Showing posts with label Fires. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fires. Show all posts
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Methodist Church Burns to the Ground
--Mr. Louis Yackee, of Roberts, spent Christmas with the family of J. A. Cooper on North Main street. Mr. Yackee brought news of the burning of the M. E. church there Wednesday afternoon at 4:30, just as the young people were getting ready for the Christmas celebration.
The building was a frame one and built thirty years ago and it is supposed fire caught between the roof and the ceiling, blew the flames in the opposite direction from the parsonage and it was saved, although it was thought necessary to push in the walls of the burning building. The seats and the new organ were rescued as well as the more valuable ornaments of the Christmas tree which was not accountable. The Christmas exercises were postponed till last night and held in the Congregational church. Rev. A. W. Atkins is pastor and there is a congregation of over 200.
--The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. 26 December 1902. Page 7.
Sunday, July 01, 2018
Bertie Lyman Obit
--Paxton Record. 28 November 1878.
The little son of Sheriff Lyman, Bertie, was buried in the Roberts Cemetery on Sunday last. The services at the grave were conducted by Rev. Abbott, of Roberts, in a very impressive manner. The grief stricken parents have the deepest sympathy of friends in this their second bereavement.
Research: Need a better photo of Bertie's stone.
Sunday, September 03, 2017
Sunday, August 20, 2017
FARM HOME BURNS
Last Sunday, June 10th. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Houtzel and family, who live on a farm six miles southeast of Roberts, ate their dinner early and then drove to Thomasboro to visit a former neighbor, who had recently moved to that place. They had been gone but a short time when the neighbors discovered their home to be on fire. The fire was burning in the kitchen but had gained such headway that there was no chance to save the building and but little property could be carried out. The neighbors broke open the doors and carried out the piano and a couch but were unable to save anything more.
No word could be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Houtzel as none of the neighbors knew where they had gone so that the first knowledge they had of their loss was the discovery on their return.
No word could be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Houtzel as none of the neighbors knew where they had gone so that the first knowledge they had of their loss was the discovery on their return.
--Roberts Herald. 13 May 1936.
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Tragic Fire
High School Principal, Two Children Burned to Death Saturday
Fire of Unknown Origin; Frank Lyons Carries Townsends from Blazing House: Roberts Schools Closed
By Maryjo Lankston
Roberts, Feb. 21 --(RNS)-- One of the grimmest tragedies ever to strike in Ford County occurred here Saturday noon as Roberts high school principal, Loren F. Townsend, 31, and his two small sons, Stephen and Roger, died from burns suffered in a fire which destroyed their home.
All were rushed to the Paxton Community hospital but the severe burns took their toll; Stephen,6, dying at 7:30 p.m., Mr. Townsend, popular school administrator, at 11 p.m.; and little Roger, 3, at 12:15 p.m. The heartbroken wife and mother was downtown shopping at the time the disaster occurred.
Frank Lyons, 63, neighbor to the Townsends, first saw the fire and made two trips into the burning house on his hands and knees to save the three victims.
Mr. Lyons told the story in his own words; "I saw the flames coming out of an upstairs window about 12:45. I shouted "Fire" and ran over. Mr. Townsend had crawled to the door with Roger in his arms. I pulled them out and said, "Where's the other one?" He said, "In there," and tried to go back in.
I pulled him back and crawled in and grabbed little Stephen, who was burned badly on his face and arms. Just before Mr. Townsend passed out, I asked him how it started, and he said, "Frank, I don't know."
Laud Lyons' Deed
As friends lauded Mr. Lyons for his heroic deed the janitor at the high school insisted that anyone would've done what he did, "as their duty."
The three were taken into the homes of the neighbors until the ambulance arrived. Mr. Lyons received burns on his neck and face, for which he received medical treatments.
The fire was so intense that firemen were hardly able to get close enough to the adjoining houses to save them. Wet blankets were held up to separate them from the intense heat. They saved the two adjoining houses by spraying them with water repeatedly.
Fire departments from Melvin, Thawville, Paxton, Gibson City, Onarga and Piper City arrived to help Roberts firemen but the fire was well under control by the time the last three arrived. The town's water tank was twice drained of its supply, and firemen had to wait until more water was pumped in.
No accurate estimate of the loss was available. The Townsend house was valued at $5,000.
Mrs. Arthur Seng, neighbor to the east of the Townsend home, first called in an alarm at 12:55. Mrs. Townsend was uptown shopping when she first heard of the disaster.
No Explosion
The nine-room frame house was completely destroyed by flames that could be seen six miles away. The interior walls were of wallboarding, which made it so readily inflammable. It was believed that the fire must have started in the walls, because it was so long before it was discovered.
A rumor was circulated that an explosion must have caused it, but there was no evidence to support this theory. The house was heated by a coal-burning furnace, and an electric stove was used for cooking.
When the east wall of the home crashed, it buckled in the middle fortunately, otherwise the sheet of flames would have struck the Seng property which already was smoking and scorched from the intense heat.
Only a vacant lot between the burning home, which blazed like a tinder box, and the Lyons property saved the house for the wind was from the east.
A huge crowd quickly gathered as firemen concentrated on keeping the fire from spreading. An added difficulty was the absence of near fireplugs. Nearest plug was two blocks distant.
Formerly of Thawville
Stephen Townsend was born April 19, 1941, in Morris. His mother was the former Ava Hollingsworth of Thawville. The boys' paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. George Townsend, Thawville.
Townsend, youngest man ever to head the local high school, succeeded E. C. Nichols as principal last summer. A native of Thawville, he held a master's degree from the University of Illinois and was a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan university, Bloomington.
Before coming to Roberts, Townsend was a civilian instructor and supervisor at Chanute Air Force Base for five and one-half years and previously taught mathematics at Morris high school.
Henry Hanson, Ford county coroner, said that inquests on the deaths are scheduled for 7:30 this evening, at Roberts: Jurymen are Thomas Trigger, foreman; A. D. Seng, John Minch, Muryl Sturm, Chet Wright, and Francis Russell.
--Paxton Record. 26 February 1948.
Art Seng lived in the large white two story home where the Trees family lived in the 60-70's. So this home would have been just to the east.
Fire of Unknown Origin; Frank Lyons Carries Townsends from Blazing House: Roberts Schools Closed
By Maryjo Lankston
Roberts, Feb. 21 --(RNS)-- One of the grimmest tragedies ever to strike in Ford County occurred here Saturday noon as Roberts high school principal, Loren F. Townsend, 31, and his two small sons, Stephen and Roger, died from burns suffered in a fire which destroyed their home.
All were rushed to the Paxton Community hospital but the severe burns took their toll; Stephen,6, dying at 7:30 p.m., Mr. Townsend, popular school administrator, at 11 p.m.; and little Roger, 3, at 12:15 p.m. The heartbroken wife and mother was downtown shopping at the time the disaster occurred.
Frank Lyons, 63, neighbor to the Townsends, first saw the fire and made two trips into the burning house on his hands and knees to save the three victims.
Mr. Lyons told the story in his own words; "I saw the flames coming out of an upstairs window about 12:45. I shouted "Fire" and ran over. Mr. Townsend had crawled to the door with Roger in his arms. I pulled them out and said, "Where's the other one?" He said, "In there," and tried to go back in.
I pulled him back and crawled in and grabbed little Stephen, who was burned badly on his face and arms. Just before Mr. Townsend passed out, I asked him how it started, and he said, "Frank, I don't know."
Laud Lyons' Deed
As friends lauded Mr. Lyons for his heroic deed the janitor at the high school insisted that anyone would've done what he did, "as their duty."
The three were taken into the homes of the neighbors until the ambulance arrived. Mr. Lyons received burns on his neck and face, for which he received medical treatments.
The fire was so intense that firemen were hardly able to get close enough to the adjoining houses to save them. Wet blankets were held up to separate them from the intense heat. They saved the two adjoining houses by spraying them with water repeatedly.
Fire departments from Melvin, Thawville, Paxton, Gibson City, Onarga and Piper City arrived to help Roberts firemen but the fire was well under control by the time the last three arrived. The town's water tank was twice drained of its supply, and firemen had to wait until more water was pumped in.
No accurate estimate of the loss was available. The Townsend house was valued at $5,000.
Mrs. Arthur Seng, neighbor to the east of the Townsend home, first called in an alarm at 12:55. Mrs. Townsend was uptown shopping when she first heard of the disaster.
No Explosion
The nine-room frame house was completely destroyed by flames that could be seen six miles away. The interior walls were of wallboarding, which made it so readily inflammable. It was believed that the fire must have started in the walls, because it was so long before it was discovered.
A rumor was circulated that an explosion must have caused it, but there was no evidence to support this theory. The house was heated by a coal-burning furnace, and an electric stove was used for cooking.
When the east wall of the home crashed, it buckled in the middle fortunately, otherwise the sheet of flames would have struck the Seng property which already was smoking and scorched from the intense heat.
Only a vacant lot between the burning home, which blazed like a tinder box, and the Lyons property saved the house for the wind was from the east.
A huge crowd quickly gathered as firemen concentrated on keeping the fire from spreading. An added difficulty was the absence of near fireplugs. Nearest plug was two blocks distant.
Formerly of Thawville
Stephen Townsend was born April 19, 1941, in Morris. His mother was the former Ava Hollingsworth of Thawville. The boys' paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. George Townsend, Thawville.
Townsend, youngest man ever to head the local high school, succeeded E. C. Nichols as principal last summer. A native of Thawville, he held a master's degree from the University of Illinois and was a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan university, Bloomington.
Before coming to Roberts, Townsend was a civilian instructor and supervisor at Chanute Air Force Base for five and one-half years and previously taught mathematics at Morris high school.
Henry Hanson, Ford county coroner, said that inquests on the deaths are scheduled for 7:30 this evening, at Roberts: Jurymen are Thomas Trigger, foreman; A. D. Seng, John Minch, Muryl Sturm, Chet Wright, and Francis Russell.
--Paxton Record. 26 February 1948.
Art Seng lived in the large white two story home where the Trees family lived in the 60-70's. So this home would have been just to the east.
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