Hastings, Nebraska
First Presbyterian Church Fire
September 25, 1910
BIG CHURCH IS DESTROYED
LOSS ESTIMATED AT OVER
EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
FIREMAN CRUSHED BY
WALL.
F. W. Ramey Killed When
Structure Caved IN – Son About to Leave for
Oxford, England.
HASTINGS, Neb., Sept.
25. – Fire totally destroyed the First
Presbyterian church of this city today.
F. W. Ramey,
a fireman, was killed by being buried beneath a
falling wall. The fire broke out about 5:20 p.
m. and all efforts of the fire department to
save the building were fruitless. Ramey, who
had approached too close to the structure after
it had been thoroughly gutted by fire, was
unable to escape a wall which fell on him,
killing him instantly.
The loss is estimated at
$80,000, only $20,000 being covered by
insurance. The building was erected in 1888 at
a cost of $35,000, and the furniture was valued
at $50,000. The church has a membership of over
700 and a movement for reconstruction has
already been started. The board of trustees is
in session at present, and, in all
probabilities, will authorize the beginning of a
new building at once. The building which was
destroyed was one of the finest religious
edifices in Nebraska.
William Ramey, son of the fireman who
was killed, was to leave Monday for Oxford,
England, where he intended to enter Oxford
university. He is the Rhodes scholar from
Nebraska. It is probable that this departure
will have to be delayed for a day or two on
account of the death of his father.
The Nebraska State
Journal, Lincoln, NE 26 Sept 1910
Transcribed by
Jenni Lanham. Thank you,
Jenni!
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