Thompson 340208

Fire Destroys Cliffside Home

Suitsus Cottage, Home of Cliffside Teachers,
Burned Thursday Morning

Cliffside, Feb. 5 — The Suitsus Cottage, which housed the nine Cliffside school teachers, was burned to a complete wreck at 2:00 a. m. on last Thursday. Charles McCurry was fighting the flames practically alone at 1:40 a. m. and it was after 2:00 a. m. before any material help could be organized. Volunteer fireman displayed some hard work immediately after connecting two 3-inch fire hoses which is the only reason part of the four walls now stand as they do instead of being entirely annihilated.

There was extensive loss of furniture and clothes. A number of teachers each lost a trunk of clothes. Those of the Cliffside faculty who lived at the “Suitsus Cottage” were; Misses Beaulah Heafner, Corinne Bookout, Frances Heafner, Ruby Wilson, Alice Carr, Eudora Dover, Anzi Phillips, Alice David, and Gladys Kelly.

The fire is alleged to have started in the reception room and the few who fought this conflagration in the floor were surprised to find the adjoining partition, between the ceiling, far advanced in flames. Quicker than the snap of your finger the dining room was a complete mass of flames.

Miss Ruby Wilson is quoted as saying: “When I was awakened by the smoke and turned on the light, I could scarcely see it because of the smoke.” This gives you an idea as to how close the fire was stalking the unsuspecting residents. From the dining room, the flames spread over the entire upstairs rooms of the structure, which was a large wooden bungalow type: a popular structure at the time this house was built.

It is understood that the original “Teacher’s Home” just off Main Street, will be utilized by the girls who lived at “Suitsus.”

Everyone was sincerely sympathetic because of the extensive losses sustained.