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Show Demon Fire Destroys Centerfield Opera House and his son operated a refreshment : parlor in the front part of the buihl-J buihl-J ing ami n barber shop was mnintain-j mnintain-j ed in the south front room. The structure was a two-story, with walls ; built of brick. The upper floor was I used during the winter for basket j ball games and gymnasium work, , and when the flames got n good headway it took but a short time to reduce the woodwork and contents to nshes. The building, one of the largest in Centerfield, was erected in 11109 by Albert Oekerman.. Later it was sold j to Feter Jensen. Fiie, the origin of which is as yet undetermined, completely destroyed the Centerfield opera house, the contents con-tents of the confectionery store, the barber shop and pool hall, early Wednesday Wed-nesday morning, entailing a loss estimated es-timated between $S,000 and $11,000. About $7,500 insurance was carried. All that was saved from the burning building was a barber's chair. As near as can be determined the fire broke out at about two o'clock .and was discovered by Henry Simon-sen Simon-sen at three. When Mr. Simonsen whose store and residence is immediately imme-diately north of the opera house, was awakened by the roaring of the blaze, he made a hurried examination and found the entire structure a seething mass of flames. An alarm was sounded sound-ed and soon the neighborhood was awakened, but efforts to save anything any-thing or the building proved fruit--less, due to no water supply. All energy was exercised to save the Simonsen building, just a few feet north. Fortunately the wind was from the north and with a garden hose playing a small stream on the Simonsen building it was saved from destruction. It was five thirty when the fire subsided and all that remains of the building ae the bleak and scorched brick walls. The opera house building was owned and operated by Peter C. Jensen, Jen-sen, and his son, J. H. Jensen. In the rear was a large dance hall, a portion of which was set aside for a couple of pool tables. Mr. Jensen |