Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian Tuesday, February 3, 1959 Armory Lost at Ishpeming Ice, Winds Hamper Michigan Firemen ISHPEMING, Mich. (AP) - Fire, whipped by 20-m.p.h. winds, burned out the three-story Ishpeming Armory today, but did not set off 15,000 rounds of small arms ammunition stored in a basement vault. Firemen, whose efforts were hampered by ice form- ing in 16-degree weather, saved three buildings across the street, threatened for a time as flaming tarpaper from the armory roof was blown about by the winds. Fireman Jumps. No one was injured, although one fireman jumped from the second story to escape being overcome by smoke. He landed unhurt. Cause of the fire was not determined immediately. Fire departments were called from nearby Negaunee and Marquette to fight the blaze which gave off dense clouds of black smoke as it ate through the wooden insides of the old building. When flaming tarpaper began to fly from the roof, St. Johns Catholic School, a block away, was evacu- ated as a precaution. It was feared for a time that the fire might set off ammunition. Capt. Arthur Saviluoto of the Na- tional Guard said it was in a concrete basement vault, but that the vault had a wooden door. Little Danger Seen. James S. Nicholls, Ishpeming police clerk, de- clared, however authorities never seriously feared explosion of the ammunition, since it was stored in the basement and that flight of either the bul- let or shell hull would have been a short one under such circumstances. The armory housed Headquarters Co. of the 107th Engineer Battalion of the Michigan National Guard, which lost radio equipment valued at $50,000 by one guardsman in the fire. An estimate on total damage was not available immediately. The building was the third largest in this Upper Peninsula city. It originally was a YMCA, but was remodeled several years ago into an armory. ==========================================================================