of the Vincent Dixon residence in Willow Lake.  William Wingle, member of the Rainbow Fire Company, and one of the first
to arrive at the scene, found Lawrence Dixon, brother of Vincent, had most of the fire extinguished after using water from a garden
hose on the blaze.  An overheated flue was blamed on the fire that burned a rafter.  The building was formerly a country school house
for children of North Manheim Township.
The Call of January 23, 1964

TRAPPED IN BURNING VEHICLE, SAM FAUST BARELY ESCAPES

Samuel Faust, Long Run, suffered burns of the face and severe lacerations of the fingers and elbows during a fire late Saturday
afternoon at which time he was trapped in the cab of a payloader which caught fire in the coal yard of C. W. Faust and Son, rear of
Parkway.  Austin Faust and son Sammy were preparing to remove snow with the payloader from in front of the homes of neighbors on
Parkway.  They were in the process of putting gasoline into the payloader tank which is located along side the seat on the inside of
the cab, when some of the gasoline fell over the hot engine.  Immediately the flames shot up around the cab and Sammy was trapped
inside.  Using his elbow to break the cab window, Sammy jumped through the window landing in a pile of ice.  
He was treated at the dispensary of the Pottsville Hospital for burns, cuts and shock.  It is felt that the fact he was wearing heavy
clothing saved him from fatal injuries when he crashed through the window.  In addition to the payloader being badly damaged, the
gas pump caught fire and a new pump had to be installed.  The two trucks from the Liberty Fire Company answered the call.
The Call of June 25, 1964

SALVAGE FIRM CLAIMS LOSS OF $10,000; NO INSURANCE

A fire which blazed through the abandoned coal breaker near the Edgewood section of Schuylkill Haven Tuesday afternoon is being
investigated by the state fire marshal from the Reading barracks.  The breaker, known as the Lohb Coal Company breaker, is owned
by Salvador Gaudiano and Brothers Incorporated of Hazleton, a scrap and salvage company.  Until bankruptcy, the breaker was
actually owned and operated by Fisher Associates which had been located in Pottsville.  J. Harold Fisher is listed as president of the
company.  The breaker was sold to Gaudiano Brothers at a private sale in September of last year by William D. Hutchinson, attorney for
Fisher Associates.  The salvage company had been working at the site for about two months including Tuesday morning.
MEN LEFT SITE AT 1 P. M.   According to Gaudiano, his men left the site about one in the afternoon with a load of salvage.  The first
fire alarm was sounded about 1:50 p. m.  Although the company had been using a crane and other heavy equipment at the site,
Gaudiano said it had been moved to another job near Lansford.  A bulldozer remained near the breaker.  The agreement under which
the property was sold to Gaudiano Brothers included tearing down the beaker and other buildings on the property.  Gaudiano said he
had already sold the timber, which brings about sixty dollars per thousand pounds in the city.  The breaker also contained a number
of motors and shakers, which his men had not yet removed, Gaudiano said.  He estimates his loss at $10,000.  He said he has no
insurance to cover the loss
There were three separate buildings on the property including the breaker, a preparation plant and a tool shed which all burned in
the blaze.  Although the breaker and preparation plant were close together and connected by a chute, the tool shed was located
some distance away from the other buildings.  Gaudiano said this was the third breaker in sixteen he owned which was lost by fire.  
He said it takes only a match or even a hot piece of metal to start a blaze.  He added that his men had been burning some scrap near
the buildings on Tuesday morning.
FIRST CONCERN FOR HOMES   The immediate concern for firemen who answered the first alarm Tuesday was for the homes in the
area.  Carl Feger, assistant fire chief, who was in charge of operations, said the homes were in danger of catching fire from the heat
radiation generated by the breaker while it was still standing.  Many people living on Railroad Street, close to the fire, wet down their
own homes with garden hoses.  After the building, which Feger said was considered scrap and of little value, went down, the danger
to homes was lessened and firemen worked on the immediate location to control the flames.  The breaker was considered too far
gone to save by the time firemen arrived on the scene.  A smaller fire broke out last night but the fire is now being controlled and
allowed to burn out.
LAND HELD IN TRUST   Although the buildings were sold for salvage, the land is held in trust by Hutchinson.  According to the
attorney, most of the land will be sold to pay off debts incurred by Fisher Associates.  He said he didn't think the land would bring
enough to pay off all debts.  The breaker, which is located just outside borough limits, had been the basis of many complaints of dust
and dirt by residents while the breaker was in operation.  Some of the land, however, is part of the borough.  After the breaker had
been established, the borough passed an ordinance prohibiting breakers within the borough limits.
The Call of July 2, 1964

BREAKER FIRE INVESTIGATION FAILS TO DETERMINE CAUSE

An investigation by Michael Wisniewski, state deputy fire marshal, into the cause of a fire which blazed through the abandoned coal
breaker near the Edgewood section of Schuylkill Haven last Tuesday afternoon, failed to produce any concrete results according to
John Fenstermacher, Schuylkill Haven fore chief and Carl Feger, assistant.  Feger said the fire marshal is continuing the
investigation but added there is not much chance of coming up with anything.  
The breaker is owned by Salvador Gaudiano and Brothers of Hazleton, a scrap and salvage company.  The breaker was sold to the
salvage firm at a private sale in September of last year by William D. Hutchinson, attorney for Fisher Associates which owned the
breaker until bankruptcy.  Workers from the salvage company had been working at the breaker, dismantling it for salvage for about
two months before the day of the fire and had only left the site about fifty minutes before the first fire alarm was sounded.  
The breaker had been sold to Gaudiano Brothers under an agreement that included tearing down the breaker and other buildings on
the property.  Gaudiano said he had already sold the timber that burned.  Along with a number of motors and shakers, which
Gaudiano said were still in the breaker and destroyed in the fire, the salvage firm estimated its loss at $10,000.  Gaudiano said he has
no insurance to cover the loss of the breaker.  Although the breaker is located just outside the borough limits, about one hundred
yards from the nearest home, the first concern of firemen on the scene at the time of the blaze was for the homes in the area.  Carl
Feger and Glenn Sattizahn, assistant fire chiefs who directed the fire fighting operations, concentrated on keeping the homes from
catching fire.  Firemen said the homes were in danger from heat radiation as long as the breaker was standing.
The Call of January 7, 1965

FIRE YESTERDAY DESTROYED BEDROOM AT ZERBE HOME

Bedding, box springs, mattresses, clothing and twin beds were burned yesterday afternoon about 5:00 p. m. at the Walter Zerbe home
at 120 Dock Street when a fire of undetermined origin broke out in a bedroom at the Zerbe home.  The fire was discovered by the
Zerbe's eleven year old daughter, Debbie, who saw the smoke when she started to go up the stairs to the second floor.  She called
her father who had just returned home from work.  Zerbe discovered the blazing bedding on the both beds and threw the burning
materials out the window.  In doing so the curtains caught fire and these also he threw outside.  He tried to extinguish the burning
box springs with water and instructed his daughter to call for the fire companies.  The Liberty, Rainbow and Schuylkill companies
responded and had the fire under control within a short time.  The fire loss was confined to bedding and bedroom furniture.
The Call of January 21, 1965

FIRE DESTROYS POSSESSIONS OF DAGLIS FAMILY

A fire of undetermined origin Saturday noon destroyed the furnishings and clothing of the Nicholas Daglis family who were residing at
217 North Margaretta Street to the rear of Saint Ambrose Rectory.  The house, badly damaged by the fire, is owned by the Michael
Drotter family of 269 Haven Street.  Mrs. Daglis reported the fire probably started in the bedroom on the second floor.  She had
cleaned in the upstairs in the morning and after that went downstairs to do the laundry.  When she again went to the second floor to
take the baby, Anthony, for his nap, she saw smoke.  Mrs. Daglis tried to telephone for the fire department but found the line was
dead.  Her ten year old daughter, Harriet, went to the home of a neighbor who called the firemen.  
Among the things lost in the fire were twenty pairs of trousers belonging to the boys, which Mrs. Daglis had just brought home from
the cleaners.  The Daglis family, which includes five children ranging in age from one to ten years, was temporarily housed at the
Drotter home before moving to a house along Route 61 near the Robert Hall store. Daglis is a chef at the Schuylkill Country Club.
The Call of February 17, 1966        

MANAGER ASSESSES ARGO FIRE DAMAGE AT $10,000

An early morning fire on Tuesday, reported to have been caused by static electricity,damaged the Argo Mills bleachery near Willow
Lake.  Plant Manager William Hazmuka estimated the loss at $10,000.  Schuylkill Haven's three companies responded to the alarm sent
in at 5:45 a. m. by Guy Miller, an employee of the firm.  The heat of the fire set off a sprinkling system in the shearing department.
The condition of the road leading to the bleachery was criticized by Hazmuka.  Schuylkill Haven Borough owns land in the area where
its water tanks are located.  A common agreement reportedly exists, permitting Argo Mills to use that portion of the road on borough
owned land.  An unofficial spokesman, commenting on the criticism, likened it to a neighbor, who on being given permission to walk
through your property, makes demands for a concrete walk.  As to the road condition slowing up the fire trucks, one fireman put it
this way, "What can you expect from a dirt road at this time of year? A truck couldn't do fifty but there was no delay."
The Call of March 17, 1966

FIREMEN AT MEETING WHEN ALARM SOUNDS

Because the Schuylkill Hose Company was holding a meeting when the fire alarm was sounded and firemen were at the scene within
a minute, the original frame building of the Schuylkill Haven Bleach and Dye Works Incorporated on Market Street, its machinery and
cloth being processed were saved from total destruction Thursday night.  John R. Bamford, president of the bleachery, estimated
that actual damage by fire to rolls of cloth amounts to $3,000 but no estimate has as yet been made on smoke damage to other
material in the plant.  Because of the quick response, firemen held water damage to a minimum using only booster tank hose.  The
fire was completely extinguished in ten minutes.  A single casualty resulted when Adam Tobias Jr. of Pleasant Row, suffered a cut on
the forehead.  He was treated by his family physician.
Bamford stated that an investigation led to the conclusion that a spark from a cutting knife being sharpened ignited lint and a slow
fire in a roll of cloth was smoldering for five or six hours.  Workmen on the night shift smelled the odor of burning cloth in the
building.  Unable to discover anything burning or to find any smoke, they called Oscar Bolton at his nearby home.  Bolton was
investigating when suddenly the smoldering fire burst into flame.  He turned in the alarm.  All companies responded but the Schuylkill
Hose Company firemen were at the scene only two blocks away within a minute and aided the employees who had grabbed hand fire
extinguishers in halting the blaze.  Bamford reported that the loss is covered by insurance.
The Call of March 31, 1966

PROMPT FIREMEN SAVE BANANA COMPANY WAREHOUSE

The prompt and efficient action of the Schuylkill Haven foremen is credited with saving the warehouse of the Bedway Banana
Company from destruction by fire Sunday evening.  The office, completed in November, together with all records and furniture, was
destroyed.  Charles Manbeck is said to have discovered the fire which began in the offices.  When the firemen arrived about 7:15,
the office was blazing.  Mrs. Charles Bedway, owner, stated that about 6:60 p. m., one of her sons had been in the office and at that
time there was no trace of fire.  Paul and Charles Bedway Jr. removed the trucks from the garage located between the office and the
warehouse.  Because the warehouse is airtight, the bananas were not affected by the smoke and Monday morning the company could
continue to fill orders.
The Call of July 28, 1966

FIRE DAMAGES MOYER HOME

Fire early Tuesday evening damaged the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Moyer, 55 Avenue E.  The Moyer family left the home about
7:30 p. m. and did not learn of the fire until their return shortly before nine o'clock.  Bruce Klinger, who lives across the street from
the Moyers, noticed the flames inside the house and turned in the alarm at 8:03 p. m.  Firemen quickly responded.  They broke a
window to reach the fire.  Assistant Fire Chief Carl Feger reported that the fire started in the basement at the electrical wiring leading
to an air conditioning unit in the first floor front room.  Fire damage was limited to that part of the basement, the floor, side wall,
carpeting and nearby furniture.  An electric clock in the room stopped at 8:15 p. m.  Another neighbor, Terry Bensinger, broke into a
cellar door to gain entrance and put water on the blaze.  Water damage was slight, but the remaining two rooms on the one side of
the first floor were extensively damaged by smoke and soot.  The entire house had smoke damage.
The Call of October 5, 1967

PAINT, SOLVENTS CAUSE MYSTERY DUMP FIRES

The mystery of the dump fires that have plagued Schuylkill Haven firemen for the past several weeks has been solved.  Firemen and
borough officials discovered that the fires were started by spontaneous combustion from solvents and paints dumped at the
borough landfill by Quartite Creative Industries located along Route 61 east of the borough line.  The mystery of the fires was solved
when the fire that produced high shooting flames was found to be in a load of the solvent and paint from cleaning the paint spray
booths, dumped at the landfill late Monday afternoon.  The fire broke out about 7:30 p. m.
It was determined that the paint created a high heat when it dried and caused the solvent to burst into flame.  As Quartite is outside
the borough limits, the company was notified to discontinue dumping at the landfill.  Tuesday night firemen were called out to a fire at
Quartite.  The same thing had occurred when this material had been dumped outside the building.  A similar fire occurred last Friday.
The Call of October 19, 1967

LAMAR SHAW CHARGED WITH TURNING IN FALSE ALARMS

Charged with turning in three false fire alarms at half hour intervals early Sunday morning, Lamar Shaw, 38, of 124 West Main Street, if
found guilty in court, could be fined up to $500 or given two years imprisonment, or both, for each offense.  Shaw was arrested
shortly after the third alarm was turned in after two firemen stationed near the box saw him sound the general alarm and noted the
license number of the car he was driving.
The general alarms were turned in at three different boxes and brought out all three fire companies each time.  The first originated
from a box at the corner of Williams and Saint John Streets at 12:15 a. m.  The second was from Main Street and Parkway at 12:50 a. m.  
The third time the alarm was sent in from the box at the corner of Avenue A and Union Street at 1:15 a. m.  Following the second false
alarm, Fire Chief John Fenstermacher stationed two firemen in a car near each box in town.  Jan Schaeffer and Earl Jacoby, watching
the box at Avenue A, saw a car park near the box and a man emerge and turn in the alarm.  They turned on their lights and obtained
the license number of the car.  Shaw was picked up twenty minutes later.  Firemen say he had been drinking.
He was brought before Justice of the Peace George Orwig on a preliminary arraignment.  He was committed to Schuylkill County
prison and remained their until Sunday evening when bail of $500 was obtained.  At a preliminary hearing before Orwig on Tuesday
night, testimony was heard and the case, because it is a misdemeanor, was turned over to the county courts.  Schuylkill Haven does
not have an ordinance providing for a penalty for turning in a false fire alarm.  The offense, however, is covered by state law which
provides the stiff penalty of a fine up to $500, imprisonment up to two years or both.  
The Call of April 18, 1968

FIRE RUINS WALTERS HOME

Schuylkill Haven firemen answered a general alarm Saturday at 11:40 a. m. at the home of Mrs. Veronica Walters of Willow Lake.  Mrs.
Walters was not home when the fire, of undetermined origin, broke out and completely gutted the rear of the six room single house.  
A Son, Joseph, 20, was in the vicinity of the home working on his car when the fire was discovered.  In an effort to save his dog,
alone in the house, he tried to reach him through the kitchen door.  Unable to get there because of the flames, he tried to open a
window in the front of the house.  Flames there also kept him from getting to the dog, who died of suffocation.  Walters suffered
burns to the back of his neck and was treated at the Pottsville Hospital dispensary.  The kitchen and living room were gutted by the
fire.  The rest of the house had considerable smoke and water  damage, making it unlivable.  Firemen had the fire under control in
about an hour but remained on the scene until 2:00 p. m. cleaning up burning embers in the vicinity of the home.
The Call of December 5, 1968

$12,000 FIRE DAMAGES LIVING QUARTERS AT BART'S STUDIO

The efficient action of firemen and the assistance of neighbors saved Bart's Photography and Art Studios from complete destruction
by fire on Tuesday morning.  Mr. and Mrs. Kurth Barth, owners of the studio, were in the downstairs portion of the structure when a
neighbor came in to report smoke coming from the upper portion of the building.  The fire with damages estimated at $12,000, is
believed to have started in the kitchen on the second floor.  The kitchen and dining areas were almost completely destroyed by
flames.  Water damage resulted in the first floor studios and smoke damage is evident throughout the structure.
Friends and neighbors assisted in removing the paintings and fine art items from the first floor and basement of the building.  If fire
had reached this area, the loss would have been many thousand dollars higher.  About thirty firemen from the three Schuylkill Haven
companies, the Friendship Hose Company of Orwigsburg and the Landingville Hose Company fought the blaze from 9:45 to nearly
11:30 a. m.  Adam Faust, assistant fire chief at Orwigsburg, suffered cuts of the thumb and two fingers when a window blew out.  He
was treated at the dispensary at the Good Samaritan Hospital.  Schuylkill Haven Fire Police and state police were on th escene
directing crowds and traffic along Route 61.
The Call of January 9, 1969

THREE FIRE ALARMS, ONE FALSE

The Schuylkill Haven fire alarm sounded three times in less than a day's time early this week.  Two were legitimate.  The third was a
false alarm caused by a short circuit in the fire alarm system.  Quick response by the local firemen to a general fire alarm Monday at
4:00 p. m., halted a fire in the Carl Reber garage at the rear of 24 West Main Street and kept it from spreading to adjoining buildings.  
Although firemen battled the stubborn blaze for more than two hours before finally getting it under control, damage was estimated at
only $200.  The fire is said to have started in the upper portion of the building.  A sign on the outside of the building designated it as
a bicycle repair shop, but the building had neither heat nor electricity and was not occupied.  Fire Chief John Fenstermacher said
that cause of the fire has not been determined.  Adjoining the brick walled structure was the frame building used by Fred C. Reichert
for storage of paints and building material.  The firemen kept the fire from spreading to this building and limited the loss to slight
water and smoke damage.  
About 8:00 p. m. the firemen from Liberty Fire Company were called out when a wire burned off at the rear of the Hasenauer garage in
the rear of the 400 block of Columbia Street.  There was no damage to the garage.  The third alarm, caused by the short circuit,
sounded on Tuesday morning.
The Call of February 5, 1970

$15,000 FIRE DAMAGES IVAN TAYLOR HOME

A fire of undetermined origin caused $15,000 in damages to the Ivan Taylor home on Hickory Street, Schuylkill Haven on Sunday about
8:23 p. m.  Fire Chief Carl Feger reports Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and son Chris were at the movies to see the "Molly Maguires" and a
daughter, Beth, 13, was visiting neighbors when the fire broke out.  When Beth returned to her home she found the house filled with
smoke.  She ran next door to the neighbors, who called the fire department.  The three local companies responded to the general
alarm.  Firemen removed the overstuffed furniture to the snow covered lawn.  It is reported an attempt to have the Taylors paged at
the movies was futile and the family was unaware of the fire until they were finally contacted at a local diner.
The fire was confined to the family room of the modern ranch type home.  The one corner of the sofa was completely burned out and
the other overstuffed furniture was said to have burned due to heat radiation.  There was extensive damage to the living room as
well as the rest of the home.  The Liberty truck remained on the scene until 10:30 p. m.  
About three years ago, Mrs. Taylor's sister, who lived in Maizeville, lost her home in a fire which burned out the church adjacent to
her home.  The Taylors are staying at the Necho Allen until renovations can be made to their home.  The couple also has a daughter
Lisa, who is a freshman at the University of Utah.
The Call of February 11, 1971

GAS EXPLOSION AT GATEWAY DINER   WAITRESS, CUSTOMER CRITICAL, COOK HAS NARROW ESCAPE

Two persons remain in serious condition and several more are listed as fair, all being treated in local hospitals for burns suffered
early Sunday morning in an explosion which blew apart the Gateway Diner on Route 61, north of Schuylkill Haven.  State Police Fire
Marshall Edward Gleason said it was a gas explosion which blew off the roof and caused the rear wall of the diner to cave in.  Cause
of the blast is still being investigated.  Three employees, eight customers and one fireman were injured.  Joseph Ferhat, Pottsville,
who operated the diner the past fifteen years, was also admitted to the hospital with chest pains.  He was released earlier this week.
In critical condition are Mrs. Geraldine Leskowsky, 33, of 128 West Main Street, Schuylkill Haven, who suffered burns of both legs,
hands, face, neck and left shoulder, Richard Tucci, 33, Schneider's Hotel of Orwigsburg, burns over the entire body.  Both are
patients in the Pottsville Hospital.  In fair condition are Melvin Hornberger, 32, of 106 North Berne Street, burns of the hands and
face; William Dreher, 30, Schuylkill Haven RD1, burns of the hands and face; Vincent Reichert, 22, Auburn, burns of the hands; David
Temos, 37, East Pen Argyl, burns of the hands and cuts of the leg, all in the Good Samaritan Hospital.  Connie Balcavage, 58,
Orwigsburg Hotel, burns of the lower arms, hands and face; Jeanette Gloss, Pottsville, burns of the arms, hands and face, both in the
Pottsville Hospital.  Paul Nester, 37, Auburn, who suffered burns of the hands and face, was discharged Monday.  Deborah Urffer, 21,
35 East Main Street and Carol Blankenhorn, Schuylkill Haven RD1, both treated for burns of the hands were discharged Sunday
morning.  Maurice Umbenhauer, fireman with the Schuylkill Hose Company, Schuylkill Haven, was treated at the Pottsville Hospital for
a puncture wound of the foot sustained when he stepped on a nail.
Mrs. Leskowsky and Mrs. Gloss were waitresses and Balcavage was the cook.  According to Balcavage, a native of Minersville, he
was making up orders at the time of the explosion at 4:25 a. m.  "There were more customers in the diner than usual for that time on a
Sunday morning," he stated.  "I smelled gas and told the waitress that as soon as I had my orders made up, I was going down in to the
basement to check.  Bo, am I glad I didn't.  I wouldn't be here now," he said.
The blast blew the dishwasher into the grill and blew Balcavage through the wall into the office.  He managed to get up and in a daze
walked around looking for the others.  He bumped into Mrs. Leskowsky and managed to get her out of the building.  "I tried to stand
her up," he said, "but she kept falling down."  Mrs. Leskowsky had been standing by the stove when the explosion occurred and
suffered the full effects of the blast.  Balcavage, accompanied by a guest at the Gateway Motel located in the rear of the diner, drove
his car around to the front of the diner and went inside into the first booth to try to find any injured.  But the dense smoke forced him
back outside.  The injured all managed to get outside by themselves and were taken into the state police barracks to await the arrival
of ambulances from Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville.
Temos had parked his propane gas truck in front of th diner and after the explosion ran outside to drive it to safety.  The Rainbow,
Liberty and Schuylkill fire trucks responded to the alarm.  Firemen report the casing around the external natural gas pipe valve was
clogged with dirt when they got there and had to be dug out.  When they arrived they said they saw columns of blue flames coming
up from the corners of the diner towards the highway and from the center of the building.  
Balcavage, employed at the diner since July, recalls the accident which occurred the latter part of July when one man was seriously
burned and injured and three others were injured in a 4:15 a. m. accident in front of the diner involving three trucks and one
automobile.  Balcavage saw a man in flames running away from the accident.
The Call of August 5, 1971

FAMILY ESCAPES BURNING HOME    GAS EXPLOSION TRIGGERS FIRE

"We thought the hissing we heard was the tire on a truck going flat," was what Mrs. Herbert Kerschner said as she talked about the
events preceding the explosion and fire at the Robert Buck home, 236-238 Columbia Street, Friday about 11:50 p. m.   It was truly a
miracle that Mr. and Mrs. Buck and five children, aged five to fourteen years, escaped with only minor injuries when their house
became engulfed in flames following the explosion.
The Kerschners, who live in the home next to the Bucks across Saint James Street, were in their bedroom preparing to go to bed
when they heard the hissing.  They listened about ten minutes trying to locate where it was coming from when they saw Buck come
outside and check the gas tanks.  A relative, a young boy staying with the Bucks, had smelled the gas and awakened Buck.
Buck had gone back into the house to get a wrench but decided instead to go upstairs and alert the children.  He was on the first step
ready to go upstairs when the explosion occurred, lifting the entire house off its foundation and blowing him to the top of the stairs.
At this time, the Kerschners looking out their window saw one of the gas tanks with a trail of flames heading toward their home.  The
tank twisted and twirled, landed on the curbing at their home, then into the street where the firemen sprayed it with foam.
DESPITE BROKEN LEG  Buck realizing he had a broken leg, crawled from the steps to the front of the home, knocked open a window
through which he put the children out on the roof.  Neighbors Jim Evolo, running in his bare feet over the glass covered pavement,
and Wayne "Nipper" Geary ran over and got the children off the roof.  Buck was still on the roof when firemen from Liberty Hose
Company across the street, arrived with a ladder and got him down.
When the explosion occurred, Mrs. Buck was downstairs in the living room with the youngest child who was not feeling well.  She
was blown through the front door onto the pavement and the child landed in a corner.  Mrs. Buck went back in the house to rescue
the child.  Firemen from the Liberty, Schuylkill and Rainbow Hose Companies arrived at the scene but were unable to prevent the
flames from destroying the building.  Fire Chief Carl Feger said the former two family dwelling which the Bucks had converted into a
single family residence is a total loss. The tinsmith shop of Charles Fenstermacher,adjacent to the Buck home,suffered water damage.
The Schuylkill Haven ambulance took Buck, Mrs. Buck, the youngest child and one of the other boys to the Pottsville Hospital.  They
returned from the hospital about 3:00 a. m. at which time neighbors offered to take the family into their homes.  The Bucks spent
Friday and Saturday nights with the Kerschners.
The Schuylkill Haven Jaycees rented temporary quarters for the family, an apartment in the North Ward Social Club building on Center
Avenue.  On Saturday and Sunday members of the Jaycees and friends assisted the family in moving.  Help in the way of clothing,
furniture and household goods was given by many groups and individuals.  What is now needed is bedding, towels, washrags and
curtains in addition to money to help the family get a new start.  Buck, who is 35, is a truck driver for Mark Yoder.
The Call of April 1, 1965

FIRE DESTROYS APARTMENT BUILDING, GARAGES, TWO SCHOOL BUSES

A spectacular fire last evening completely destroyed a two story brick apartment house, two attached frame structures, the
possessions of five families and two school buses parked in the ground level garage section.  The apartments and the attached
buildings, known as the Faust apartments, located at the corner of Tennis Avenue and Union Street, directly behind Parkway, were
owned my Mr. and Mrs. Kline Wernert.  Mrs. Wernert is the former Blanche Faust.  Because of the large amount of personal
possessions as well as the buildings and buses destroyed, an estimate of the total amount of loss was not made up to this afternoon.
The time of the fire was set at 7:15 p. m.  Arthur Sterner, who lived in a second floor apartment, left the building at 7:10 and neither
saw nor smelled smoke.  Five minutes later, Thomas Fisher, who lives at 102 Parkway, saw the blaze in the frame building and turned
in the alarm.  
All three fire companies responded.  Firemen battled the blaze for two hours before bringing it under control.  The three companies
remained on the scene until midnight.  By this time the warmth of the sunny afternoon had disappeared and water began to freeze.  
The Liberty Company remained until daylight.  Foremen welcomed the prompt appearance of the Salvation Army emergency crew
which served coffee and donuts.  
Five families living in the two floors of apartments above the long row of garages lost almost all their possessions.  The three
downstairs apartments were occupied by Hannah Raudenbush, Mrs. Blanche Fenstermacher and daughter Edith Ann and Mrs. Evelyn
Batton and Mrs. Gertrude Swaddle, elderly sisters.  Living in the upstairs apartments were Mrs. Mary Bashore, daughter Susan,
daughter in law, Mrs. Gretchen Bashore and six months old son and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sterner.
Miss Raudenbush and some of the Bashore family were the only ones at home at the time of the fire.  Miss Raudenbush fled the
building.  Susan Bashore, Mrs. Gretchen Bashore and infant child went down the fire escape to safety.  None had time to take any
possessions.  Mrs. Fenstermacher and daughter had left the apartment.  Mrs. Batton and Mrs. Swaddle had gone to New Jersey to
attend a funeral.  Mr. and Mrs. Sterner had both left the apartment, Mrs. Sterner to go to church and Mr. Sterner to go up town.  
Edith Ann Fenstermacher returned shortly after the fire was discovered.  She rushed into the first floor apartment and managed to
save her dog and typewriter.  Joseph Webber, Boyd Hale and Herbert Davis entered the other first floor apartment and saved a
cabinet containing Mrs. Batton's valuables.  All furnishings including new furniture at Bashore's and color TV sets in the Batton and
Sterner apartments, all clothing, money and other personal possessions were lost.  The Sterners lost $500 in cash.
Automobiles owned by Kline Wernert, Howell Aregood, William Shaw, Russell Smith and Herman Kerschner were all removed from the
garages on the ground level.  Two school buses owned by Harold Reber and used to transport Schuylkill Haven students were
destroyed when attempts to remove them were unsuccessful.  Austin Faust and Russell Smith tried to get the buses out even though
the fire had started in that area.  They were unable to find the keys and when the heat became too intense had to abandon their
efforts to move the buses to safety.  Also destroyed by the fire was a coal scale used by Austin Faust and valued at about $3,000.
Reber immediately made arrangements to obtain two buses from Lebanon last night for use in transporting pupils this morning.
ASSISTED FIRE VICTIMS   Neighbors, relatives and friends came to the assistance of the apartment residents.  Mr. and Mrs. Sterner
stayed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Turner last night.  Today they went to stay with their son in law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs.
William Hill of Schuylkill Haven RD.  The Fenstermachers stayed with the Duane Fisher family.  Miss Raudenbush went to the home of
friends.  Mrs. Mary Bashore and Susan went to the home of Mrs. Bashore's daughter, Mrs. Frank Spleen on Stanton Street while Mrs.
Gretchen Bashore and son went to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Eisenhauer in Orwigsburg.  Her husband, Clayton
Bashore is employed in Washington D. C.
SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS   During the course of the fire, several explosions of undetermined origin rocked the building and sent debris
flying out windows.  When the fire broke through the roof, flames shot high in the sky and completely gutted the building.  Borough
Manager Robert Gehrig escaped injury when in one of the major explosions a cake pan came flying through a window and bounced
off his hard hat.  He was working with the light department crew in disconnecting a meter on the pole alongside the burning  building
when the explosion occurred.  They were attempting to cut the power going into the building.  Fortunately no one was seriously
injured by the flying glass and other loose objects.  
When a section of brick at the top of the building toppled off and struck telephone cables, the sudden force snapped the utility pole
at the corner of Tennis Avenue and Union Street.  In addition to the telephone cables, the pole carried the street light lines.  The
lines broke and the entire Parkway area became dark.  This was the second fire to damage the Faust apartments.  In 1941, a fire
caused damage to the interior of the apartments but was brought under control before the main structure was effected.
The Call of January 20, 1966

COUPLE FLEES HOME AS FIRE DAMAGES IT

A Schuylkill Haven couple was routed from their home at approximately 3:30 p. m. Thursday, when a fire broke out in the basement of
their two story frame house.  Mr. and Mrs. Alexandre Ruff of 53 Avenue C in Schuylkill Haven were forced to flee as flames quickly
spread from the basement through the southern partitions.  Mrs. Ruff was taken to the home of a neighbor where a physician was
summoned and she was removed by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital about 6:15 p. m.  She had been in ill health and was
recuperating at home.  Due to the extensive fire and water damage, Mr. Ruff is staying at the home of his son, Edgar, of Schuylkill
Haven RD1.  Firemen from Liberty, rainbow and Schuylkill Hose Companies responded to the alarm and remained on the scene for
over  two hours.  It is reported the fire broke out a second time, shortly after the firemen thought it had been extinguished.
The Call of August 6, 1970

FIRE DESTROYS BEDWAY BANANA

A fire Sunday at 4:45 a. m., believed to have started in the warehouse, destroyed the one story Bedway Banana Supply Company, the
former Manbeck ice plant at 220 east Liberty Street in Schuylkill Haven.  Included in the loss were five refrigerator rooms and their
contents; three rooms used to store bananas and two for fruits and vegetables.  One banana room was saved.  Charles Bedway,
Schuylkill haven, arrived on the scene in time to save the office equipment.  A son, Paul, returning home from market at Allentown
about 1:30 a.m., had parked the truck on the parking lot but did not enter the building.  The last time someone had been in the
warehouse was at 8:00 p. m. Saturday.
USE THE LINK AT RIGHT TO
SEE ALL FIRE ARTICLES
THAT TOOK PLACE AFTER
1950.
Due to web page limits, all FIRES stories from
1950 forward are now on this page and all pre
1950 articles are on the head page, accessible
through the link here or at the bottom of the page.
The Call of January 3, 1974

FIRE DAMAGES DOUBLE HOME, CAUSE UNKNOWN

Fire of undetermined origin caused considerable damage Saturday evening to the double home occupied by the Richard Woleshok
and George Lemmerman families at 57 North Berne Street.  The fire started in the basement at the Woleshok home.  It is reported that
Woleshok had gone into the basement to tend to his hand fired furnace and shortly after he returned to the first floor, he heard an
explosion.  The flames spread throughout the cellar partition into the Lemmerman's basement and up to their first floor, burning their
carpet.  In the cellar their freezer filled with meat was destroyed.  Although The Call reported was unable to contact a member
of the Woleshok family, it was reported their damages were considerably more than the Lemmerman family.  The Lemmermans are
temporarily residing with their granddaughter, Mrs. Robert Schock.  The Woleshoks are staying with relatives outside of Schuylkill
Haven.  The three Schuylkill Haven fire companies responded to the alarm.
The Call of April 25, 1974

FIRE COMPANIES CREDITED ON QUICK RESPONSE TO FIRE

Richard Brast, who lives in the former Charles Shields home on the Adamsdale Road, credits the quick response of the fire
companies in saving his home when it caught fire late Friday afternoon.  Brast's wife discovered the fire when she returned home
about 4:45 p. m.  She called her husband, who operates the 1792 House also on the Adamsdale Road, who tried to fight the fire with
an extinguisher.  Within eight minutes the Schuylkill Hose Company was on the scene.  They were joined by the Liberty and Rainbow
Companies as well as the Landingville Hose Company.  The firemen remained on the scene for two hours.  Cause of the fire, which
started in the laundry, has not been determined.  The rear of the basement and first and second floors had extensive damage.  Later
that day about 7:30, the Rainbow Company responded to a call at the McGovern home across from Dinger's on Route 61.  Here a fire
started in an electrical meter where the firemen kept it contained.
The Call of August 8, 1974

MCKENZIE CARPET STORE DESTROYED BY FIRE

Fire of undetermined origin almost totally destroyed the McKenzie Capet and Tile building on West Main Street yesterday afternoon.  
The stubborn fire was reported at 3:00 p. m.  Firemen from the Liberty, Schuylkill and Rainbow Hose Companies battled the fire until
early evening.  They were spraying water on burning embers as late as 5:30 p. m.  McKenzie Carpet, operated by Robert McKenzie of
Pottsville, in Schuylkill Haven since 1968, moved from its location on Dock Street into the building formerly occupied by Klahr's
Cleaners on West Main Street in early January of this year.  The purchase of the building was completed in February.  Klahr Cleaners
was operated by Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Klahr.
Because Wednesday is a half holiday for the business, the display room and the storage department were closed when the fire
began.  Firemen had to force entry on the west side of the building to get at the smoldering fire in the back part of the structure.  A
fire marshal is making an investigation today.  A pickup truck belonging to McKenzie was pushed from the adjoining parking lot by
firemen.  There was no wind and firemen were able to protect the home of Mrs. Grace Rodgers, which is on the east side of the
McKenzie building, from fire damage.
The fire was contained to the rear and upper level of the structure.  The large plate glass windows in the front of the building were
not broken.  The area behind the display room was totally destroyed and extensive damage, by smoke, fire and water still
undetermined, was done to the carpeting and tile in the front part.  Firemen were forced to don air masks in order to battle the fire in
its early stages.  It was almost an hour after the alarm was sounded that flames broke through the roof.  "I'll be back in Schuylkill
Haven," reported Bob McKenzie, when contacted last evening at his home at York Farm in Pottsville.  "I like to do business with the
people there and I've made many friends."
The Call of December 19, 1974

NANCY LEE DINER DAMAGED BY FIRE

The Nancy Lee Diner, at Connor's Crossing, sustained approximately $2,000 in smoke damage resulting from a fire believed set by an
unidentified person sometime early Monday morning.  Schuylkill Haven Patrolman Thomas Smith discovered the fire in the basement
at 1:50 a. m. on a routine patrol.  He found the diner had been entered through a rear door.  The Rainbow Hose Company came to the
scene and the fire was extinguished within a short time.  Damage to the building was slight.  The diner is owned by Louis W. Jones.  
State police are investigating.
The Call of March 2, 1951

FIRE DESTROYS PAUL FRITZ BARN
A fire of undetermined origin leveled a barn on the Landingville-Adamsdale highway about 5:00 a. m. Saturday resulting in over $1,000
damage.  The barn, owned by Paul R. Fritz, of 15 East Main Street, was totally destroyed despite the efforts of three fire companies
who were called to the scene.  Only the fact that a high wind was blowing away from an adjacent farm house, saved that from
destruction.  There were no animals or other livestock in the burned structure.  Fire companies from Landingville and Deer Lake
fought the blaze with two trucks from Schuylkill Haven's Liberty Fire Company called on to stand by in case the blaze should spread to
the adjacent building.
The Call of July 27, 1951

FIRE DAMAGES BOUSSUM KITCHEN
The Liberty Hose Company responded to a call on Tuesday evening about seven o'clock when a fire broke out in the kitchen of the
Luther Boussum home on West Liberty Street.  Mr. Boussum was taking a bath when the blaze started and Mrs. Boussum was visiting
a neighbor.  A child who happened to be passing the home saw smoke coming out of a kitchen window and started to yell.  The blaze
started in a carton which was behind the electric stove which Mrs. Boussum had last used at 4:30 p. m.  Most of the damage was
caused by smoke and the kitchen will have to be redecorated.  Imitation tile board on the walls prevented the fire from getting into
the walls and causing a more serious fire.
The Call of October 12, 1951

HAT ON LIGHT BULB CAUSES FIRE ALARM
A slight fire was discovered in the George Peiffer home at 218 East Market Street at about 8:30 o'clock this morning.  A boy's hat,
which was hanging on a light bulb, caught fire and when Mrs. Peiffer smelled smoke she placed a call for the Schuylkill Fire
Company.  However, upon investigation, she was able to extinguish the fire and notify the fire department that its services were not
required.
The Call of October 30, 1953

SLIGHT FIRE LAST NIGHT ON MAIN STREET
The Schuylkill Hose Company firemen responded with a fire extinguisher to put out a smoldering fire at the Atkins store on East Main
Street last night.  Mrs. Edith Yoder, who lives in the apartment above the store, reported smelling smoke in the building.  
Investigation revealed that a shorted wire leading to the illuminated outdoor sign was causing the wood about it to burn.  A call was
sent to Dr. Samuel Detweiler to have firemen bring a small hand extinguisher.  Dr. Detweiler, Ray Renninger and Carl Feger Jr.,
brought a new type powder extinguisher which quickly suffocated the burning portion of the building.  This is the second fire at the
Atkins store in recent months.  Early in the summer a motor in the basement caught fire.  This too was extinguished without much
damage.
The Call of February 25, 1954

OVERHEATED MOTOR CAUSES FIRE SCARE
An overheated motor on a washing machine filled the basement with smoke at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Dewald on Margaretta
Street and caused a fire alarm to be sounded on Tuesday morning.  Mrs. Dewald upon returning to the basement where the washing
machine was operating discovered the basement filled with smoke.  She pulled the cord leading from the motor to the socket.  The
two trucks of the Schuylkill Hose Company responded to the alarm but except for the smoldering motor, no fire damage was caused.
The Call of April 8, 1954

QUICK ACTION PREVENTS MORE SERIOUS FIRE
By his quick action, Lynn Dalton, 13, son of Russel T. Dalton, operator of a gas station on the Schuylkill Haven- Orwigsburg highway,
prevented what might have been a serious fire Tuesday evening after a car knocked down a gas pump.  The youth subdued the
flames with a fire extinguisher.  Nicholas Thermenos, night attendant at the station summoned the Rainbow Hose Company and then
assisted Dalton.  The fire was extinguished by the time firemen arrived.  Schuylkill Haven state police said a car operated by Charles
L. Yeager of 118 East Main Street, swerved into the gas pump after being involved in a collision with the car of Adam H. Imboden of
Schuylkill Haven RD1.  Police said both vehicles were traveling north when they attempted to make a left turn at the same time.  
Damage was estimated at $800.
The Call of July 8, 1954

FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYS BARN
Fire completely destroyed a barn of the Schuylkill County Institutional District last Friday shortly after noon.  A small amount of straw,
a combine, a potato picker and a 1953 car were stored in the barn.  They were all completely destroyed along with a dog which was
tied on the outside of the barn.  The car and dog were owned by Merle Good, a farmer for the district, who lives in the house across
the highway from the barn.  There is no estimate on the loss as yet but it is covered by insurance.  The fire was discovered about
12:20 p. m. by institution employees.  Because of the speed with which the fire swept the structure it is thought that the blaze started
sometime before being discovered.  The Schuylkill Haven hose companies responded to the alarm and kept the sparks from igniting
other buildings.  A strong wind hampered their efforts.  In 1932 the main barn on the institutional grounds was destroyed by fire.
The Call of July 29, 1954

FIRE DESTROYS THREE PENS AND SHED
Three chicken and pigeon pens and a vacant shed were destroyed by fire Tuesday at 5:20 p. m.  The fire started in a chicken pen-
pigeon coop on the property of Allen Dewey Knarr on Penn Street and spread to the nearby pens.  Knarr lost twenty eight chickens in
the blaze.  Also burned were a chicken coop owned by Wellington Reed and a vacant lot owned by George Strauch.  The cause of the
fire has not been determined.  All local fire companies responded to the alarm.
The Call of September 30, 1954

FIRE SCARE THIS MORNING
Schuylkill Haven's central business section had a fire scare this morning at 11:10 when fire was discovered in the elevator at the D.
M. Bittle funeral home.  The fire was confined to the elevator control box and was extinguished by Harold Bast before the fire trucks
arrived on the scene.  Repairs were made to the control box earlier in the morning.  When the elevator was used, Bast discovered
the box ablaze.  Because a beaver board ceiling was only a few feet above the blaze and the draft up the elevator shaft threatened a
serious fire, he instructed Thomas Rudolph to turn in an alarm.  Bast then secured a bucket of water and extinguished the fire before
it had an opportunity to spread to the three story building.
The Call of November 25, 1954

SMOKE HAMPERS FIREMEN AT LORD HOME FIRE SUNDAY
Damage estimated at $500 resulted from a fire which broke out in the George Lord home at the corner of North Berne and Columbia
Streets on Sunday at 11:00 p. m.  The fire started in a rear storage room and went upward through the partitions.  Dense smoke
hampered the work of the firemen until proper ventilation was obtained.  The Lord family was in bed at the time the fire was
discovered.  Mr. Lord smelled smoke and he and his wife and children escaped through a rear door and into a neighbor's yard.  The
North Berne Street side of the house was damaged and there was some water damage.  A more serious fire was averted by the
prompt arrival of the three local fire companies.
The Call of December 30, 1954

EARLY DISCOVERY LIMITS DAMAGE
Timely discovery of a fire at  the Schuylkill Haven Provision Company on Margaretta Street Sunday at eight o'clock in the evening
prevented what could have been a very serious fire.  Russell Reed of 210 East Union Street, home on furlough from the Navy,
noticed smoke coming out of the building and notified Ronald Young, who is associated with his father, William Young, in the
business.  Young entered the building and made his way through the smoke to the rear where he found a compressor motor on fire.  
He put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher.
The Call of July 7, 1955

FIRE DESTROYS KITCHEN
The kitchen of the Stanley Umbenhauer home at 417 Columbia Street was destroyed by fire at about nine o'clock in the morning on
Friday.  Other parts of the home were damaged by smoke.  The fire is believed to have been caused by an explosion of paraffin which
had been placed on the stove to melt.  Mrs. Umbenhauer had gone out into the garden and when she returned found the kitchen
ablaze.  She called for help and men from the Earl Stoyer garage, across the street, had the blaze under control with fire
extinguishers until fire companies could arrive on the scene.
Just added on the pre 1950 page:
Just added:
Boy Scouts called to put out 1920 brush fire, Fairmount brush
fire, a Willow Lake home burns to the ground and a kitchen fire
all in 1939 and in 1942 a slight fire at the Almshouse.
The Call of November 29, 1956

SPRINKLER SYSTEM STOPS FIRE AT MILL
The sprinkler system at the Union Knitting Mills stopped a fire at the factory on Sunday evening before it gained any headway or
caused any great amount of damage.  The fire started in some unknown manner in the bleach house of the mill.  A sprinkler head
directly above the fire was set off and extinguished the fire.  An alarm was turned in and the town's fire companies responded.  Only
one line of hose was run into the factory to extinguish  a smoldering bag of cotton lint.  Damage was limited to about $500 with almost
all of it caused by water on a motor and napping machine.
The Call of January 26, 1956

TWO CHILDREN RESCUED FROM BURNING APARTMENT BUILDING; 17 HOMELESS 2 FIREMEN HURT
Three families including seven adults and ten children were made homeless by a fire which swept through a two story apartment
building in Brommerstown on Saturday afternoon.  The entire building and its contents were destroyed.  Two children, trapped in the
blazing building, were rescued by Merlin and Forest Reber, who live nearby.  The young men are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Reber who
live near the scene of the fire.  Forest, who was home on furlough from the service, smashed in a window and he and his brother
entered the burning building to rescue two young children of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Leymeister, Robert, age four, and Susan, aged two.
The fire which destroyed the apartment building owned by Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Fix, was discovered about four in the afternoon by
Fix when he returned to the house from a nearby barn.  Flames were coming from the Leymeister apartment at the rear of the
building.  The apartment was locked and he attempted to break down the door leading from the next door apartment.  When the door
was opened, ,the flames shot through and burned him slightly about the face.  Mrs. Leymeister was visiting a neighbor and had taken
the oldest child with her.  The younger children were locked in the apartment alone.  The Reber boys heard the children screaming
and broke in to rescue them.  
Fire companies were summoned.  Fire Chief Claude Sausser sent the two Liberty Hose trucks immediately to the scene.  The Auburn
Fire Company also responded.  Before the trucks arrived, neighbors formed a bucket brigade from a nearby stream.  The ice had to
be broken to get water.  When the pumpers arrived, they drew water from the stream and began playing it on the burning building,
but the fire had gained such headway that very little could be done to save the structure.  
The families living in the building were the Clarence Fix family consisting of their six children: Darlene, 12, Arlene, 11, Charles, 10,
Clarence Jr., 8, Eileen, 6, and Kermit, 5; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Brensinger and son, Raymond Jr., aged one; Mr. and Mrs. Edward
Leymeister and children, Robert, 4, Ruth, 6, and Susan, 2; and Sterling Leymeister who boarded with the Leymeister family.
TWO FIREMEN INJURED   While fighting the fire, two members of the Liberty Hose Company were injured and had to be taken to the
Good Samaritan Hospital.  Edward Roeder, 64, of 327 Dock Street slipped on the ice and suffered a hip injury.  He is still at the
hospital and it has not been determined definitely whether or not he has a broken hip.  He had a leg amputated and was wearing an
artificial limb.  The hip injury is on the side where the leg had been amputated.  Adam Tobias, 47, of 90 South Berne Street, was hit in
the jaw by a hose nozzle and at first it was thought that the jaw was fractured.  He remained in the hospital until Monday when he
returned to his home.  He was able to go to work on Tuesday.
ALL HOME POSSESSIONS LOST   The fire spread through the apartment building so rapidly that none of the occupants had time to
save any of their possessions.  The Fix family moved to a dwelling across the street from the scene of the fire into a building which
was owned by Fix and had only been recently remodeled.  The Leymeister family found shelter at the home of her mother, Mrs.
Somers, in Orwigsburg.  The Brensinger family is living with her mother, Mrs. Lewis Heinbach in Schuylkill haven.  None of the
occupants carried insurance.  Estimates placed on the damage was $30,00 on the property itself and $5,000 on the possessions of the
Brensinger and Leymeister families.  The Schuylkill Haven Firemen's Relief Association immediately put on a drive to obtain clothing
and home furnishings for the fire victims.  On Sunday, Dr. S. B. Detweiler, president of the organization; Frank S. Lewis and Chief
Sausser contacted the victims and listed their needs.  By Monday they had secured more than enough clothing, beds, refrigerators,
stoves, etc., and had to turn down additional offers of assistance.  The excess donations were turned over to the Salvation Army at
Pottsville.
The Southern Schuylkill TriBorough Assistance Committee has called a meeting in the Landingville school house for Friday at
8:00 p. m. to discuss financial assistance for the fire victims.  The committee is composed of residents of Port Clinton, Auburn, Deer
Lake, Landingville, West Brunswick Township and North and South Manheim Townships.  The group was formed a year ago to aid the
Whalen family who lost all their possessions when their home burned on Sculp's Hill.  The money raised is for the sole purpose of
helping to rebuild a home.  George Seiler, Auburn R.D., on Sunday collected donated articles in his pickup truck for the destitute
families.  The Fix apartment building was constructed of brick in the front and frame in the rear.  The frame part was completely
destroyed and the front part was completely gutted with only the brick walls remaining.
The Call of May 17, 1956

FIRE DESTROYS TOOL SHED AT MINE HILL
Fire of unknown origin yesterday afternoon destroyed a tool shed and outbuilding of the Reading Company at the Mine Hill Crossing.  
The alarm was turned in shortly before five o'clock.  Fire Chief Claude A. Sausser and the Liberty Fore Company trucks responded.  A
small work car and two trailers were removed from the building before the tool shed burned to the ground.  No one was near the
buildings when the fire broke out.
The Call of May 24, 1956

FIRE THREATENS CASKET FACTORY
Fire on a refuse dump near the Schuylkill Haven Casket Company on Monday afternoon was extinguished by the Liberty Hose
Company.  Paint and oil soaked rags caused flames to shoot high in the air and endangered the large casket manufacturing
buildings.  A large area of the swamp area beyond the dump burned.  The fire was quickly brought under control but burned and
smoldered for a long time before it was finally extinguished.
The Call of May 9, 1957

FOREST FIRE BURNS 30 ACRES AT CAPE HORN
A forest fire burned thirty acres of woodland Tuesday about noon in the vicinity of the old rock Indian head formation at Cape Horn on
the Schuylkill Haven-Pottsville highway.  The fire was discovered shortly after a diesel engined train had passed in the vicinity.  It was
feared that at one stage the fire would spread to the top of the hill.  Weiser District of the Forests and waters Department dispatched
men to the scene and were assisted by railroad maintenance crews.
The Call of August 22, 1957

LIGHT POLES CREATED SPECTACULAR FIRE
Last night a fire of undetermined origin destroyed fifty two electric light poles stored above the borough's electrical substation in
Schuylkill Haven.  The alarm was turned in at 11:35 p. m.  When the firemen arrived, most of the poles, coated with creosote, were
burning with such force that the men were able to save only a few of them.  The poles were received by the borough about a month
ago.
The Call of May 15, 1958

TAR WAGON BURSTS INTO FLAME
An alarm of fire was sent in at 10:40 a. m. Tuesday and all three fire companies responded.  Vincent Hughes and several of his
employees were repairing the roof of the Harry Stauffer home on East Main Street when the tar wagon ignited.  This caused a lot of
very heavy smoke and someone, fearing the worst, sent in the alarm.  The fire was quickly extinguished with chemicals with little or
no damage to the tar wagon.  One of the men from the Schuylkill Hose Company, Carl Feger, in the fire sustained second degree
burns of the right arm and hand when he came in contact with the hot wagon.  He was treated at the Good Samaritan Hospital.