Liberty Hose Co. No. 2 - Incident Detail #1499

Fire destroyed almost the entire plant of the Lykens Paper Mill on South Street Monday night. (the morning of June 7, 1904) Reports differ as to where the fire stared and when it was first discovered, but it was 12:30 before it was noticed by persons residing in the neighborhood, and at that time the flames had already burst through the roof above the beaters, just east of the engine room. Owing to the fact that the borough's fire alarm was out of fix and could not be used to sound the alarm, it was some time before our citizens were aroused from their slumbers by those who first noticed the fire, and many knew nothing of it until the morning. The service carriage of Liberty Hose Company arrived on the scene about 1 o'clock, but by that time the entire building east of the boiler room was in flames and in a short time was consumed. Nothing remained of the plant except the boiler room, which was separated from the engine room by a brick fire wall, and a storage house located a short distance north of the mill. The valuable machinery was warped and twisted and only fit for scrap.

Fisher and Jones started to erect the mill in May, 1901, and in February of the following year made the first paper. They had been singularly unfortunate in their venture from the start, being compelled to make expensive improvements right along, and sustaining a heavy loss by fire scarcely four months prior to this fire. The plant was valued at $35,000 and was insured for 75%. On average, 25 hands were employed.

Other Fires at the Paper Mill: May 28, 1903 February 11, 1904