The Douse Family in Centralia, Pennsylvania

Centralia suffered $60,000 fire loss early this morning; Clover Hose conquers blaze

Mount Carmel Item (Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania), 15 January 1916.

Centralia early this morning suffered its third disastrous fire in six years, and all under zero weather conditions. Flames, breaking out at 2:00 o’clock this morning, destroyed the entire half block extending from the corner of Locust Avenue and Centre streets, the Conway building, to the Michael McDonnell building. The losses will total nearly $65,000, with but little insurance. Many residents had narrow escapes from death, a number being rescued in their night clothes. One fireman, member of the Washington Hose Company of Ashland, lies in the Fountain Springs hospital with a possible fracture of the skull, sustained in falling from a building.

Clover Hose Saved Town

The Clover Hose Company of Mount Carmel is given the credit, by such prominent citizens of Centralia as O.B. Millard, John B. Fortner, Banker C.S. Henderson and others, with having conquered the blaze and saving perhaps half the town from destruction.

Origin of Blaze

The fire started presumably in Cook’s drug store, and was likely caused by a defective flue. The blaze was discovered at 2:00 o’clock this morning, and when first seen had gained such headway that Mrs. Cook and her three children had to rush from the building in their night clothes. The thermometer hovered at or below the zero mark, causing intense suffering.

The flames spread in both directions. All were frame buildings, and the fire shot rapidly to the adjoining structures. Townsman Lambert Ruffing who was among those affected, lost all he had except the scant clothing that he wore. Mrs. George Getchey (formerly Miss Agnes Marsden of Mount Carmel) and child were in this city, and knew nothing of the fire until this morning. They lost everything.

The Losses

The two and one-half story frame building owned by A.T. Conway, corner Locust Avenue and Centre, was completely destroyed. This was used by Mr. Conway as hotel, residence and grocery store, and was occupied by Mr. Conway and family, several boarders, and members of the Phillips Players, a theatrical troupe now showing in St. Ignatius hall. Value of the property was $6000., stock and hotel fixtures and groceries $4000., with insurance amounting to $4000. All the occupants escaped in scant attire.

Next door was the 2 1/2 story frame building owned by C.G. Murphy Estate, occupied as a moving picture theatre by Peter and David Welsh. This was burned to the ground. Property loss is $4000., moving picture fixtures $2000., with no known insurance.

Adjoining was the building owned by Thomas M. Cook, occupied as drug store and residence, dwelling by Mr. Cook and family. The building was worth at least $3500., drug stock $4,000., furniture and fixtures and clothing $5,000. Mr. Cook carried $4000. insurance.

The next building was owned by John Curry, occupies as residence by Mr. Curry and wife, Lambert Ruffing wife and child. The property loss is $3000., Curry’s furniture $2500., and Ruffing’s personal effects $2500. Mr. Curry had $1000. insurance, Mr. Ruffing’s insurance not known.

Then came the building owned by Mrs. Margaret Getchey, which was about half burned, the rest being ruined by water and smoke and collapse. The building was occupied by Mrs. Getchey as residence, George W. Getchey, wife and child, Thomas Lewis and wife, a daughter of Mrs. Getchey, and by the jewelry store of I. Peril. Loss to Mrs. Getchey $5000. for building, furniture $2000., Mr. Getchey $4000., Mr. Lewis $3000., and Mr. Peril $2000. The property insurance was $1000., with other insurance not known. The last building effected was the structure owned by Michael McDonnell occupied by B. Marchinski as residence and cafe. The roof was partly burned, and the building was extensively damaged by water and smoke. Property is valued at $3000., and Mardhinski’s effects at $1500. Insurance on property was $1000.

Across the street from the fire area the big plate glass window in the First National Bank of Centralia was cracked by the heat, causing a loss of about $200.00, covered by insurance. A building owned by Dr. H.G. Fortner, to the rear of the Conway hotel, was blistered by heat, causing loss of about $50.

Clover Hose’s Quick Run

Chief Fire Marshal John Bach, of Mount Carmel, was awakened at 2:50 o’clock this morning and told that he was wanted in Centralia. Rousing Ambrose McGee, Claude Urban, Charles Reinard and John Timko, the men boarded the new truck of the Clover Hose Company, which is equipped with chemical tanks and the new hose pumps, and at 3:15 o’clock they arrived on the scene.

The Mount Carmel firemen found that the Centralia apparatus was not what is known as a “standard” equipment for couplings, and after wasting 25 minutes they managed to get a connection. When their pumps began to work they simply drew all the water from the mains, and the force of their streams quickly conquered the blaze.

Ashland Fireman Injured

The Washington Hose Company of Ashland was on the scene and rendered every possible assistance. Joseph Zealberg, member of the Washington company, was standing on the roof of the Curry building when he fell, landing on his head on the pavement.

Doctors Fortner and Davis came to his assistance. They found him unconscious, and hurried him to the Fountain Springs Hospital, where he lies in a critical condition, with a probable fracture of the skull.

Fire caused woman’s deat at Centralia

Mount Carmel Item (Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania), 22 January 1916.

The result of catching cold when carried from the home of her son John Douse at Centralia, the night of the big fire in that down last Saturday night, Mrs. E. Douse, aged 90 years, one of the oldest residents of Columbia county, died this morning.

The home of John Douse is near the buildings that were destroyed in the big fire. It was feared that the Douse home would also become ignited so the aged woman was carried from the building. The theremometer [sic] was below zero and she took cold. She also suffered from fright.

Michael Douse — naturalization

Columbia County newspaper (Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania), 12 August 1892. Extract only; clipping not reproduced.

Michael Douse naturalized in open court.

Michael Douse — restaurant license (list extract)

Columbia County newspaper (Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania), 5 January 1894.

23. Michael Douse, residence second ward, Centralia Borough, bounded on the north by H.J. Kelly, east by Locust Avenue, south by lot of George W. Davis and west by an alley.

Restaurant license transferred — Michael Douse to Frank Teinowski

Columbia County newspaper (Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania), 2 April 1896.

The restaurant license of Michael Douse of Centralia was transferred to Frank Teinowski, at the argument Court last Tuesday.