found in grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Second Headline on main page $15,000 Fire Occurred in Grand River Early Thursday Morning of Last Week Unable to Get Outside Crews for the Drifts Chemicals Gave Out and the Fire Fighter Resorted to Snow Fire, which at times threatened to wipe out an entire block raged through three building on the west side of Main street in the business district at Grand River early Thursday and resulted in a $15,000 loss. According to Henry Street, who discovered the fire, the blaze started in the kitchen of the Jack Ely cafe shortly after 3 a.m. Volunteer firemen battled the blaze with the town's only fire equipment, a two-wheeled cart with two containers of fire chemicals. When the chemicals proved insufficient they resorted to shoveling snow and throwing on the fire to bring the blaze under control. The men with the exception of two of owners, had returned to their homes after the fire had destroyed the cafe and was seemingly out. Within a half an hour they were summoned again by the clanging of the fire bell. The fire had crept through the joists in the corner walls into the Earl Lamoree hardware, furniture and undertaking establishment and was a roaring furnace when the men returned with some shovels to fight the fire. (Missing) the funeral coach and a (missing oree) building. The entire stock of hardware, furniture and under taking equipment was completely destroyed. The men were halted in their fight to extinguish the fire when ammunition stock in the front of the hardware store began exploding. The explosions of shotgun shells and rifle cartridges continued for nearly fifteen minutes. All of the contents of the Walter Overholtzer cafe, which adjoins the north of the Lamoree buildings, were removed and lath and plastering torn from the south of the wall to check the fire. The firemen repeated the removal of lath and plaster from the north side of the Daughton & Bone feed atore which adjoins the south of the Ely cafe. Part of the flooring of the building was also torn out in an effort to curb the fire. All of the feed stock was removed and piled in the street. However, considerable stock was damaged by scorching. The contents of the Overholtzer cafe were also damaged by smoke before they could be removed. The Leon fire department was not called because all roads into Grand River were snowblocked. Grand River has no city water supply. Although debris continued to smolder Friday morning, workmen pulled down the charred brick walls to prevent accident hazards. The volunteer firemen did a splendid job without sufficient fire equipment. They were favored with the absence of wind. The men scooped snow by the ton and threw it on the blaze. the loss is only partially covered by insurance.