In the early morning hours of 3 November 1924, a disastrous fire swept through the center of Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The perfect storm of the failure of the borough council to approve the establishment of a water department or an organized fire department coupled with high winds, led to the spread of the fire across a street and alleys. The result was the leveling of the town center.
The Lykens Standard of 7 November 1924 featured a front-page photo of Harry Smith who suffered great loss as a result of the fire. In an accompanying article, he bitterly denounced the townspeople for their short-sightedness in failing to approve the establishment of a water company.
HARRY SMITH
This photo of Mr. Smith during the early morning hours, Tuesday, shows his worried expression and sadness of losing the savings of a life time in the destructive fire which swept the heart of the enterprising borough shortly after midnight Monday.
Mr. Smith was bitter in his denunciation of the short sighted policy of the townspeople in refusing to support the organization of a water company, which would have insured the town proper fire protection.
The feeling was general among the prominent business people, who sympathize with Mr. Smith in his loss and are sorry that he, a Mr. Phillips and James Sheibley, now cashier of the First National Bank at Lykens, were unable to establish the water company they proposed and for which they had the charter, because of the townspeople refusing to support the movement.
As Mr. Smith stood by the burning embers, tears filled his eyes. He said: “If I had thought only for myself, I wouldn’t have given away my fire extinguishers and the only available hose when the flames first started. I tried to do my part and save the others’ property with result that when the flames attacked my place I was helpless; the hose was gone and I had no extinguishers. I guess I played the part of the good Samaritan but the savings of a lifetime are gone.”
“Tonight I will be homeless, but thanks to God I have a building in the Gratz Fair Grounds that is mine and myself and family will go there and try to make ourselves a home for the present.”
Others who were strong in criticism of the action of the townspeople were Chief Burgess James Kissinger and Dr. W. E. Lebo, secretary of the town council.
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The news story was obtained through the resources of Newspapers.com.