First Baptist Church Page
Home Page

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE WEDNESDAY EVENING

The First Baptist Church was totally destroyed by fire which occurred Wednesday afternoon. The fire originated in the roof and is supposed to have caught from the flue. At the time the alarm was given the funeral service of Frank Cunningham, an account of whose death appears elsewhere in this paper, was being held in the auditorium of the church by Ben Widel, state secretary of the I.O.O.F. Mr. Widel spoke calmly to the audience, advising them not to become excited. His advice was heeded and all succeeded in getting outside with a minimum of confusion. The funeral party had been outside the building only a short time when the fire broke through the ceiling.

The church was a brick veneer structure and was built ten years ago at a cost of $5500. At the present high cost of building material it cannot be replaced for three times that amount. About a year ago new pews were installed in the church at a cost of $1000. The pews were all destroyed. Workers succeeded in getting out some of the old pews which were used in the Sunday School rooms. Three pianos which were used in the church services were also saved. The congregation carried $3000 insurance on the building and $1000 on the contents.

The fire was discovered early and the building could easily have been saved if there had been any adequate means of fighting it. Plenty of hose was hastily secured and attached to the St. Joseph Lead Company water line, but the pressure was so poor that but little could be accomplished with it.

The Christian church, just across the street caught fire several times, but a willing corps of men who formed a bucket brigade succeeded in preventing much damage being done to the building. Wm. Mayfield, who is employed by the National Lead Company rendered valuable service in saving the Christian church, and in so doing gave a rather thrilling exhibition of the antics of the "human fly." The roof of the church is especially steep and ladders were so scarce that water could not be handed to men on the roof. Mayfield quickly divested himself of his shoes and socks, climbed down the steep roof and tore the burning shingles loose with his hands.

The Baptist congregation are already working on plans to rebuild on the old site. It is estimated that the new building will cost in the neighborhood of $20,000. Pending the erection of the new building they have secured the old M.E. church near the Domestic Science building. Regular services will be conducted there. Next Sunday services both morning and evening will be held in the opera house.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. Feb. 27, 1920.

NEW FLAT RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH BURNED
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

     Quite a bit of excitement was created in Flat River Wednesday afternoon, about 2:30, when the First Baptist Church caught on fire and burned to the ground.  A fire had been built in the furnace to heat the building for the funeral of Frank Cunningham, and it is supposed that it caught from a defect in the flue, the fire having originated in the attic, near the flue.  The funeral service was nearing a close when a boy rushed up to the door and announced that the building was on fire.  By the time the alarm was given and help arrived on the scene the fire had gained quite a bit of headway. The National, Federal and St. Joseph Lead Companies rushed their fire hose there, but it was too late.  Buckets were used but there was no pressure on the water line and it took so much time to fill buckets that this proved insufficient.  by hard work on the part of many men, most everything was saved from the building except the pews in the auditorium.  Because of high wind it required hard work to save the Christian church building and the other buildings across the street.  The damage of the fire is estimated at $7,000, which is only partially covered by insurance, there being only $3,000 on the building and $1,000 on the furnishings.  The church was a substantial and neat brick structure which had been erected only a few years ago.

     A men's meeting of the church was held Wednesday evening at Harton & Reid's office, and it was decided that Sunday school and services Sunday morning and evening will be held in the Opera House.  They also decided to rent the building formerly used by the Northern Methodists for services until something more definite could be decided upon.  The entire congregation want to thank the people of the town for their efforts in saving those things that were saved, also to thank the people who have offered their hospitality in getting a place for them to worship.  It is hoped that the entire congregation will meet at the Opera House Sunday and give the new pastor a hearty welcome.  

Published by the FARMINGTON NEWS, Farmington, St. Francois County, Missouri, Thursday, Feb. 26, 1920.

First Baptist Church Page
Home Page