Connor Building Burns Down, 1929

$150.000 LOSS IN DAVIS ST. FIRE / CONNOR BLDG. DESTROYED IN NIGHT BLAZE

    The heart of downtown Evanston was threatened and damage estimated at $150,000 was caused by a fire, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, that broke out shortly after midnight last night, completely gutting the Connor building at 616-20 Davis st., one of the landmarks of the business section, occupied by Thompson's restaurant and Du Breuil's tearoom
    Only the prompt and efficient work of Evanston firemen under command of Chief A. N. Hofstetter, in which virtually every piece of Evanstonia firefighting equipment was called into play, prevented the blaze from spreading to adjacent buildings.  The efforts of the firemen were greatly handicapped by the freezing temperature, which quickly turned water to ice and endangered their tasks.
    The blaze, which was discovered by Herman Eppers, night manager at the Thompson restaurant, had filled most of the building with dense smoke before firemen arrived.  The basement under Du Breuil's tearoom, where the fire is believed to have originated, was a roaring furnace when the first hose line was laid.
Fight Fire All Night
    It was the inability of firemen to approach the heart of the fire which gave the flames sufficient headway to destroy the entire building.
    For two hours firemen sought to check the flames, and at four o'clock, just as it seemed the situation was under control, the fire shot through the roof of the two-story brick structure, one of the oldest building in the downtown section, and all hope of saving it was abandoned.
    Besides the restaurant and tearoom, the building was occupied on the second floor by the Evanston Letter service, MacNaughtan and Appleyard electrical fixture shop, and the Bateman Construction company's offices.
    Although preliminary estimates place the damage at about $100,000 for equipment and $50,000 for the building, the total loss may reach $200,000, due to the smoke and water damage to several adjoining shops.
    A light breeze from the west aided the firemen in saving from damage the building adjoining the Connor building on the west, occupied on the street floor by the Evanston Brunswick music store and the Mitzie Dress shop, and on the second and third floor by the family of L. J. DuBreuil and a rooming house conducted by Miss Maude Maynard.  This building was separated from the burning structure by a single brick wall. The occupants of the rooming house were driven to the street by the intense heat.
Other Stores Suffer
    The Brunswick and Mitzi shops, as well as Kreage's store at 624 1/2 Davis st., Chandler's at 630, and Walgreen's at 634 reported smoke and water damage.  The basements of these shops were inundated with water which damaged valuable stocks.
    Mr. DuBreuil had just closed his tearoom for the night and was at home when Mr. Eppers informed him of the fire.  He attempted to enter the place to save his records and money, but was prevented by the heavy smoke.  Later, however, the smoke cleared and he rescued the records as well as the day's receipts of money.
    A few persons were present in Thompson's when the alarm was first given.  Despite the smoke they remained in the place for a few minutes watching the work of firemen.  A temperature of ten degrees above zero kept the crowd of curious to a few persons until daylight when Evanstonians on their way to work passed to look on.
    This morning's fire is the most serious in Evanston since January 9, 1927 when the old Boltwood school at Dempster street and Elmwood avenue was destroyed by flames with a loss of nearly $200,000.
Erected 40 Years Ago
    The Connor building was erected about 40 years ago by J. C. Connor, now dead, and was one of the last buildings of that age that has survived the march of progress.
    Three years ago the building was sold by Mrs. Hannah Connor, 1220 Maple ave., widow of the builder, and her son, C. J. Connor, a real estate operator, to Northwestern university, the present owners.  A short time later it was leased for twenty-five years, to the John C. Thompson company, owner of a chain of restaurants. The building was remodeled in 1927, when the Thompson restaurant was opened.
    DuBreuil's tearoom, known as a rendezvous for students of Northwestern university, was opened eight years ago.  Mr. DuBreuil's lease was about to expire, but had been extended to April 1, with privilege of renewal at that time, he said.
    Mr. DuBreuil was uncertain this morning as to his future plans.  His loss, he said, was partially covered by insurance, as was the case with other occupants of the building.
Simpson Building Saved
    It is extremely improbably that any attempt will be made to rebuild the structure, since only the walls remain, with the exception of a small portion on the street front. 
    Several times during the progress of the fire, which was brought under control about 5:30 o'clock, the Simpson building, immediately across the alley from the burning structure, was threatened by the flames, but was saved by the efforts of Chief Hofstetter and his men.
    In spite of the heavy coatings of ice which covered ladders, the roofs of adjoining buildings, and other bases of operations, not one fireman was injured.  Some of the men were nearly overcome, however, in their attempts to enter the smoke-filled shops.  When they returned to quarters late this morning many of the men were so coated with ice that their frozen clothing could be removed only with difficulty.
Evanston News-Index, December 2, 1929, pages 1-2.