Valley Girl Views: 1922 Fire Milton PA

Bound Avenue as it appears on the 1918 Sanborn Map

On November 9 1922, Milton's new 75 La France Pumper was called into service for the first time, when an extension light in a garage sparked a gasoline explosion that destroyed 8 buildings on bound avenue.

It was reported to be the largest fire in Milton in years. The following week, the Miltonian called for a better fire alarm system to go with the new pumper. "With the new pumper added to our excellent fire fighting apparatus, the fire department is prepared to keep down the loss from fires, if the alarms are sounded and then some definite location is given as to where the fire is raging. Lets back up our firemen with a better alarm system."

At about 5:30 pm on Thursday November 9th 1922, while mechanics were working in John Robbins garage on bound avenue, there was an "explosion of gasoline", causing the largest fire Milton had seen in years.

An employee at the auto repair shop had been draining a carburetor to be flushed, when an incandescent extension ight fell and exploded. The "red hot wires" of the light ignited the gasoline, and the entire garage was soon on fire.

"Delay in getting in the alarm, coupled with a breeze that seemed to swirl the flames in all directions, the blaze was one of the most stubborn ever fought by the firemen, who had to contact with the fire in half a dozen quarters at one time."

Five automobiles, along with the garage, a "double dwelling" and four stables, all belonging to John Robbins, were destroyed, along with several homes and businesses nearby.

Various papers listed the properties touched by the fire as:

The Upholstering and furniture repair shop of Charles A. Hess was ruined by fire and water.

A home owned by Jesse Surver was almost completely gutted by the fire as well. The double frame dwelling was occupied by the Surver family on one site, and the William A Blecher family on the other.

A frame property owned by Mrs. J. Harvey Stout, occupied by Edward Myerly was badly damaged.

A triple-flat building owned by Elmer Bastion was damaged.

The Stable on the Fetzer Post property, at the rear of the garage, was partially destroyed.

The roof of the Johnson coal shed had been on fire half a dozen times.

The Automobiles lost in the fire belonged to: Sidney Simons, Mr. Rowe, and Jas. McLaughlin.

The loss was estimated to exceed $25,000.

There were two garages shown on Bound Avenue on the 1918 map, 4 years prior to the fire. As for which garage burnt in 1922, I cannot be certain. It's also possible that by 1922, there was a garage in a different location that what is shown here.

==========================