Pert Block Fire--1945

From the April 4, 1945 Courier & Freeman:

 

Damage officially estimated at $20,000 was caused Friday night when fire swept through the basement of the Pert block at Main and Mechanic streets, Norwood.

Almost half the stock of the W. D. Fuller Company, clothing store, owned and operated by Arch C. Royce, was damaged by smoke or fire. The Royce loss was estimated at about $5,000. In addition the books in the public library on the second floor were damaged. Smoke swept through the E. J. Wilkins confectionery store on the ground floor as well as the Richard C. Algie law office, the Earl K. Drew insurance office, the Norwood village office and the Dr. U. R. Hurlbert office on the second floor of the large brick building. The basement also was badly damaged by the blaze.

More disastrous results of the fire were avoided because the monthly meeting of the Norwood volunteer fire department was disbanded just as the alarm blew. The men of the department were at the scene and pouring four lines of water into the basement of the building within a very few minutes. Leo French is fire chief.

The fire is believed to have originated in a wooden cold air vent to the furnace in the Fuller store. Flames were discovered by Glen Vorce, night policeman for the village, after he and several residents in the vicinity heard the roar of the flames and a light explosion. When Voce opened the door leading to the second floor offices between the two stores, flames were seen between the steps. Flames were also shooting up into the first floor of the Fuller store through the cold air vent when firemen broke in the front door.

The building is owned by Earl K. Drew and the W. J. Fletcher estate.

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