Fire on the Roof

The garage business that John Chester bought in 1915 was in the Smith building (wherever that was), as we learn from a report in February 1917 of a fire on his roof.

The fire was discovered about 5:20 in the afternoon of January 27. Fortunately, it was so small that by the time the fire department arrived on the scene John had already gotten up on the roof and put out the fire himself. Its origin was puzzling, since the stove in his building was unlit. The theory was that the wind had carried a spark from some nearby chimney onto his roof.

If John's family was still living in rooms behind the garage, this must have been especially frightening for Emma, as she was then heavily pregnant. Less than a week later she gave birth to a son, Edward.


Sources:
♦ "Births." Hobart Gazette 9 Feb. 1917.
♦ "Local Drifts." Hobart Gazette 2 Feb. 1917.
♦ "Personal and Local Mention." Hobart News 1 Feb. 1917; 8 Feb. 1917.