TWAS ONE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I think it may have been 1957 or 1958, Daddy was feverishly scrambling to finish laying the new hardwood floor in the living room. It was getting late in the evening and all of the younger children were already asleep. Shirley and I were awake because at that time our beds were in the living room. The hammering was keeping us awake.

      Daddy was so close to being done with the job, he wanted to continue in order to have it all completed for Christmas. I think it was about 10 o'clock. Mommy was helping him (off and on) as well as putting the finishing touches on her Christmas preparations. Shirley and I were watching & we were all quietly singing Christmas carols (except for Daddy - who was "whistling while he worked".

      SUDDENLY, we heard a loud explosion & some popping noises -- like firecrackers, we thought!

      TO THE WINDOW WE RAN IN A FLASH AND PULLED OPEN THE SASH (Curtain, I mean, sorry).

      Flames were leaping furiously from the house next door (below the lower driveway.)

      Mommy immediately called the fire department and Daddy FLEW TOWARD THE CLATTER TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER.

      We watched in horror as the big house became almost totally ablaze. (I don't remember for sure, but it seems that the other children woke up to the commotion and joined with us to watch the spectacle).

      There was quite a large family that lived there. It was frightening to watch and woory for their safety.

      The fire dept. arrived and began to fight the fire, and soon Daddy came back and told us that everyone was safe. He said that the mother and most of the children had not been home because they were visiting relatives for Christmas. The father and one child were home, but were able to get out safely.

      We were so relieved to hear that!

      At some later point, I remember hearing that it was suspected that the father may have set the fire intentionally but I never heard if that was proven to be true.

      Days later, we were allowed a very careful peak inside the charred remains of the house. I will never forget the ugliness left by that fire, nor the stench of the wet debris! The house was a total loss and was eventually demolished.

      The property was sold and the new owners had a house moved onto the lot. They fixed it up and rented it out. A few years later that "new" house on the SAME neighboring lot also caught on fire! This time it was a chimney fire. It was also quite a fright and brought back nightmarish memories. The fire deptartment:
WENT UP ON THE ROOF and
...PUTTING THE CHIMNEY RIGHT UNDER THEIR HOSE
up and down the chimney no longer fire ROSE.
They were able to put this fire out in short order so that there wasn't much damage.
In any case, two fires next door was two too many!