C. H. WILLIAMS, Editor
Jordan suffers staggering loss in almost complete destruction by fire of her modernized Jordan High School, her prided institution and center of educational and social life.

At 3:30 a.m. Wednesday morning January 30, 1929, when discovered, the building was a mass of roaring flames.

Only three bare walls of the older structure remain, the new building roof burned off but possibly half the value of this was saved by vigilant labor of loyal firemen. We were informed of this on good authority, while still another good authority says with the roof and upper floor gone, the walls of questionable value, four feet of water standing in the new Gym, an estimate of value is much less than half, and perhaps not any toward a new structure of modern type.

First impression indicated that the fire started at the southwest corner, or side bordering Academy street toward Hamilton, in the floor over the basement and over the furnaces. Still, Assistant Janitor Ross Van Camp inspected this room late last night, caring for the fire, which makes the cause as likely to be electric wiring as over-heated piping.

The glare awakened Mrs. John C. McLaughlin, who lives across Academy Street from the school, she telephoned the night operator, who gave the alarm. It was 3:30 a.m., an hour when firemen might be slow, yet their alacrity was amazing. Calls were made immediately to Elbridge, Weedsport and Port Byron, and they responded in that succession in a manner and time limit proving village volunteer service of high value. Their aid is priceless, our gratitude beyond words.

Snow had fallen until six inches lay in trackless highways, yet the visiting departments came, with fire pumpers loaded with men, and Elbridge sent over forty to lend their best endeavor to their good neighbor in distress.

The flames were despairingly beyond control when the fight began, but firemen were roused to undaunted spirit regardless of the difficulties of the battle, and with the help of the other three villages, have perhaps saved a portion of the new addition built five years ago.

The roof is gone, but all walls stand. The interior is damaged, equipment is water-soaked and impossible to estimate the great loss off hand. But the fight made was well worth while. The addition was built by issuance of bonds for $60,000 during 1923, and according to the specified payments only three payments of $2,000 each year have been made, leaving $54,000 still unpaid, with interest as provided.

Insurance is held for $125,000 on the building and $4,000 on equipment and contents. The former includes what is not part of the structure. Deducting $54,000 due on bonds leaves net of say $75,000 as nucleus toward a possible $200,000 outlay which Jordan School District faces, or a bond issue of double the former one. Tough indeed.

Kenneth Bush was reported as first to arrive at the Fire House; Ray Miller came, and he drove the fire truck to the scene; Tommie Howe was the third fireman to arrive – in stocking feet! The Watts, in the same house, roused him, and he, half dressed, grabbed his footwear, and rushed downtown stocking-footed yelling, “Fire!”

Other firemen jumped the truck enroute, and all were on deck and on the job in jig time. One report had it that pressure was not good, because the big, new reservoir was shut off, but Ray Miller, who has charge, had this open soon, and water was plentiful. Others state that pressure was good from the start. Anyway, Jordan did not fail in her water system with this record fire – good news!

All High School records, being in the new building, were saved, together with records, books, etc., from all teachers’ desks of pupils in the high school and 8th grade rooms, many anyway, library books, and carried to safety even though to be found in great confusion.

And strong men were there, for two pianos in the new part were likewise saved. Two others, in the old part, were burned.

The Boys basketball suits were saved, the girls’ not so, not readily found. Prof. Maxwell was there in time to unlock the front door of the new part, directing the effort of helpers.

A basketball game was played by Jordan boys with Solvay boys the evening before the fire. Girls’ team did not come. After the game the few remaining in the building are reported to have smelled smoke, and made a search. Assistant Janitor Ross Van Camp made a special effort to locate a possible cause, he very carefully examined the heating plant, piping, and found nothing. He carefully cared for the fire at this late hour. Which leads to an assumption that defective wiring was more apt to be the cause.

When the east wall fell, firemen escaped from under it. Clothing of firemen was coated with ice, though the freezing was not so low as to effect the hose nor the streams which played on the fire.

Coffee and sandwiches were served by liberal, anxious villagers. It was said three nearby houses were ignited by sparks and had to be watched, but the heavy snow protected roofs.

Bert Watts’ house was nearest, and they were among those first aroused. Mrs. James Bowes saw it about the same time as Mrs. McLaughlin across the street.

Elbridge Department on arriving looked over the situation and decided wisely. They set their pumper along side of Chris Jenner’s shop down on Main Street, ready to draw water from the creek. They laid the thousand feet of hose which the pumper carries up to the burning structure. Their pumper put water through this 1,000 feet of hose, up the steep hill on Quince Street, and the force put a full stream of water over the top of the fire. That is some shooting on the part of Elbridge firemen and their new pumper. A pretty good neighbor. Weedsport and Port Byron worked from hydrants on the hill.

Prof. Frank S. Maxwell summoned the faculty together for a session just after dinner in the Public Library to consider, with the Board of Education, upon action toward establishing school work. They are together as we go to press.

The churches and organizations have offered various rooms and all facilities. It occurs to this paper to suggest that other villages having met such an emergency may still have on hand desks and improvised requirements which could be bought or rented. The State Department may know of such possibility.

Jordan (NY) Home Paper, January 30, 1929
High School Hill presented a sad sight Wednesday morning.

About 4 o’clock the weird scream of the siren sounded a warning, and people arose to find the vicinity covered by the bright light that comes only from conflagration.

Jordan High School was in flames. John C. McLaughlin, living nearby, discovered fire bursting from the windows. He turned in a phone alarm to Central. In the meantime, Thomas Howe, living nearby, was awakened by the bright light and he jumped into his clothes, raced to the firehouse and sent the siren screaming.

The homes of McLaughlin, Bowes and Rising across the street on Lawrence, facing the Main School building were scorched, but not otherwise damaged beyond blistering the paint.

Fire broke out again in the school ruins early Thursday morning which called out the department.

And we further hear of these incidents: Monday will see some sessions of school, in various church buildings, lodges, public rooms about the village. Pupils are enjoined to do the best they can.

Pupils number 100 in High, and 282 others.

Frank Spaulding is school janitor, Ross Van Camp assistant.

Five hours is quoted as the duration of the fire, but it probably burned five hours before discovery.

Those precious library books in jeopardy brought Librarian Mrs. C. M. Bramely among the first at the scene; she obtained a ladder somehow, and at its foot took books from those who helped Prof. Maxwell remove them.

It appears to us that in no individual instance was the shock of the fire so appalling as to the Hon. John C. McLaughlin when he first looked from his window to see flames bursting from windows of the prided structure, for and upon which he had lent his best endeavors for the better part of his entire life, as citizen and official.