Edgar Arthur ("Ben") TREMBLAY
1962 - Southbridge Fire Leaves 8 Homeless

SOUTHBRIDGE - A family of eight has been left homeless as the result of a fire which swept through their home Saturday night.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Magoon of 272 South st. and their six children have been given shelter by friends. Louis Ciprari of 44 Highland St. has taken in three of the children and Samuel Boiteau of 12 Cohasse St. has taken the rest of the family.

Fire Chief Alva J Gregoire said that the fire started on the first floor of the house where they were tennants about 7:15 p.m. The building is owned by Edgar Tremblay of 73 Moon St.

Gregoire said that Bonnie Magoon, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Magoon, first noticed the fire in a bedroom. She woke up her father who tried to extinguish it, but it became necessary to call firefighters, Gregoire said. The entire family was in the house at the time, Gregoire added.

Forced to Vacate
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Commito, and family, who live on the second floor, were also forced to leave the building.

Gregoire said the fire was under control 15 minutes after firefighters arrived. He said that air packs were used to enter the smoke-filled building and that heat from the flames was intense enough to melt the telephone and florescent lights in the kitchen.

Gregoire said that the greatest damage to the building was in the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom on the first floor. There was slight smoke damage to the second floor apartment also, he said.

Total damage to the building was estimated by Gregoire at $5,500. The cause of the blaze, he said, was a short circuit in the electric clock in the bedroom.


Worcester Telegram
Worcester, Massachusetts
October 29, 1962

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