Lagrange, Indiana
St. Joe Valley Car Shops
November 11, 1911
Lagrange, Ind., Nov. 11 -- The St. Joe
Valley car barns and machine shops, in the
northwest part of Lagrange, were destroyed by
fire tonight with a total loss estimated at
$30,000. The origin of the flames is a
mystery.
 The
night watchman was some distance away when he
discovered fire coming from the roof of the
building and by the time the fire department
could respond the entire building was a mass of
flames, which fanned by heavy wind, spread
quickly to all parts of the large structure.
Within the barns and shops the flames
destroyed two motor cars and one locomotive,
which could not be saved. This
leaves the Valley company but two motor cars and
two locomotives, which were saved from
destruction as a result of being out on the line
at the time.
The loss is a heavy one to the St. Joe
company and to the city of Lagrange. The
shops, which were 200 feet long by 10
[?] feet wide,
and were constructed partly of brick and partly
of frame, it is learned may not be rebuilt here.
They were constructed seven years ago and the
company recently completed its line through from
Elkhart to Angola. Extensive further
improvements and extensions had been planned.
These, however, will probably be completed.
The St. Joe line is owned by
A.G. Bucklen
of Elkhart. He was in Chicago to-night and
could not be located on the telephone.
The flames started mysteriously. The
watchman was in the yards coaling up an engine
which was to be sent out on its run. He
was some distance from the building, when he saw
the flames start from the roof. He
hastened to spread the alarm, but the wind
fanned the fire which rendered the building
[illegible] furnace
within a few minutes. Nothing could be
done to save any of the contents and the fire
department and people who turned out en masse to
aid the men found themselves powerless.
The fire started at 8:18 o'clock and in a
short time the building and cars were a mass of
ashes. The St. Joe Valley Railway Company
was one of the few to power a line with gasoline
motor cars. ...
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort
Wayne, IN 12 Nov 1911
 The
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana Read it online at ancestry.com.
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