Volume 4 , Issue 1

Monfort Building, Gordon's Cafe Are Destroyed by Roaring $400,000 Fire.

Firemen of Neighboring Towns Assist Local
Department to Put Blaze Under Control Thursday - Entire West Side of Square Is Threatened After Big Explosion

Monfort's corner in Alva was swept by fire early Thursday morning, gutting the drug, book and jewelry store. Gordon's Cafe in the adjoining room of the 50-foot by 150-foot building and causing a predicted 80 percent loss by smoke and water to a clothing stock in Tanner Bros. store, as well as much damage by smoke in other stores along the west side of the square.

The total estimated damage by fire department and city officials ranged from $350,000 to $400,000.

Fire fighters in Alva were joined in battling the early morning blaze by fire apparatus and firemen from Woodward, Cherokee, Waynoka, Kiowa, Kans., Hardtner, Kans., and a half-dozen firemen from Buffalo. An additional fire truck and firemen were called from Vance Air Base in Enid, but later were called back not to come as the departments present were able to handle the conflagration.

Two Firemen Hurt

Two minor casualties were reported. "Pee Wee" Long, Oklahoma City hotrod driver, was overcome with smoke. Long was in Alva to drive in tonight's races here and volunteered to aid firemen in fighting the spread of the blaze from Monfort's building to store buildings to the north. He was removed from the top of the Tanner Bros. Clothing Company building by ladder and taken by ambulance to the hospital for medical attention. He was reported at noon to be recovering.

Ed Barrett, local fireman, received a chipped bone injury to a leg when he was stepped on as some of the fire fighters ran to avoid being hit when a portion of the outside wall at the Monfort building crumbled and fell.

Alarm About 1:30 A.M. - The fire alarm was turned in by two persons almost simultaneously. One call was by a night officer of the city police department. The other report was made by a transient driver of a transport loaded with new cars. It was reported between 1:30 and 1:45 a.m.

Assistant fire chief John Groh was the first at the scene of the blaze and reported heavy smoke pouring from the back of Gordon's cafe which was located in the north side of the Monfort building. Some smoke was coming from the back of Monfort's which was a side entrance on the south.

It was believed the start of the fire was in the basement at the rear of the building, probably just under the partition that separated the drug store from the cafe. A new air conditioner was recently located in that area and some speculation was made that a short in wiring might have started the blaze. Others speculated that a spontaneous combustion in the basement of the building which included space under both rooms occupied by the drug store and the cafe, might have been the cause of the fire.

Explosion Spreads Fire - An explosion, shortly after the fire department arrived at the southwest corner of the square, pointed to chemicals in the pharmaceutical department, and caused a serious and dangerous spread of the blaze throughout the building.

Within less than an hour and a half after the local fire department arrived, flames shot skyward and were fanned to the north by a stiff south breeze causing considerable concern for other store buildings in the block. Flying embers and blowing, burning pieces of the Monfort building roof landed on nearby stores, causing some slight damage to adjacent roofs.

Garden hose and all the fire hose available were put to work by firemen and volunteers as well as store building owners and managers to keep roofs soaked in order to prevent a spreading of the blaze that it appeared for a time might wipe out the entire block of business houses.

Cherokee Helps Much

The arrival of the Cherokee fire department aided much at the right time. Fire Chief Wes Warren of Alva said.

"The Cherokee boys got here just in time to help us contain the blaze and it was their equipment and effort that gave us a much needed water line to break the possibility of the blaze spreading through the rest of the block.

Additional water lines were added when the Kiowa and Waynoka fire trucks arrived, the latter, however, breaking down with its pump and soon being replaced by a fire truck from Woodward. The Woodward fire fighters, headed by Fire Chief Bob Atchley, made the 66-mile trip to Alva in one hour flat after receiving the call for assistance.

Hardtner firefighters arrived to help as did Buffalo's firemen. - Warren Expresses Appreciation

"Without the assistance of these neighboring fire departments," Warren said, "It would have been practically impossible for us to contain the blaze in the Monfort building."

The visiting firemen were fed by the city officials when relief was accorded by volunteers.

Police and Sheriff's officers had roped off the area of the street around the roaring blaze although spectators swarmed to the scene after the alarm and the reflection against the sky brought Alvans pouring out of their slumbers.

Landmark Is Lost

The Monfort building was an old landmark in Alva. One of the real pioneers of the community. It was founded by the late John W. Monfort in 1894 and had served the community since that date.

The building, a two story brick structure, was built in 1911 and in addition to the two store rooms, the upstairs was made into private suites of offices and served as the only medical center for this community for some 40 or more years.

Monfort was one of the eight early day pioneers who posted the funds to underwrite the appropriation of funds for the construction of the first building on the campus of the Northwestern Territorial Normal school, now Northwestern State College.

The state legislature authorized the establishment of the college here but failed at that time to appropriate the money for the building. It was promised later. The local boosters for the college urged immediate action on the college building and pledged their assurance of payment to the contractor for some $87,000 to start the building. Monfort was one of the eight pioneers to sign his name to the assurance bond for payment.

New Building Planned - He was active in the store until a few years ago when he suffered ill health and later died. He left his landmark - firm in the hands of his widow, Mrs. Daisy Monfort; two sons, Marion S. Monfort, present store manager, and Dr. Joel Monfort of Batesville, Ark., who is enroute to Alva today by plane and a pharmacist partner, I. O. "Doc" Southern.

Marion Monfort said Thursday that a new modern building will be constructed on the site of the debris that was the result of the gutting fire and Southern announced that he has accepted an invitation of Jim Holder of Holder's drug store to continue prescription business there for the time being. He said many of the old prescriptions had been saved since only recently many had been stored outside the building proper.

Monfort said he was unable to give any kind of an estimate on teh loss but considered the estimate of $200,000 for the building, the drug, book and jewelry store fixtures, stock; the cafe and fixtures and the professional offices upstairs was "a pretty good guess."

Cafe Is Total Loss

W. R. Gordon, owner of Gordon's cafe, formerly Pangburn's, said he had some insurance but not sufficient to replace the business.

It was estimated the loss in the cafe was around $15,000 or possibly more. Gordon had only recently installed some new pieces of refrigeration including a new deep freeze only a few days ago. His place of business was a total loss except for a few hundred dollars the firemen were able to rescue form a desk drawer at the front of the building when the plate glass broke out.

Losses to Dr. C. L. Ritchey dentist, who only recently installed some new equipment, and to Dr. Edward Quast, dentist, were unestimable at noon today. The same was true of the losses of Dr. Felicia Monfort, Physician; Dr. Perry Fuls, optometrist, Dr. Ervin Hefner, chiropractor, and the piano studio of Elaine Freyer, all of which had suites of rooms on the second floor of the Monfort building. Losses in other offices on the same floor could not be determined yet.

Clothing Store Damage

Harry Tanner, owner of Tanner Bros. Clothing said it appeared that smoke and water damage would run at least 80 percent and possibly higher with an estimated value in excess of $30,000.

George Jacobsen, manager of the T.G.&Y store, said adjustors are enroute to Alva to check his 50 ft. front store for damage by smoke. E. M. Rice of Rice's Man's Land Clothing store, said his building roof was burned in eight places but the damage there was not serious. Smoke damage to his stock is undetermined at present. The Pix theatre, next store to the north, reported heavy smoke in the building but no damage.

John Wrenchey, manager of Jett's department store, said the store was filled with smoke but he was unable at present to determine any damage. The same was true at C. R. Anthony's store, according to Jerry Dawkins, manager. Schuhmacher's drug reported heavy smoke but no estimate of damage and the same was true of the E. W. Tanner Co., women's ready to wear store, by Brette M. Tanner, owner - manager.

Wall Is Pulled Down - Rose Bros. Construction Co., moved in a huge crane early today after firemen eliminated many of the remaining hot spots and started pulling down the standing north wall of the Monfort building, a skeleton of stripped windows that was leaning dangerously toward falling on the roof of the Tanner clothing building.

The explosion in the drug store caused the west wall, on the alley, to collapse early during the fire and smashed the window of the Blakely Printing Shop across the alley. Damage to the printing establishment was estimated at $2,000.

None of the owners that suffered total losses in the blaze, excepting Marion Monfort, were able to give any idea about future plans. Monfort said the building would be replaced.

It was estimated more than 1,000 persons witnessed the major part of the fire that threatened the entire westside of the square.

Fire hose was strung all over both College Ave., and Barnes Ave. by the fire-fighters.

The fire chief said he and his boys deeply appreciate the work and effort of the volunteer citizens who worked diligently to help extinguish the fire.

"The cooperation and assistance of by-standers aided us much in getting this fire under control after six hours of battling the blaze." Warren said.

Water Pressure Holds - Water Supt. Jack Walcott said that after an hour of fire-fighting he drove to Hopeton to turn on the booster pumps which brought Alva's water pressure back up to normal and was able to hold it there until 8 a.m.

It was estimated that at least 500,000 gallons of water was poured on the burning building during a six hour period from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. today to extinguish the fire.

"It was around 60,000 gallons of water that was being used every hour." Walcott said. "And we were still able to hold our usual levels and pressure by turning on the boosters."

The two firms lost in the fire employed 43 persons.

MORE -- May, 1953 Articles... Boys On Class Trip Turn-Out To Fight Fire... Junior & Senior boys of Keyes, Okla. high school had a special and unexpected highlight in their annual school trip since the two classes stayed in Alva Wednesday night enroute home and the boys were on hand to help firemen battle the Monfort building blaze..... They were staying at the Hotel Bell... READ MORE

Monfort Plans Modern Store At Old Site... "To Begin Work As Soon As Possible," He says... on Abolishing Center Parking... The night before the fire, 27 May 1953 the council chambers had a heated debate over the abolishment of the business district's center parking with over 300 citizens crowded into the American Legion Hut on a hot night.

MORE Photos Below... Pictorial Coverage Shows How Fire Destroyed One of Alva's Oldest Landmarks.

Making Observations - concerning the damage Thursday morning are, far left, Carl Shafer, Jim Devery and Marion Monfort. Dr. Felicia Monfort and Toni Monfort, partly hidden, daughters of Marion, are shown on the far right with Leonard Butler. (staff photo)

Monfort Building & Wrecking Crew - The front of Monfort's drug is shown being torn down by a wrecking crane in order that it would not later and injure bystanders. The front wall was still standing following the disastrous $400,000 fire Thursday morning. (Traverse photo)

Monfort Building Fire - Early morning sight in Alva Thursday was the completely gutted Monfort building at the corner of College and Barnes Ave. Smoke was still seen rising from the wreckage at 1 p.m. Thursday. (staff photo)

Monfort Building Fire - The Back Wall of the Monfort building may be seen early Thursday morning in the center before it was knocked down by the wrecking crew about 11 a.m. Firemen can still be seen throwing water on the smoldering blaze. (staff photo)

Monfort Building & Gordon's Cafe - Early problem Thursday morning was the smoke coming from Gordon's cafe. When the firemen first arrived the smoke was chiefly in Gordon's with the flames in the rear of both stores. When the glass was broken in the cafe, a huge puff of smoke burst out covering the firemen holding the hoses. (staff photo)

Aerial View of Monfort Fire - the catastrophic fire Thursday was made by Austin Traverse about 6:30 a.m. from a plane which was flown by Wayne Kinzie. The overall view of the scene may be seen in the above photo.

Monfort Building Fire - Streams of Water are shown pouring on the fire catastrophe which early Thursday morning wrecked and ravaged the Monfort building and damaged other adjoining structures. (staff photo)

Monfort building fire & Tanner Bros Clothing - Volunteer firemen are shown with their hoses in front of the Monfort building and Tanner Brothers store here early Thursday pouring water on the fire. (staff photo)