St. George, March 13 -
The garage and restaurant owned by J.O. Neilsen were completely destroyed by
fire here on Friday last. Fire was discovered in the kitchen of the restaurant,
which had been converted to living quarters, and an alarm was immediately given,
but before the arrival of the fire department it had spread so quickly that the
garage, 15 feet away caught and instantly became an inferno. The intense heat
and smoke made it impossible to save any of the clothing or personal effects of F/O
and Mrs. Edwin Mirhage and little son, Michael, who occupied the
rooms there, or the household effects belonging to the Neilsens. The entire
equipment of the garage was a total loss, except a lathe salvaged from the
burning building by Mr. Nielsen and two cars were also taken from the garage.
The prompt action of the local fire department saved the
whole street from going up in flames.
As the high wind was carrying flames and sparks onto nearby
building, hose was kept on these all the time.
The sheds of O'Brien and Baldwin's granite mill across the
street caught fire several times but quick work on the part of the firemen
prevented the fire spreading.
These buildings, which were built in 1936 by Mr. Nielsen,
were near the upper bridge on Brunswick Street. The loss was not covered by
insurance.
The men of the volunteer fire department certainly deserve
much credit in their prompt action in regards to the fire and in several other
bad fires here during the winter months.
SOURCE: The Saint Croix Courier (St. Stephen, NB) - March 16, 1944.
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