Winter House Fire Destroys Family Home
Community efforts save neighboring barn and garage after house fire likely caused by defective flue in White Bluffs.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Mr. and Mrs. C. Hart wish to thank all those who so kindly assisted when their house burned last Friday. Good work saved the garage, barn, chicken house and a large stack of hay. All of the furniture left in the house was saved. They had recently moved to town to be nearer their work in the laundry and had taken most of the furniture. Mr. Neher, who was living in the house, was in the orchard and did not reach the house in time to save his suit and overcoat and a five dollar bill. All cooking utensils and dishes were lost. It is not known what caused the fire, but it is thought that it was a defective flue. The house was insured. They will not rebuild this winter. Mr. Neher will live in the garage.
“Good work saved the garage, barn, chicken house and a large stack of hay.”
Residential fires remain a persistent threat in rural Washington, where aging infrastructure and heating systems require constant vigilance. This incident highlights both the vulnerability of families during the winter months and the enduring nature of mutual aid in small, tight-knit towns.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.