The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., July 25, 1914, page 1

CENTERVILLE SCENE OF DISASTROUS FIRE

     Fire that started in the new moving picture theater at Centerville Sunday night, at about 9 o'clock, while a film was being shown, wiped out nearly half of the business section of the town, endangered the lives of several persons, and threatened the grain fields about the town. The spectators in the theater escaped uninjured, but the moving picture machine operator, Ray Pierce, was severely burned on the arm.
     A son of Otto Lear, the Centerville merchant, was seriously injured by being struck with an ax on the leg. An electric light pole was being cut down, when the ax slipped and hit the boy. Dr. Hartley was summoned and dressed the wound.
     Centerville is some eight miles from Goldendale, and has no fire-fighting apparatus of its own, and but a limited water system. A relief called was sent to this city, and nearly 100 men responded. The fire was raging fiercely when they got to the scene. Water was thrown on the flames with buckets, and it was not until 11 o'clock that the fire was under control.
     The loss is estimated to be about $15,000. The chief losses were:
     J.E. Jussila, general merchandise, store; Abshier & Niva, hardware store; planning mill and lumber yard of Roy McLavey; a small hotel; confectionery stand and stationery shop, and several vacant buildings.
     There was not much insurance on any of the burned buildings, except the stores of J.E. Jussila and Abshier & Niva, who had a small amount.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer