MORRISTOWN IS SCENE OF BIG FIRE

One block of Morristown lay in utter devastation Monday morning of this week as a result of a blaze which broke out in the Morristown Billiard Parlor.
About two o'clock Monday morning the residents of Morristown were awakened by a series of explosions or shots, resembling the blowing up of a bank safe. The owner of the pool room still had a few firecrackers left over from his Fourth of July stock, and it was the popping of these which caused the noise, and aroused the people. The fire alarm was turned in, but little could be done to prevent the spreading of the fire, as Morristown has no fire department, and no water to work with except that of a city well.
The entire block was destroyed which included eight business places, and a small dwelling house. Only four out of this number were said to have carried insurance. The business places destroyed by the fire were Morristown Billiard Parlor, Morristown State Bank, Chapman Brothers General Merchandise, August Engelcke Drug Store, J.A. Olson Electrical Shop, Post Office, Mrs. Huss restaurant, G.G. Stadel Implement and Garage, and M.U. McAdams building, used for a dwelling house. The pool room, State Bank, Chapman Bros. and the drug store were said to be partly covered by insurance.
Immediately after the fire was discovered, both the McIntosh and Lemmon fire departments were called, but they arrived too late to be of any assistance in saving the buildings in the block, but aided greatly in saving the buildings adjoining in the next block. There was much danger, for some time, of the Lawien Hardware and Central Lumber company breaking into flames, but due to the consistent work of the fire departments, these were saved from destruction. Nearly every building across the street, and those over a block away, are reported to have suffered loss due to cracking of the plate glass from the terrific heat.
It is reported that all the files and records of all the places were saved, and every piece of mail, stamp and furniture was saved from the post office. Much of the furniture and fixtures were removed from the buildings which were last to contract the flames.
The total loss is estimated to be between $50,000 to $60,000 and no plans are made at the present for rebuilding, although some of the business places plan to rebuild next year. The post office was moved to the Auditorium, while the Morristown State Bank was moved to the old First National Bank building. A new post office building will be erected in the very near future, it is stated. The owners of the other business places have taken up their temporary quarters in vacant buildings across the street.
Taken from Corson County News July 23, 1931