Lancaster NY Fire 1896

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Lancaster, Erie, New York, United States

Documenting the Lancaster Fire of 1896

[In PDF format]

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 21, 1896, residents in the Village of Lancaster were awakened by the sounds of fire. Flames had swept the village only two and one-half year previous, and they were burning again.

The following pages reproduce two newspaper accounts of the 1896 fire. These accounts are supplemented with additional materials. The first news account is from the Lancaster Enterprise, at the time, a new weekly newspaper in the village. The Enterprise published on Wednesdays and so was the first to describe the fire—only hours after it was brought under control. The second news account of the fire is from the Lancaster Times, which published on Thursdays.

Fire started Wednesday October 21 at about 3:00 a.m.
Lancaster Enterprise published Wednesday October 21
Lancaster Times published Thursday October 22

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The Enterprise
Lancaster, N.Y. Wednesday, Oct 21, 1896

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It was nearly three o’clock this morning when the residents in the business center of the village were aroused by the cry of fire. Everybody remembered the cry of two and one half years ago, and dreaded to hear it again. The fire was found to be in the old soap factory building, and had gained considerable headway when discovered. It started in the north end, and within fifteen minutes after being discovered, the entire building was wrapped in flames. The floors and timbers were saturated with grease, and all the water in Plum Bottom Creek could not have put it out.

The livery stables of J.O. Garetsee in the rear of the soap factory building were ignited and soon laid in ashes. The horses were all removed.

Sparks from the soap factory ignited the three-story frame building of Henry Balthasar across the street, levelling it to the ground.

The Cushing block, to the south of Balthasar’s which was a two-story frame building, next succumbed to the flames. The post office was in the Cushing block and the exchange office of the Bell Telephone Co. Both were destroyed. Sam Walter and Policeman Higgins had rooms in the building.

J.N. Maute’s large two-story frame block was next to fall a prey to the flames. It was occupied by Mr. Maute as a hardware and shop. A few things were saved from the store and a small quantity of clothing from the house.

Charles Schliebs two-story brick building was the next to go.

It was seen at an early stage of the fire that the fire appliance at the disposal of the firemen was inadequate, and Senator Davis telephoned to Buffalo for help, and did so just in time, as the fire had burned off the connection just as he had closed his message. The firemen worked heroically, but the hand engine and force pump with two streams were ineffective with so heavy a fire, but were the means of checking the spread of the flames to other buildings. It appeared as though many more buildings would have to go, but when steamer No. 12 from Buffalo arrived at 4:20—just 30 minutes after they received order to come—all fears were allayed. The steamer played two streams on the falling timbers and prevented further spread of the flames.

Damage was also done to Mrs. F. Schaefer’s house on the rear of Schliebs, and to the two houses of V. Sandel on the rear of Balthasar’s. The bank building was damaged, but being of brick with a slate roof it was saved. Mrs. Winling’s frame building occupied by W.C. DeVille and the “Two John’s” barber shop was slightly schorched.

The soap factory building was owned by the estate of the late Henry Hoffeld who also owned the stables in the rear. The total loss is $10,000, with $3,600 insurance.

H. Balthasar’s loss on building $4,500, on salon and fixtures $2,500, household goods $1,000. Total loss with $4,500 insurance.

The Cushing block was valued at $3,000 with an insurance of $2,000, total loss. F.S. Cushing’s drug store, total loss of $3,000 with an insurance of $1,700.

J.N. Maute building valued at $6,000 total loss on which there was an insurance of $4,000; stock and household furniture valued at $9,000, on which there was an insurance of $3,000. Total loss.

Frank Maute, postmaster, had a personal insurance of $?00 on contents of post office. Damage $300.

Charles Schliebs block valued at $3,000; insurance $2,000. Stock of boots and shoes $?,000; insurance $2,000.

Mrs. Winling’s building damaged $25.

M. Staub’s dwelling occupied by Mrs. Schaefer damaged $200. Covered by insurance.

Valintine Sandel’s dwelling damaged $300. Covered by insurance.

J.O. Garretsee, loss in stables $1,500, covered by insurance. Loss on carriages and office furniture $2,000. Insurance of $500.

The loss to the Bell Telephone Co. is about $500. Policeman Higgins loss $125. Sam Walter’s loss $300.

Damage to bank building and contents $800. Covered by insurance.

Geyer Bros. blacksmith shop was damaged to the extent of $25.

Sparks

• All honors to our sturdy firemen
• Do we need fire protection, or is it best to let property burn?
• The temporary office of the Telephone Co is at Adolf’s feed store.
• The bank has opened temporarily in J.O. Garretsee’s office.
• The Buffalo Commercial had their reporter C.H. Plerson and artist Mr. Patrick out here at an early hour this morning.
• Engine No. 12 of Buffalo was in charge of Master Mechanic, Owen and Captain Whitmore. This is the Company that made a hitch-up in six and one-half seconds a few days ago.
• The post office is in the south front room in Town Hall. Post master Maute saved all the mail in the office.
• A number of men were arrested for refusing to assist on the engines. They will have their trial Saturday evening.
• Master Mechanic Owen of Buffalo had charge of the engine that assisted at the fire two years ago.
• Wm. Burlingham was at the Erie station in Buffalo when the order came for a special train this morning and was put in charge.
• The origin of the fire is a mystery, but every indication points to incendiaryism.
• H. Balthasar was sick in bed and was removed to the Mansion House.
• An awning on Dr. Waith's house caught fire from the sparks of the conflagration.
• F. S. Cushing is fitting up the store in Link’s block for his drugstore.
• Postmaster Maute opened his safe and found everything but the stamps in good condition. The stamps were in one solid mass.
• The rain of yesterday and last evening saved much valuable property, as the sparks were carried a long distance by the wind.
• We would be glad to give credit to the one who first discovered the fire, but we are unable to learn the name of the party.

Source
Lancaster Enterprise Wednesday October 21, 1896
https://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023%2FLancaster%20NY%20Enterprise%2FLancaster%20NY%20Enterprise%201895%2FLancaster%20NY%20Enterprise%201895-12-10%20%201900-01-20_192_2.pdf

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The Lancaster Times
Lancaster, N.Y. Thursday, Oct 22, 1896

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A disastrous fire destroyed a portion of the business section of Central avenue early yesterday morning.

About three o’clock the cry of “Fire, Fire” was heard on our streets. That cry brought people to the doors and windows of their dwellings, and what was their surprise to see the large building on the west side of Central avenue owned by Hoffeld & Co., formerly used as a soap factory, wrapped in flames.

The fire originated in the northwest corner of the building, which was a large three-story frame structure, saturated with oil and grease, and had long been regarded as a dangerous place for a fire to break out in.

Owing to the fact that the engines, house carts and other fire apparatus were stored in different parts of the village, while the fire house is being erected, the flames had completely enveloped the soap factory and spread to adjoining buildings before the firemen were able to get a stream to play upon them.

From the soap factory the flames leaped across Central avenue to Mr. J.N. Maute’s large frame hardware store, Mr. Henry Balthasar’s Hotel, and the Cushing Block, all of which were burned to the ground. Mr. W.H. Kurtz’s grocery store, about 60 feet north of Maute’s hardware store, was saved after a hard fight of over two hours. Mr. Charles Schliebs’ brick shoe store stopped the progress of the flames on the south side. This building was gutted by the fire, and the stock was badly damaged by fire and water.

The brick building of the bank of Lancaster, between the Maute and Balthasar buildings is nearly fire proof, but the heat broke the plate glass windows and set fire to the frames and door cases damaging the building to the extent of about $1,000. The loss is covered by insurance.

A house in the rear of Balthasar’s Hotel, owned by Mr. Balthasar, was also destroyed, and the house of Miss Eva Schaefer, just back of Schliebs’ shoe store, was damaged to a considerable extent. Mr. V. Sandel owns two houses, next to the one of Mr. Balthasar, which were also damaged.

The large barn west of the soap factory was completely destroyed, and at one time it looked as if the fire might spread to West Main street, but by the heroic efforts of the firemen, the flames were kept from spreading any further in that direction.

At about five o’clock, after the fire was practically under control, engine No. 12 of the Buffalo fire department, put in an appearance, just two hours after being telephoned for.

When day broke the light fell upon a scene of ruin that exceeds in magnitude any, but one, that the villagers ever gazed upon before. They found that about $45,000 worth of property had gone up in smoke and that several families were burned out of house and home.

The soap factory building was used by Mr. J.O. Garretsee as a livery office, carriage room and warehouse, and contained at the time of the fire about 2,000 bushels of oats, 4 single carriages, three two seaters, 2 three seaters, 1 hack, 1 hack sleigh, robes, blankets, bells, harnesses, cement, plaster, etc., all of which, with the exception of say 300 bushels of oats, was a total loss. The barn contained about 20 tons of hay, 1 omnibus, 4 single cutters, 1 two seater, 4 heavy sleighs, 15 horses, 8 sets of heavy double harness, 4 sets of light double harness, 1 set of coach harness, 8 single harness, 100 bushels of oats, two open buggies, together with all the paraphernalia that goes to make up the small parts of a livery barn. The horses, buggies and a portion of the harnesses were saved. The balance was a total loss. Mr. Garretsee’s loss is about $2,400; insurance $800.

The soap factory, which is owned by Hoffeld & Co., was valued at $10,000; insurance $4,200.

Mr. Maute carried a very heavy stock of hardware, which was a total loss. His household furniture was also destroyed. His loss on building is $6,000; on stock and furniture $9,000; insurance $7,000.

Mr. Balthasar’s loss on building, hotel fixtures and household goods is about $6,500; insurance $1,000.

Cushing’s drug store and the post office were in the lower part of the Cushing Block, while the upper rooms were occupied by the Bell Telephone Company, Mr. S. Walter and Mr. C. Higgins. The loss on this building, which was owned by Mr. F. S. Cushing, is about $8,000; insurance $2,000. Mr. Cushing’s stock of drugs was also completely destroyed. Loss $3,000; insurance $1,800. The fixtures of the post office were all consumed with the exception of the boxes. The books and mail matter were taken out but the safe containing a large amount of postage stamps went through the fire. The safe was opened yesterday, when it was found that the stamps were all ruined, being stuck together. Mr. F.H. Maute, the postmaster, loses about $800; insurance $500. Mr. S. Walter’s loss is about $300 and Mr. Higgine’s $150; no insurance. The Bell Telephone Company lose about $500.

The damage to Mr. Schliebs’ building and stock is about $4,000, covered by insurance.

Miss Schaefer’s loss is about $100, and Mr. V. Sandel’s about $300. The latter is covered by insurance.

The origin of the fire is unknown.

The Bank of Lancaster opened up for business in their old quarters in the building occupied by Mr. J.O. Garretsee on Central avenue, near the Erie railroad, Wednesday morning at 10:30, just thirty minutes later than their usual time. The officers are to be commended on their promptness in overcoming difficulties.

Mr. J.N. Maute will open a hardware store in his barn, which stands in the rear of the burned store, and will be ready of business tomorrow morning.

Mr. F.S. Cushing has opened a drug store in Mr. Peter Link’s building on West Main street, and is already prepared to meet the wants of his patrons.

The Lancaster Livery and Carting Company is now located in the office of Mr. J.O. Garretsee, just south of the Erie railroad on Central avenue, and is prepared to take care of its customers as heretofore. Mr. W.H. Klentz is putting up an additional stable for the accommodation of 25 horses on Mr. Garretsee’s lot on Court street.

Postmaster Maute opened up the post office in the south room of the Town Hall, and was ready for business yesterday morning at the usual hour, 7 o’clock.

The Bell Telephone Company will locate its Central office in the Times Building, and will be open for business next Monday morning.

Mr. Henry Balthasar, who was sick at the time of the fire, was removed to the house of Mr. George Vandenberg.

We understand that Mr. Maute and Mr. Cushing will rebuild at once.

Yesterday morning’s blaze recalls to the minds of the villagers the fire of two and one-half year ago, when $100,000 damage was done. The fire then was just one block south of the scene of the conflagration yesterday morning. The fire then proved almost a blessing in disguise, as the buildings which were destroyed were replaced by handsome brick blocks and modern frame structures, and no doubt the portion burned yesterday morning will soon be replaced by more substantial structures than those destroyed.

Source
Lancaster Times Thursday October 22, 1896
https://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023%2FLancaster%20NY%20Times%2FLancaster%20NY%20Times%201894%20-1899%2FLancaster%20NY%20Times%201894%20-%207%201899%2012-28_263_1.pdf

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The Enterprise
Lancaster, N.Y. Wednesday, Oct 28, 1896

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Last Week’s Fire

The fire of last week Wednesday morning was so short a time before going to press it was impossible to make as full a report as we wished. The estimated loss by the suffers in the excitement of the moment was in the main correct. It was impossible to get the cored insurance carried. In some cases the loss was greater than the figures we gave and in other cases the insurance is a few hundred more that the figures we gave.

The Buffalo dailies all give the Buffalo fire company credit for stopping the further progress of the flames. The fact is that the Lancaster department which had for two hours held the flames in check, stopped the further destruction of buildings. The firemen as well as citizens worked hard and could have done no better with the appliance at hand.

The Buffalo engine with its company allayed the fears of many as to the progress of the flames and at the same time their working on what remained of the ruins relieved the hard-worked firemen of the village.

Wednesday and Thursday the village was over-run with insurance adjusters who wanted to adjust the loss for a percentage or a lump-sum, promising to work for the interest of those who employed them. None of them were employed. In most cases the loss was total and required no adjustment.

F.S. Cushing has opened his drug store in Link’s block and is able and ready to meet this customer.

Chas. Schielbs has rented the store in Mrs. Scheffler’s block and moved his stock of boots and shoes there.

J.N. Maute has opened up business in the rear of his lot and his workmen are tilling all orders for work as expeditionaly [sic] as possible. He will put in a stock of general hardware, stoves, etc., and remain there until he can get up another building, at the same place where his old one stood.

Postmaster Maute received a very complimentary letter from the department at Washington on his removal of the mail matter, securing temporary quarter and dispatching of mail after the fire. No one could do better than he did and it is just what everybody expected the postmaster would do as we all know his ability and punctual method of attending to business.

The force pump in the shop of Borst & Lutz, in the rear of J.M. Greis’s store, did effective work on Wednesday morning, and had it not been in used, West Main street would have lain in ashes to-day. While the village pays $25 a year for the use of this pump, it is the best spent money in the village. On the morning of the fire there was thirty pounds of steam on the boiler before there was any one ready to handle the hose. Those who have opposed the expenditure of a paltry sum in order to give the village the use of this pump can now see its usefulness.

The fact that the N.Y.C.R.R. shops had a steam fire engine did not enter the mind of anyone here until it was too late to be of any benefit. The steamer was ready to come and would have rendered great assistance if it had been here at an early stage of the fire.

The building owned by M. Staub has been repaired by the Lancaster Mutual Fire Insurance Company who carried the insurance.

H. Balthasar will repair his house which stands in the rear of his lot and conduct his saloon there until he can erect a new building.

The books and papers in the three safes that went through the fire came out in very fair condition.

It is quite likely that the post office will be permanently located in the Town Hall.

During the fire last week a clerk employed in one of the establishments burned went into the place and changed his pair of patent leather shoes for a pair of old ones, and left his best ones there to be burned. This same cool and collected clerk at the fire two years ago when dressing, put on his coat and vest, and then his shirt. He is usually calm and collected, but the fire seems to have the same effect to him as a red flag does to a bull.

Source
Lancaster Enterprise, Wednesday, October 28, 1896
https://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023%2FLancaster%20NY%20Enterprise%2FLancaster%20NY%20Enterprise%201895%2FLancaster%20NY%20Enterprise%201895-12-10%20%201900-01-20_196_1.pdf

Before the fire
At the beginning of the 1890s, the east side of Central Avenue, across from the soap factory, was the property of Valentine Sandel. The land contained his blacksmithing and carriage shops. An insurance map from 1892, reproduced below, shows the buildings on that section of Central Avenue. Starting at Plum Bottom Creek in the top of the image, there was a vacant frame structure at No. 501; a wagon shop at No. 502; a frame building at No. 503 (Henry Balthasar’s saloon); and a blacksmith shop at No. 504. Continuing south on the map, No. 505 was a brick structure which, at the time of the fire, was occupied as a shoe store and there was a wood frame structure behind this building.

Between 1892 when this map was published and 1896 when the fire swept this section of Central Avenue, W. H. Kurtz built a wood-frame grocery store on the north side of Plum Bottom Creek; John N. Maute built a wood-frame hardware store at No. 501; the Bank of Lancaster was built at No. 502; and Frank Cushing built a wood-frame drug store at No. 504.

The following items offer some information about these buildings prior to the October 1896 fire. The items are taken primarily from announcements made in the Lancaster Times.

• Mr. Henry Balthasar has purchased of Mr. V. Sandel the building recently occupied by the late John Turk, and will take possession soon. (Times, June 6, 1889)
• Franklin S. Cushing “moved to Lancaster to take up his residence in this community in 1892. He founded the F.S. Cushing Drug company shortly after his arrival here.” It was founded “in a two-story, wooden-frame building” on Central Avenue. (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cushing-1011 and https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Cushing%27s_Drug_Store)
• Mr. John N. Maute has bought of Mr. Valentine Sandel a frontage of fifty feet on Central avenue, just south of Plum Bottom Creek, where he will erect a building to be used for his hardware business. (Times, June 1, 1893)
• Mr. Henry Balthasar will move his building on Central avenue back and put up in its place a handsome two-story building with mansard roof. Contractor Grotke will do the work. (Times, June 29, 1893)
• Mr. Henry Balthasar's building on Central avenue is being moved back to make room for a handsome new structure. (Times, July 13, 1893)
• Mr. Henry Balthasar's new building on Central avenue is going up rapidly. Contractor Grotke is doing the work. (Times, August 3, 1893)
• Mr. L.H. Bailey is building the foundation for Mr. W. H. Kurtz's new grocery store on Central avenue. (Times, August 3, 1893)
• The foundation for Mr. John N. Maute’s new hardware store on Central avenue is nearing completion. (Times, August 3, 1893)
• As will be seen in another column, Mr. John N. Maute has removed his stock of hard ware from his old place of business to his beautiful new store on the east side of Central avenue. This new building is a credit to Lancaster, and is, with out doubt, the finest store that has ever been opened in the village. Commodious and beautifully laid out, it presents an appearance second to none of the city hardware stores. Mr. Maute is to be congratulated on having such a fine place of business. It is well worth a visit of all of our citizens to inspect the store. (Times, December 7, 1893)
• Regarding Frank S. Cushing: Our town possesses the advantages of this first-class drug store, which is conducted in a very capable manner and is worthy of a liberal patronage from the residents of Lancaster. Mr. Cushing has been conducting the business about a year and a half. The store is equipped with a full line of pure drugs, druggists’ sundries, the leading patent medicines, stationary, cigars, etc. A competent pharmacist is employed. Mr. Cushing does a real estate business and is special agent of the Depew Improvement Co. (Times, January 18, 1894)
• The cross walk on Central avenue between J. N. Maute’s and W. H. Kurtz’s stores, is almost impassable, it being covered by about two inches of water and mud most of the time. (Times, November 29, 1894)
• Work was commenced on the flro [sic] house this morning by Contractor Adolf, who will put in a store front and fit it up for a shoe store for Mr. Charles Schliebs, who recently purchased the building. (Times, September 12, 1895)

After the fire
The 1892 insurance map was updated in 1897. The updated map is reproduced below. It shows the new buildings on Central Avenue. The soap factory on the west side of the street was identified as “Ruins of Fire.” On the east side of the street, new brick buildings replaced the burned ones. From Plum Bottom Creek at the top of the image, the building at No. 501 was “Being built to be hard ware”; the “Bank” was at No. 502; at No. 503 the building was marked “To be saloon”; and at No. 504 the building was “To be store, office (2d floor) & hall (3d floor).” At No. 505 was the brick shoe store, set back a bit from the street.

The following items record the progress at rebuilding the east side of Central Avenue after the fire.

• J.N. Maute is doing business in his barn in the rear of the bank. All orders will be promptly attended to. His stock of hardware will be complete. Stoves, etc. are arriving daily. (Enterprise, October 28,1896)
• Mr. Charles Schliebs, whose store was badly damaged by last week's fire, has opened a shoe store in the Scheffler Block on West Main street. (Times, October 29, 1896)
• The loss on Mr. Charles Schliebs building has been adjusted at $810.00, and on his stock at $765.04. The former was insured in the German American and the later in the Delaware Insurance Company. Mr. J.N Maute’s loss on his building has been adjusted at $4,000, the full amount of insurance carried by him. Mr. F.S. Cushing will also receive the full amount for which his building was insured, $2,000. (Times, November 5, 1896)
• Messrs. J.N. Maute, F.S. Cushing and Henry Balthasar have decided to erect brick buildings on the sites of those destroyed by the fire October 21st. (Times, November 12, 1896)
• The loss on the bank building has been adjusted, and Mr. Louis Phillippi has been awarded the contract for putting the building again in shape for business. (Times, November 12, 1896)
• The loss on Mr. J.N. Maute’s stock was adjusted yesterday, he being allowed the full amount of his insurance $3,300. Mr. Balthasar’s loss has also been adjusted, and he will receive the full amount of insurance on his building and furniture, which were a total loss. On his tenant house, which was damaged, he has been allowed $175. (Times, November 12, 1896)
• The work of building the foundation for Mr. H. Balthasar’s new brick building on Central avenue was commenced this morning. (Times, November 19, 1896)
• The contract for building Mr. F.S. Cushing’s new brick block on Central avenue has been awarded to Mr. H. Rainhill & Co. of Buffalo. (Times, November 19, 1896)
• Mr. Morris Grant Holmes has prepared the plans for Mr. J.N. Maute’s new hardware store. The building which will be of brick, will be 38 by 68 feet in size and three stories high. (Times, November 19, 1896)
• The Lancaster Livery and Carting Company purchased two two-seated carriages from the Braun Carriage Company, Buffalo, last week, for use in their livery. (Times, November 26, 1896)
• Workmen commenced laying the brick walls for J.N. Maute’s new block on Central avenue Monday morning. The work is being done under the direction of Mr. F.G. Hanke. (Times, November 26, 1896)
• The bricklayers commenced work on the Cushing and Balthasar buildings on Central avenue Wednesday morning. (Times, December 3, 1896)
• The brick work on the Cushing and Balthasar buildings is being pushed rapidly forward, the first two stories being completed. The walls on the Maute Building are finished to the second story. (Times, December 10, 1896)
• The brick work on the Cushing and Balthasar buildings is nearly finished. (Times, December 17, 1896)
• The new Cushing and Balthasar block is now in the hands of the plasterers and is expected to be ready for occupancy about the first of February. (Times, January 7, 1897)
• The brick work on Mr. J.N. Maute’s new block is nearly completed. (Times, January 7, 1897)
• The brick work on the new Maute block was finished last week, and the building is now under roof. The work of finishing the interior will be pushed rapidly forward. (Times, January 14, 1897)
• Messrs. H. Balthasar and J.N. Maute expect to move into their new buildings on Central avenue next week. (Times, February 4, 1897)
• Mr. F.S. Cushing moved his stock of drugs into his handsome new store on Central avenue on Tuesday. The cases, shelves and counters, which are of quartered oak, were made at Mr. Joseph Knauber’s planing mill and are a credit to that establishment. (Times, February 4, 1897)
• Mr. Henry Balthasar opened his saloon in his new building on Central avenue on Tuesday. (Times, February 11,1897)
• Mr. J.N. Maute has opened his hardware store in his large new building on Central avenue. (Times, February 18,1897)

Arson!
About six months after the October 1896 fire, both the Enterprise and the Times reported that “William Foster admitted … that he set the fire in the soap factory.” According to the Enterprise, “Foster was suspected and several attempts have been made to obtain a confession from him, but without avail until the one made yesterday. … Policeman Higgins had been working on this case ever since the fire and it is finally brought home to the guilty party.” (Lancaster Enterprise, May 5, 1897)

The next day, May 6, the following story was read in the Lancaster Times:

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William Foster, a boarder at Mr. Henry Ott’s hotel on West Main street, was arrested last Friday for stealing six dollars from Mr. Ott’s money drawer. On Saturday he was arraigned before Judge Huber, who found him guilty and sentenced him to ninety days in the Erie County Penitentiary.

During the hearing it transpired that Foster had knowledge of the origin of the large fire that destroyed the soap factory and other valuable property on the morning of October 21st last, and which was the work of an incendiary. He was thoroughly examined on Monday and Tuesday, but not until Tuesday afternoon did he confess having started the fire. In his confession, made before Judge Huber, Foster says: “I went in on the north side of the soap factory, at that time occupied as a livery stable by John O. Garretsee. I went in the lime-house on the west and started the fire with barrel hoops and shavings which I whittled from a board. I started the fire in a corner of the lime-house. It was the same night I got matches from Sam Adolf. I used the same matches to start the fire with. I did this because I had it in for Garretsee, for Garretsee discharged me when I worked for him. I was all alone; no one was with me. I have never spoken to any one about this before, and to-day is the first time when I told Edward Besch. I am making this statement of my own free will. I am sorry that I did it. I did not think the people on the east side of the street would burn out. I would not do it over again.”

A reporter for the Times interviewed Mr. Garretsee, who stated that he had never known Foster, to within a month ago, and then did not know his name, and to his knowledge Foster had never been in his employ; that Mr. Earl, who was formerly bookkeeper in the Carting Company’s office in the soap factory building, said that some two years ago he had hired Foster for from one-half to three-quarters of an hour to carry chairs into the Town Hall for some entertainment. With this exception, nothing further can be found where he had ever performed any labor. Mr. Garretsee had never spoken to the man until about three weeks ago, when he came into his office for a basket of coal for Mrs. Raynor.

Mr. Charles Higgins, ex-village policeman, says that he has had this man Foster under surveillance ever since the big fire and shadowed him continually every night until April 1st. (Times, May 6, 1897)

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A few weeks later, the Time informed its readers that a grand jury indictment charged William Foster “with arson in the first, second, and third degrees. Foster is now serving a term in the Penitentiary. The indictment charges Foster with having set fire to the livery stable of Mr. J.O. Garretsee of this village on the night of October 21, 1896, when he was aware that a human being was in the building. As soon as his time at the Penitentiary expires he will be re-arrested.” (Times, May 20, 1897)

The Enterprise concluded its report with the note: “This clears up the mystery of the fire and will relieve many from anxiety from the re-occurrence of another such a conflagration when they know that the self-confessed criminal is behind the bars. … The $300 reward offered last October will be claimed by those who have been instrumental in securing the confession from Foster.” (Enterprise, May 5, 1897)