Page 206 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

The Story of the C.W.S.
Dr. Spence Watson, Messrs. Maxwell, J. C. Gray, George Hawkins,
and others present to congratulate the Northern co-operators, the
branch already was able to boast " one of the finest ranges of
warehouses in the city." A fire at Thornton Street, on the morning
of Sunday, October 14th, 1888, proved no more than an incident in
this period of development. A system of automatic alarms served
to acquaint the brigade quickly, and very soon the mischief was
controlled.
In London the big development of this period was celebrated
on November 2nd, 1887. This was the opening of the new Leman
Street premises, under the now well-known clock tower. The
serious injiu-y to the original, square-shaped building by the fire of
December 30th, 1885, on the tea department side, helped to neces-
sitate the new erection. This fire raged for three hours on that
evening before it was brought under control. It proved much more
destructive than the Newcastle outbreak, and it had the distinction
of being the largest ever suffered up to that time by the federation.
One might call it an ill fire that fights nobody's path, for a woman
passing by (whose husband had been out of work for thi'ee months)
noticed and at once reported the outbreak, and her prompt action
gained her a sovereign. As shown by the claim made upon the
various insurance companies, the loss amounted to some £25,600
on account of stocks, and £10 400 for buildings and fixtures, a loss
of £36,000 in all. The sum afteiwaids recovered from the companies
was £28,600. Temporary premises for the tea department,
at 116, Leman Street, were taken on the morning after the fire;
but, the delegates' meeting-room being destroyed, the Quarterly
Meetings had to await the new building before the Societies'
representatives could gather on their own floor. In the meantime
they received generous hospitality at Tojmbee Hall, that very
convenient chamber being freely lent by the Rev. S. Barnett. The
general business, which had to put up with Uttle worse than a foot
of water in the provision cellar, was continued at the same address,
until both for this and for the tea department, with its two hundred
employees, the fine new home was provided. The architect was
Mr. J. F. Goodey, of Colchester, aheady a member of the C.W.S.
Committee. Authors may not be read or not read intelfigently, and
painters often need critics to discover and point out their excellence,
but the architect has the advantage of his work being in all men's
sight; and eulogies of Mr. Goodey's design were frequent. Among
those who attended the opening proceedings, under the ever-popular
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