(above) Koos Brothers Furniture Store was the largest furniture showplace in the East. After a devastating fire on June 23,1947, the store was rebuilt and was in business until the early part of 2000 when it was razed. The property is now the site of Park Terrace apartments.
Memorable Fires (Part I Of II)
Submitted by Al Shipley, City Historian and Rahway Library Research Consultant
The article on the history of the Rahway Fire Department that appeared in last month’s issue brought on questions, comments, and memories concerning the noteworthy fires that have tested our city’s firefighters. The following is a chronological account of eight of the sixteen most memorable fires in Rahway’s history over the past 135 years. The stories of the remaining eight will appear next month.
April 28, 1885 – Gordon Opera House: Located on the east side of Irving Street between Elizabeth Avenue and Elm Avenue, the Gordon Opera House was one of the largest opera houses in the country. Built in 1874, the eleven-year run of the auditorium was cut short by a fire that started in the paint room of John Freeman’s carriage factory that stood on the corner of Elizabeth Avenue next to the opera house. As the firefighters directed streams of water on the carriage factory, a water main burst rendering their hoses useless. At the same time, a strong north-west wind developed which blew the flames to the opera house, quickly turning the large wooden structure into a blazing mass. It was said that the fire could be seen from as far away as Elizabeth. The grand theater was totally destroyed in the short space of fifteen minutes. Considering the extent of the massive fire (much of the block was leveled), it was fortunate that only one fireman was injured.
October 16, 1887 – Ebenezer A.M.E. Church: It was 8:00 on a cool Sunday morning in the fall when the church sexton arrived at the church to prepare the sanctuary for the 10:30 service. One of his duties was to start a fire in the pot belly stove that in two hours would take the chill from the room. Unbeknown to the sexton, who had gone home to clean up before returning for worship, the stove’s flue had become defective causing a fire. By the time firemen responded, flames had already traveled up the walls and ignited the roof. With the roof ablaze, the entire edifice was doomed. Church leaders would make plans to build a new church on the same site and a sanctuary was completed and dedicated in 1892.
December 29, 1887 – Protection Hose Company #3 and Rahway Police Headquarters:The irony of ironies occurred when a fire broke out in the Main Street fire station and spread to the attached police station. The fire was discovered by a neighbor when he heard loud shouts coming from the basement of the police station. Five prisoners who were locked in the jail cells were frantically yelling as smoke started to fill the room. By the time firemen responded, smoke and flames were pouring out of both buildings. Although excessive cold temperatures made it difficult to fight the blaze, the firefighters had the situation under control in little over an hour. The fire was contained within the walls of the brick fire station limiting damage to furniture and woodwork. The large second floor room of the police station that served as the courtroom was mostly damaged by smoke and water. It was determined that a faulty heater in the hose house started the fire. Four firemen were injured on the call. The prisoners were all rescued. Both buildings still stand and are presently vacant.
May 30, 1911 – Royal Manufacturing Company: Located on East Grand Avenue just east of the railroad tracks, Royal Manufacturing produced cloth products used to clean all types of machinery. The production process required large quantities of gasoline and other flammable materials that were stored on the property. A fire in such a plant was a recipe for disaster. The fire started early Sunday in the main plant building and when firemen reached the scene, they made good progress in extinguishing the blaze. As it moved toward two smaller outbuildings, however, flames set off sporadic explosions which blew showers of sparks into the air. Strong winds carried the sparks in all directions endangering homes and barns in the neighborhood. Although the main fire lasted two hours, several firemen and a hose wagon remained at the site into the evening to watch for any sudden explosions. Three firemen needed medical attention. The company suffered $40,000 in damages.
September 30, 1936 – McCrory 5&10: The East Cherry Street store (presently the site of The Waiting Room Restaurant and Bar) suffered $25,00.00 in damage to stock and building after an overheated smoke pipe in the basement furnace set the building ablaze. Firemen arrived at 8:45 a.m. and fought the blaze for over eight hours. Many were affected by smoke and had to receive emergency treatment. Cherry Street shops were forced to shut their doors for the entire business day due to the heavy smoke that choked the street from Main Street to Irving.
June 23, 1947 – Koos Brothers Furniture Store: Hundreds of spectators from the surrounding area and from out of state came to the St. Georges Avenue site to witness the conflagration as it destroyed the well-known furniture showplace. The fire was discovered shortly after 12:15 a.m. on Monday morning and when the firemen arrived at 12:30 the fire had already engulfed the entire complex. Despite the best efforts of the firemen, the entire structure was lost. Three firemen received minor injuries. It was later determined that lightning struck the building causing the fire. The Koos firm replaced the demolished store with a larger showplace which reopened in less than a year’s time.
December 27, 1951 – Columbian School: Located on the corner of New Brunswick Avenue and East Hazelwood Avenue, the fifty-four-year-old grammar school caught fire as a result of faulty wiring in the basement. Fortunately, the fire occurred during the Christmas vacation while no one was on the premises. Four rooms of the eight room schoolhouse were severely damaged and the rest of the building was damaged by smoke and water. Three firemen were hurt during the three-hour battle. When schools reopened after the holiday break, a portion of the Columbian School students were transferred to Grover Cleveland School and others were assigned to make-shift classes set up in the Second Presbyterian Church. Columbian School remained closed for one and a-half years until the start of the 1953 school year. The building presently houses the Rahway Day Care Center.
February 5, 1954 – Empire Theater: By the time the 1950s rolled around, the once impressive Empire Theater, built in 1913, had become a run-down movie house relegated to showing “B” movies on the weekends. In 1952 the building was vacated and became a secret place to gather for young teens before and after school. On the morning of February 5, a fire, perhaps accidently set by the young intruders, ignited the rear portion of the theater. Although the structure was saved, a Rahway fireman died as a result of fighting the blaze. The building was later remodeled for commercial and office use and presently houses several businesses.
