Seventy-five children practicing for a. Christmas pageant escaped at St. James Sunday when fire destroyed the Methodist Episcopal church, with a loss placed at $30,000. The blaze, starting from an overheated furnace, forced the children to flee into sub-zero weather without their wraps.

Two nearby churches and several dwellings were kept from igniting only by the vigorous efforts of firemen.

The fire spread rapidly through the basement after reaching piles of waste and kindling, and the building was filled with smoke before Mrs. F. M. Craig, primary superintendent, could march the children to safety.

The church was built in 1883. All of the woodwork was of oak and the auditorium contained several valuable stained glass windows. Three pianos,three organs, chairs, tables and music also were destroyed.

Rev. Theodore Mondale is pastor.

A meeting to consider means of financing a new building was held Monday evening. Only $13,000 insurance was carried on the structure and contents, church officials said.

Brown County Journal,

December 26, 1924

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