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W. D. Gates Building, S. Main St, Gutted By Fire, Damage to Structure, Contents Near $20,000.
The Potter Enterprise
Coudersport, Pennsylvania •
Thu, Dec 4, 1958 p1
CLIPPED BY
wetzupdoc • 05 March 2024
• W. D. Gates Building, S. Main St, Gutted By Fire, Damage to Structure, Contents Near $20,000.
By Fire Fire of undetermined origin early Tuesday morning caused damage estimated at $18,000 to $20,000 to the South Main St. building and contents of the W. D. Gates Estate, which once housed the W. D. Gates & Son grocery store. More recently, the upstairs portion has been used by Dr. Paul C. Mosch for his dental offices. The fire, which apparently started between the floors in the vacant brick store building, was discovered about 2:30 in the morning by a hunter, who turned in the alarm.
Firemen arrived on the scene almost immediately, but were hampered by the dense black smoke which filled the structure, before the flames broke out. Edwin D. Gates, speaking for the estate, said it was. his theory that the fire started between the ceiling of the first floor and the floor of the second and smoldered for some time before breaking out. All upstairs rooms, seven of which were used by Dr. Mosch, were severely damaged by smoke and two suffered extensive fire damage when floors burned through. Two firemen George Jaros and Wells Predmore were overcome by smoke and were administered oxygen by Dr. George. C. Mosch, brother of the dentist whose brand new equipment had been in the building only about two months.
Both of the fire fighters were declared in good condition later in the morning. Dr. Mosch, whose equipment and supplies were valued at about $10,-000, said yesterday that all records, X-rays, etc., of his patients were salvaged and are still usable although slightly damaged and discolored by smoke. He hopes to resume his practice within two . or three weeks in either the same building or another.
New equipment was ordered yesterday, he said. Re-building will start as soon as possible, Mr. Gates reported, on the building which was fully covered by insurance, as were the equipment and supplies of the dentist. Mr. Gates and fire chief Arthur Nelson went over the building later Tuesday morning and expressed a belief that a short circuit in the ceiling of the downstairs part of the building may have caused the destructive blaze.
However, no definite cause has" been found. Fires are nothing new in the Mosch family, "Dr. Paul" told the Enterprise Tuesday afternoon. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto C. Mosch, of Galeton, were burned out three times and his sister, Mrs. Douglas Vaughan, also of Galeton, had a fire in her home the same morning as the Gates blaze. Dr. Mosch said the Vaughan fire was discovered shortly before 10:00 o'clock.
It evidently started in the floor under the fireplace in the Vaughan home. Sparks dropped into the cellar, igniting furniture pads and two new winter tread tires IContiuued on Page 6).
Page 1
W. D. Gates Building, S. Main St, Gutted By Fire, Damage to Structure, Contents Near $20,000.
Gates Building Fire, cont. Dr Paul Mosch Lauds Firemen, Coudersport Citizenry. Nellie Perkins Dies.
The Potter Enterprise
Coudersport, Pennsylvania •
Thu, Dec 4, 1958 p6
CLIPPED BY
wetzupdoc •
• THE POTTER ENTERPRISE
Gates Fire (Continued from Pare !) stored there, along with a toy fire engine. Mr. Vaughan put out the fire himself with a garden hose and hand fire extinguisher. Firemen were not called, Dr.
Mosch said The following ' comments were written yesterday by Dr. Mosch "We moved to Coudersport just a few weeks ago, a long-awaited happening come true. I have been in private dental practice only two months. In Just this short time my wile, Dottle, and I have met several of our future friends and neighbors. We have been made to feel wel come, but last night we started to learn what' it means to live in Coudersport.
That's the night the telephone rang at about a quarter to three and an unknown friend warn ed that the fire whistle was blow ing because the building in which were my dental offices was burn' ing, : "It might happen to the other guy, but never to me! "By the time I got to 24 8. Main St., the Gates Building next to the GLP. Coudersport's fire-fighters were already efficiently doing their Job. As I wandered about helpless- ly, I began to notice the teamwork and fellowship these men, most of them unknown to me, were so nat urally displaying. Consoling hand shakes, pats on the back and tough break.
Doc's' were offered, and I realized that here were people who hardly knew me, trying to save my belongings and equipment from ruin. ' "You may say that reaction would have been the same elsewhere, but I doubt it. Men shivering in the cold; wet, tired, yet probing for the central blaze that they could rjot see because of the acrid, heavy smoKe. two men, i learned later- George Jaros and Wells Predmore had to have oxygen administered . .
. they were so completely absorbed in their fire fighting they failed to realize their smoke mask canisters had expired. , "Other men, new unknown neighbors, stayed through the cold, wet morning, eyes irritated from $he smoke, exhausted from nearly three hours of constant combat against the fire. . , "These actions, to me, were; not what you might expect any time, any place, but I began to realize, you could expect from citizens of Coudersport.
I was deeply moved by this disastrous experience. Most of my equipment was a total loss, but I know I gained a newer, better experience. I know now how people in our new home town welcome their newcomers with everything they've got. Edwin Gates, disregarding his own losses, expressed his regret to me for losing' my equipment; others offering their help if it were needed. "I'm writing this letter because I want Coudersport, and especially Its excellent hard fighting firemen, to know t am grateful for all then-help and concern and to say 'thank you,' from my wife, and me.
for making us feel wanted, welcomed. ana aitnougn ourned out, somehow triumphant in gaining a better, everlasting understanding of being citizens of Coudersport." Dr. and Mrs. Paul G. Mosch..
United States
Pennsylvania
Coudersport
The Potter Enterprise
1958
Dec
04
Page 6
Gates Building Fire, cont. Dr Paul Mosch Lauds Firemen, Coudersport Citizenry. Nellie Perkins Dies.
Rotary president Dr. C. E. Baxter, who conducted the session, added his own comments on vicious rumors, urging all to be on their guard against them. There will be no noon meeting of the club next week, it was announced by John T.
Rowlands, program chairman, because of the Rotaryann affair to be held at the Coudersport Golf Club next Monday night, beginning at 6:30 o'clock.' A good speaker has been engaged, the program chairman said, and added that cards and dancing also will be on the program. Visiting Rotarians introduced by Dr. Baxter were R. Eugene Lied, of Shoemakersville, Pa., and Irwin J. Bollinger Jr., Myerstown, Pa.
Aged Teacher Dies Miss Nellie A. Perkins, 90, Became Teacher in 1900. Miss Nellie A. Perkins, ill a long time, died at the family home on East Street, at 5:30 Thursday afternoon (Nov. 27, 1958).
Miss Perkins was born at Urbana, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1868. She was a daughter of Aaron and Almira Baker Perkins. She was brought to Coudersport when a small child. , She began her teaching career in 1900 In Coudersport schools and retired in 1933.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and was a Sunday School teacher for a long time. Active in church groups she be longed to the Ladies' - Aid. Loyal Daughters and Missionary societies or that church. She was a mem ber of the New Century Club and tne daughters of the American Revolution. She Is survived bv two jdstrs Mrs.
Gertrude Guenter and Miss Fannv A. Perkins of HnnHnKnnrt- and several nieces and nephews. runerai services were held at 2:00 o'clock Sunday afternoon from the Presbvterian Chnrrh Tha ra Robert Loughborough officiating. xuiitti wasm iiuiaua cemetery. Pallbearers were wniam Ttieeoi Roy Heimel.
James Whit '.Tomee Ponder, Harold Holcomb and Lewis OCUUUD. - , Local Youth Promoted to Airman First Class Airman Lowell W. Avpin eft. firm ed at Boiling Air Force Base, Wash ington, u. v., received .
word last Wednesday of his nromntirm fmm airman second class airman i-f class. He is a weather observer with the fourth Weather Group at Bolt ling AFB. r Airman and Mr. Ayers and two children. Jeffrv a.nA Pamula owin Monday to spend a 14-day leave with Mrs.
Ayers' mother, Mrs. Eleanor V. Johnson, and Airman Ayers' grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W.
Ayers, of Ayers Hill. - 1B Save on Time, Money ,
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