Name/Title
Waynesburg Republican - Article - "A Disastrous Fire" (30 May 1912)Entry/Object ID
2018.1.92Scope and Content
"A Disastrous Fire" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 30 May 1912, page 1, column 8. Microfilm archived at the Cornerstone Genealogical Society.
Transcribed by Candice Buchanan.
"A Disastrous Fire.
Mrs. Henry Closser Suffers Loss of $10,000.
Residence, Barn and Other Buildings, With Most of Contents, Destroyed - No Insurance - House of Historic Interest.
On last Friday night a most disastrous fire occurred four miles west of Waynesburg, causing a loss of $10,000. The residence, barn, stable and other buildings owned by Mrs. Henry Closser, located on the ridge road leading from Waynesburg to Graysville, together with much other valuable property, were destroyed.
Mrs. Closser retired near 11 p.m. and about fifteen minutes afterward heard a roaring noise which she thought might be an automobile, but as it grew louder she walked to a front window to investigate. She was shocked to find that their large barn, standing upon the opposite side of the road, was in flames, the fire then being only in the hay-mow. She hastily awoke her sons, Ernest, aged fifteen, and Harold, aged nine, and then ran to the telephone to call up neighbors.
After a long, continuous effort she was unable to get the Waynesburg central office, through which it was necessary to make the call, and the smaller son was dispatched to neighbors to inform them, while Mrs. Closser and her son Ernest bent their efforts toward saving their home.
The barn was then doomed and embers were falling upon the shingle roof of the residence. Ernest, in his bare feet, climbed upon the roof of the house and with buckets of water handed to him by his mother, drowned out several incipient fires started in the roof. Mrs. Closser who had not been in good health for several months, was unable alone to supply water from the well fast enough, however, and after a heroic effort on the part of she and her son to battle against the flames and save their home, they were compelled to see it doomed also. The latter remained upon the roof until his feet were severely burned.
They then turned their attention toward the removal of household goods, and by this time some of the near neighbors began to arrive, and rendered assistance. The home was well furnished and a good portion of the contents were saved. Even with additional help at this time, however, nothing could be done toward checking the flames.
In the barn were a buggy, farming machinery of all kinds and harness, none of which was saved. In addition there was hay, straw and grain.
In proximity to the barn stood the stable, a corn-crib, containing 200 bushels of corn, and a calf-shed in which were eight head of hogs, all of which were burned.
The total loss amounts to $10,000 and no insurance was carried upon any of the property.
Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire in the barn, as no member of the family had been in the building that day. They suspect no one of having purposely set it on fire, but think a tramp may have gone into it to spend the night and lighted a match, which set fire to hay. Others think spontaneous combustion may have been responsible for the disaster.
On Saturday morning the burns upon Ernest Closser's feet were found to be so severe that he was brought to the office of Dr. Frank Ullom, here, for treatment.
The family removed into a grainhouse, the only building they had left standing, which they are now occupying for a home. Many friends here and throughout the vicinity express much sympathy on account of the loss.
The Closser residence, which was burned, had centered about it considerable historic interest. It was owned sixty and more years ago by William Gillespie, who was the uncle of the renowned statesman, James G. Blaine. "Jim" Blaine, in his younger days, had spent many a pleasant visut at the homestead. Two of his aunts, the Misses Elizabeth and Maria Gillespie, were students in Waynesburg College for several years. They and Hon. James G. Blaine were cousins of Mrs. McGurgan, East Main street.
Si. Workman, deceased, who was for years one of the well known colored men of Waynesburg, had been the body servant of James G. Blaine and they spent their boyhood together. He later lived on the Gillespie farm and named one of his sons Cornelius Gillespie Workman, known familiarly as "Neil," for a son of William Gillespie. When Blaine was in the United States Senate he sent to Si. Workman money to pay for the trip and had him visit him in Washington City."Collection
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Search Terms
African-American, Black History Month, Closser family, Fire, Gillespie family, House, Newspaper, Telephone, Thompson family, Waynesburg Republican, Workman familyArchive Details
Creator
Waynesburg RepublicanDate(s) of Creation
May 30, 1912Archive Notes
Level of Description: ItemRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Closser, Ernest Ray (Sr.)Person or Organization
Closser, Harold T.Person or Organization
Thompson, Sarah Ann "Sadie" [1860-1957]Person or Organization
Workman, Cornelius Gillespie "Neil"Person or Organization
Workman, Josiah "Si"Provenance
Provenance Detail
Waynesburg Republican - Publications CollectionNotes
Source Citation: Waynesburg Republican - Article - "A Disastrous Fire" (30 May 1912), item no. 2018.1.92, Publications Collection, shared by Candice Lynn Buchanan, Greene Connections Archives Project (www.GreeneConnections.com).