When The 8th Street School Burned - Watsontown Pa

The 8th Street School Fire in Watsontown PA, January 24 1956

On January 24th 1956, recess had just ended at the Watsontown School, and the students had returned to class.  Mrs Gestalder had struck one note on the piano, when the fire alarm sounded.

School custodian Elery Rea had noticed the fire, which began in the boys bathroom located in the basement.  Rea pulled the school alarm and directed the school nurse to call the fire company.

Upstairs, the big double doors leading to the stairwell were opened, and and the children walked down a smoke filled hallway, where they  could see orange flames  through the cracks in the steps. 

 Two hundred and eighty children, grades 1-6, were evacuated from the building in less than 2 minutes.  There were no injuries.

It was a bitter cold day, and the there had been no time to retrieve coats, or belongings.   Many of the neighbors along Elm street took the evacuated students into their homes to keep them warm until their parents could be summoned.

The flames spread through the floor and wall partitions, contained by the brick walls, metal ceilings and metal roof. By noon Milton Fire Department was called in to help. The flames continued  through the heat ducts and stair wells. The fire was finally brought under control around 4pm, but firemen would continue to pour water on the  moldering embers throughout the night, being vigilant to be certain the fire did not return. 

Efforts were made to return coats and  to salvage books, but the the smoke and water damaged almost everything beyond repair.

Students finished out the year by attending half days at Dewart, with the Dewart students attending half days as well to make room for the Watsontown students.  Some students attended classes in the Lutheran church.  In April of 1958 the state approved the boards decision to locate a new elementary school on the former Miller farm just north of town.

Picture Of President Washington Survived the Fire

This photo, rescued from the 8th Street School, hangs in the house at Fort Freeland.
Beside the photo hangs a statement  written by Ruth Moser.

"Everything was covered with ice.  The next day our coats were frozen stiff in the coat rooms.  We carried them out and propped them against a tree.  Wayne Patton was in Gr 1. We went across the street to his home.  Mrs Bergman came for some children.  We could take anything we could get out.  Mother, Mrs Kramm, had 6th Gr. upstairs. Dad and Harold helped.  We brought wet books home to try to dry them.  They were never fit to use.  The smell never went away.  

There was a very loud bang.  I opened my door to check on a student.  Flames were coming up the stair well to my right.

We were all so lucky.  I hope many can enjoy this picture."

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Opening The Strongbox From  

Cornerstone Of The 8th Street School 

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In December of 1959 the old school was being razed.  The strongbox from the schools cornerstone was retrieved and opened.

The various papers and items were in a "good state of preservation for the 77 years they were in the cornerstone."

The strongbox is now in the possession of the Watsontown Historical Association.

The  strongbox contents included:

• A Bible, 
• A Copy of the contract and specification of building, names of board of school directors, names of contractors, 
• condensed histories of Watsontown Borough, of Watsontown Lodge 401 F and AM, of Watsontown Lodge No. 619 IOOF, of Warrior Run Chapter No 246, Royal Arch Masons, first copy of the Watsontown Record,
•  US postage stamps, US nickel, silver coin, number of pennies,
•  condensed histories of the five churches of the town, and also of the public school, with a list of  pupils and teachers, copy of pupils monthly report, full set of principal reports for 1881 and 1882.
• Copy of rules and regulations for the school, copy of oration delivered on the laying of the cornerstone, list of businessmen in the borough, copy of the program carried out, 
• as well as a copy of the last letter sent by President James Garfield to his mother during his last illness in 1881.
• Condensed history of the Watsontown Boot and Shoe Company, with a price list, bill heads and envelopes of the company.
• A copy of the Philadelphia Record, Philadelphia Times, Gazette & Bulletin of Williamsport, Philadelphia Press.
• History of Hess and Engle Cigar Manufacturing firm, with samples of the cigars, made of all-tobacco
• A share of the Lyceum, First literary society of Watsontown
• A Letter from the office of President Chester Arthur, constitution and by laws of Anchor Loan and Building Association, list of legislators
• A Letter from ex-Governor Pollack
• "and other items"

1882 Post Card, Philip Shay Postmaster

Watsontown National Bank Check, 1882

Masonic Letter Concerning Ceremony,  1882

Hope Hose Company

Watsontown Boot & Shoe, 1882

Watsontown Building Association Report, 1881

1881

Letter from the House of Representatives, 1882

President Garfield's Last Letter

Signatures

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Former School Grounds

Turned Into A Recreation Area

[Today 8th Street Park

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In November of 1950, the Watsontown Lions club held a dinner meeting at Hotel Milton, where they outline plans to sponsor a year round recreational area for Watsontown in the former Eighth Street School site.

The facilities would included two tennis courts, shuffle board, hop-scotch, roller skating, dancing, and an area for festivals.  The grounds were at that time were being readied for ice skating in the winter.

Built in 1883, the 8th Street School was located on 8th and Elm, where the park is today.

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https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

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More News Clippings About The Fire

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"Two hundred and eighty pupils in an eight-room two-story Watsontown School building filed in orderly lines from their classrooms yesterday when fire badly damaged the 73 year old structure. The fire believed by some persons to have started from the defective wiring, damaged the interior of the building. Firemen from Watsontown and three Milton companies fought the fire for hours before bringing it under control.  The fire broke out five minutes after the children had reentered their classrooms following recess period. A school custodian, Elery Rea, discovered the fire as he entered the basement of the school  he turned in the school alarm and directed the school nurse, Mrs Elwood Bobb, to call Watsontown Fire Company. All the children in the building which housed grades one to six, inclusive, were evacuated in less than two minutes.  Many of them lost personal belongings.  none of the school furnishings, books or other equipment was saved."

Shamokin News-Dispatch January 25 1956

Interior of fire-swept Eighth St, School, Watsontown 

 

The Sunbury Daily Item

January 23 1956

Lancaster New Era

January 23 1956

The Sunbury Daily Item

January 30

The Daily Item

October 1956

Inside the Hower Slote House (Part of Fort Freeland grounds, located behind the Warrior Run High School) hangs this photo, and story. The picture of President Washington survived the fire.

Mrs. Ruth (Kramm) Moser passed away at the age of 96, in 2013.  Part of her obituary reads:

"Mrs. Moser taught elementary school for 43 years, retiring in June, 1982 from the Warrior Run School District. She began teaching in 1937 at the McEwensville School, filling a position from which her mother, Blanche, resigned so that Ruth could have the job. She and her mother both later moved to the former 8th Street School in Watsontown until it was destroyed by a fire. She then spent her remaining teaching years at the Watsontown Elementary School."