School Conflagration

LINEVILLE

Posted By: David W Sinclair (email)
Date: 3/2/2008 at 15:37:42

LINEVILLE SCHOOL BUILDING IN ASHES
Burns Tuesday Night-Origin of Fire Unknown-Loss Partially Covered by Insurance.
The Lineville Public School Building was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday night and is now only a heap of ragged walls and surrounding ruins. The fire was discovered about 11 o'clock. The floors in the first primary room, directly over the furnace and the stairway leading to the second floor were in flames and nothing could be done to save either the building or its contents, and the efforts of the crowd gathered was directed towards saving the residences on adjoining lots and across the street. An insurance of $6,500 was held on the building and contents, $5,000 on the former and $1,500 on the latter. In addition to loss of books belonging to pupils, the fine library, piano and organ were destroyed. No positive knowledge of the origin of the fire has been obtained, but it is supposed it must have in some way started from the furnace, the heating system having been in use that day. The loss on the town and district is a severe one, but in some respect is regarded as a blessing as the building was not regarded as entirely safe or commensurate with the present requirements. It was of brick and erected in 1871 and in 1881 a large two story brick annex was added to the south side. It is too soon to state what will be done in the way of erecting a new building, but it is probable that little time will be lost in preparing for the enterprise. It is also probable that a new site more centrally located will be chosen. The loss, it if must have come, could not have been at a more opportune time, just at the close of the term and at a date early enough in the season to make it possible to have a new and much better school building erected and ready for occupancy by the time fixed for the schools to open in the fall.
Lineville Tribune
Lineville, Wayne Co., Iowa
May 20, 1915