Large Fire Hits Chambersburg

On November 1, 1920 the worst fire to hit Chambersburg in 25 years occurred in the afternoon hours when a young man set fire to the P. Nicklas & Sons furniture store. Flames spread quickly and the Brunner Building, adjoining to the north, containing Henninger’s hat store and Gordon’s clothing store, was badly damaged. Two stables and four small houses in the alleys adjacent were burned down. Eight to ten nearby buildings were also burning but were saved. The Cumberland Valley Telephone Exchange Building was also ablaze and services were broken for a day. The trolley services were shut down in the central portion of town.

Five firemen were overcome by smoke or cuts and bruises and were taken to the hospital. Damages were estimated at $120,000.

All five Borough fire companies answered the alarm. Calls for help were sent to Hagerstown and Waynesboro. A special train was sent to Chambersburg with a steamer and hose from Waynesboro, while the Hagerstown Department drove their rigs to the scene.

This information was taken from a brief article that appeared in the Shippensburg paper, I have not checked the Chambersburg paper for additional information on this incident.