File:RestaurantTotallyDestroyedFire CJ1919Sep24p1.PNG

Newspaper article

Date	1919/09/24
Organization name	Bridgman Restaurant
Industry Sector	Accommodation and Food Services > Food Services and Drinking Places
Year	1919
Newspaper title	The Creston Journal
Page number	1
Article title	Restaurant Is Totally Destroyed By Fire: Bridgman's Restaurant Burned to the Ground

"Restaurant is Totally Destroyed by Fire: Bridgman's Restaurant Burned to the Ground. About noon last Friday the citizens of Creston were startled by the fire alarm.

It was soon learned that the fire was in the restaurant of Ed. Bridgman, just across from the union depot, and had gained considerable headway.

How the fire started will probably never be known. Mr. and Mrs. Bridgman were just starting to prepare the dinners for the Wheeling train, due in Creston at 11:59, when Mrs. Bridgman smelled smoke but did not think much of it at the time for the stove had a habit of smoking some when there was a strong wind blowing from the right direction in a short time hoever, it became apparent that the smoke was not coming from the stove, and investigation showed that the back room of the building, which was used as a storage room, was full of smoke. Whether the fire originated in the roof or elsewhere on the southeast side of the building, was impossible to ascertain.

Mr. & Mrs. Bridgman with the assistance of the depot force and others who arrived early on the scene succeeded in saving a good share of the tobacco, cigars, etc. which were in the front room, but the stock, consisting of cases of soft drinks, canned goods and other supplies used in the restaurant, as well as a large amount of canned goods that Mrs. Bridgman had put up for their own consumption were a total loss.

Mr. and Mrs. Bridgman have conducted a restaurant in this building for twelve years, having been away but eleven months in that time.

They are as yet undecided as to what they will do but may possibly rebuild although not on the same location. The building was insured for $700, but there was no insurance on the contents."