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Two car fires a block apart Sunday afternoon in New Ulm were deliberately set, fire officials believe.
The interior of a 1976 Plymouth parked at 706 N. State was gutted by fire at 2:35 p.m. Sunday. The car is owned by the Minnesota Auto Club and had been driven to New Ulm by Dorothy Leonard, Fridley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Q. W. Leonard,706N. State. She teaches driver's education for the Auto Club and was visiting her parents.
Two hours later, at 4:40 p.m. a fire broke out in a 1974 Chevrolet parked at 822 N. State. The smoke was noticed in time to limit damage to the front and back seat cushions. Several wood matches and a book of matches were found lying on the seat. Owner of that car is Florence Laway. 822 N. State.
Fire Chief L. E. Lowinske said the second fire was deliberately set and the similarity of the two fires leads him to believe the first one was also.
The front windows were open on both cars, he said.
Firemen were also called out at 10:25 p.m. Sunday for a pickup fire at 701 N. Washington. Cause of that fire was a leaking gas tank. The 1974Chevroletis owned by Eugene Schugel, 701 N. Washington. Damage was to the tires and underside of the truck.
A 15-foot-long awning in front of Charley's Restaurant, 214 N. Minnesota, was discovered burning at 1:50 a.m. Sunday. Firemen doused the flames.
Brown County Journal
Aug. 23, 1976