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W. A. Leeth Heaviest Suffereg in $25,000 Fire—Carried No Insurance HALF DOZEN HOUSES THREATENED BY BLAZE Robert Bruffy House Destroy ed—Much Contents Store and Residences Saved A $29,000 blaze at Grottoes Late S urday destroyed the combined store, warehouse and residence of W. A. Leeth and the adjacent dwelling of Robert L. Bruffy. A half dozen other houses and a filling station were threatened by the flying embers and sparks which ignited an automobile fully 1500 feet distant from the blaze. Only the strenuous work of vol nteers prevented the blaze from assuming more disastrous propor tions and wiping out the entire stretch of Sixth street from Third avenue to the Norfolk and Western railway tracks. $22,000 So as Mr. Leeth was a heavy loser, not carrying any insurance on his property. He places his loss in exe cess of $20,000. The Bruffy dwell ing was insured for $2,000, leaving a loss of an equal amount. Origin of the blaze is undeter mined. The fire started in the rear of the Leeth store and, fanned tn a northwest breeze, swept every thing in its path. Volunteers did valiant work fr saving the greater part of the cone ents of the store and the two dwellings. Nothing, however, was saved from the Leeth warehouse, while little was carried from the second floor of the Leeth and Bruffy dwellings. The two-story Leeth structure, of frame’ Wiser ae housed the feneral store and dwelling and ‘lage warehouse. The building pessured 150 by 50 feet and wag tattoes landmark. It was just, before the boom dayy of the early 90’s by EER. EIT E ' e past 32 years,. Contains Harshbbs Drug Store drug store of the late Dr. W. B Whissler who died several months ago. Dr. C. P. Harshbarger, of Port Republic, had used the drug store since Dr. Whissler’s death. Most of the drug store stock was destroyed. Nothing was saved from the Leeth warehouse because of the rapid spread of the blaze in that quarter. Chemical engines of the Harris onburg, Weyers Cave and Grottoes fire companies stood by and prev ented the destruction of the resi dences along Sixth street. The firee men were helpless to combat the main blaze because of the ab sence of water. ‘There were three cisterns and a well about the Leeth structure and the Bruffy dwelling, but these were dry. Both Harrisonburg companies responded to the alarm. Newman Home Scorched The residence and filling station of Frank Newman, deputy sheriff, directly across Sixth street from the blaze, were badly scorched and for a time appeared doomed. The Newman water supply and the chemicals of the firemen, however, were equal to the occasion after strenuous efforts. The automobile of Mail Carrier (Continued on last page)
Newspaper Details
Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia, US
Mon, Oct 27, 1930
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Jeanne K.
USA 04 Jun 2026
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