The Decatur Review:
Two women, a 75-year-old mother and her 49 year-old daughter were burned to death early today in their rural home about 4 miles west of Decatur on old US 36. Macon County Coroner Phares G Thompson identified them as Mrs MaBelle Koehler, the mother, & Mrs George S Sindelar. The house is at 4925 W Main St, west of Wyckles Corner. Thompson said the body of Mrs Sindelar was found on the 1st floor of the residence shortly after 2:30 am. Mrs Koehler's body was found on the 2nd floor in an enclosed sunroom. Thompson said she apparently was awakened by the fire but was unable to escape. The elderly woman was known as "Grandma" Koehler & she lived in the house that was owned by Mr & Mrs Sindelar. Mr Sindelar travels for Sears Roebuck & was located early this morning in Pontiac, IL. Robert Erio, deputy state fire marshal who was called to the scene, said it is his opinion the fire was caused by defective wiring. He & Sheriff Charles D Peters opened an investigation shortly after the first body was found. The fire was discovered at 1 am by John Curry & Roland Koontz Jr. Curry said that when he & Koontz arrived at the scene the rear half of the house & entire top portion were engulfed in flames. They tried to enter the house to see if it was occupied but failed because of the intense heat from the flames that roared through the frame & brick structure. Curry drove to the Harrison Fire station & broke into the building to sound a siren when he failed to arouse anyone. Koontz stayed at the scene & continued his efforts to enter the building. Sheriff's deputies were summoned but the fire was raging out of control when they arrived. Firemen from Harristown, Niantic & South Wheatland were called. They were hampered in their efforts by a lack of water which had to be hauled to the scene. The body of Mrs Sindelar was removed from the building shortly after 2:30 am & Mrs Koehler's body was removed shortly after 7 am.
The house that was destroyed was a prize winning farm house in 1940. The brick & paneled home & its grounds then were judged the most attractive in Macon County. It was owned by the late Harry W Hartong. A brick wall left standing after the blaze still held the bronze plaque awarded by the late Gov. Henry Horner. It also won a contest in 1939 but was damaged in November of that year when a truck crashed through the brick wall along the road & damaged the flower garden. The home was judged for its general impression received by passing motorists, interest & variety of plantings, condition & appearance of lawns, & freedom from sight obstructions. The structure was on a 2 acre landscaped plot. It had 3 bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, 1 & 1/2 baths, & a screened porch overlooking the gardens. A 4 room guest house is on the same plot. Part of the house was said to be more than 100 years old.
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her grave has no marker
Two women, a 75-year-old mother and her 49 year-old daughter were burned to death early today in their rural home about 4 miles west of Decatur on old US 36. Macon County Coroner Phares G Thompson identified them as Mrs MaBelle Koehler, the mother, & Mrs George S Sindelar. The house is at 4925 W Main St, west of Wyckles Corner. Thompson said the body of Mrs Sindelar was found on the 1st floor of the residence shortly after 2:30 am. Mrs Koehler's body was found on the 2nd floor in an enclosed sunroom. Thompson said she apparently was awakened by the fire but was unable to escape. The elderly woman was known as "Grandma" Koehler & she lived in the house that was owned by Mr & Mrs Sindelar. Mr Sindelar travels for Sears Roebuck & was located early this morning in Pontiac, IL. Robert Erio, deputy state fire marshal who was called to the scene, said it is his opinion the fire was caused by defective wiring. He & Sheriff Charles D Peters opened an investigation shortly after the first body was found. The fire was discovered at 1 am by John Curry & Roland Koontz Jr. Curry said that when he & Koontz arrived at the scene the rear half of the house & entire top portion were engulfed in flames. They tried to enter the house to see if it was occupied but failed because of the intense heat from the flames that roared through the frame & brick structure. Curry drove to the Harrison Fire station & broke into the building to sound a siren when he failed to arouse anyone. Koontz stayed at the scene & continued his efforts to enter the building. Sheriff's deputies were summoned but the fire was raging out of control when they arrived. Firemen from Harristown, Niantic & South Wheatland were called. They were hampered in their efforts by a lack of water which had to be hauled to the scene. The body of Mrs Sindelar was removed from the building shortly after 2:30 am & Mrs Koehler's body was removed shortly after 7 am.
The house that was destroyed was a prize winning farm house in 1940. The brick & paneled home & its grounds then were judged the most attractive in Macon County. It was owned by the late Harry W Hartong. A brick wall left standing after the blaze still held the bronze plaque awarded by the late Gov. Henry Horner. It also won a contest in 1939 but was damaged in November of that year when a truck crashed through the brick wall along the road & damaged the flower garden. The home was judged for its general impression received by passing motorists, interest & variety of plantings, condition & appearance of lawns, & freedom from sight obstructions. The structure was on a 2 acre landscaped plot. It had 3 bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, 1 & 1/2 baths, & a screened porch overlooking the gardens. A 4 room guest house is on the same plot. Part of the house was said to be more than 100 years old.
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her grave has no marker
The Decatur Review:
Two women, a 75-year-old mother and her 49 year-old daughter were burned to death early today in their rural home about 4 miles west of Decatur on old US 36. Macon County Coroner Phares G Thompson identified them as Mrs MaBelle Koehler, the mother, & Mrs George S Sindelar. The house is at 4925 W Main St, west of Wyckles Corner. Thompson said the body of Mrs Sindelar was found on the 1st floor of the residence shortly after 2:30 am. Mrs Koehler's body was found on the 2nd floor in an enclosed sunroom. Thompson said she apparently was awakened by the fire but was unable to escape. The elderly woman was known as "Grandma" Koehler & she lived in the house that was owned by Mr & Mrs Sindelar. Mr Sindelar travels for Sears Roebuck & was located early this morning in Pontiac, IL. Robert Erio, deputy state fire marshal who was called to the scene, said it is his opinion the fire was caused by defective wiring. He & Sheriff Charles D Peters opened an investigation shortly after the first body was found. The fire was discovered at 1 am by John Curry & Roland Koontz Jr. Curry said that when he & Koontz arrived at the scene the rear half of the house & entire top portion were engulfed in flames. They tried to enter the house to see if it was occupied but failed because of the intense heat from the flames that roared through the frame & brick structure. Curry drove to the Harrison Fire station & broke into the building to sound a siren when he failed to arouse anyone. Koontz stayed at the scene & continued his efforts to enter the building. Sheriff's deputies were summoned but the fire was raging out of control when they arrived. Firemen from Harristown, Niantic & South Wheatland were called. They were hampered in their efforts by a lack of water which had to be hauled to the scene. The body of Mrs Sindelar was removed from the building shortly after 2:30 am & Mrs Koehler's body was removed shortly after 7 am.
The house that was destroyed was a prize winning farm house in 1940. The brick & paneled home & its grounds then were judged the most attractive in Macon County. It was owned by the late Harry W Hartong. A brick wall left standing after the blaze still held the bronze plaque awarded by the late Gov. Henry Horner. It also won a contest in 1939 but was damaged in November of that year when a truck crashed through the brick wall along the road & damaged the flower garden. The home was judged for its general impression received by passing motorists, interest & variety of plantings, condition & appearance of lawns, & freedom from sight obstructions. The structure was on a 2 acre landscaped plot. It had 3 bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, 1 & 1/2 baths, & a screened porch overlooking the gardens. A 4 room guest house is on the same plot. Part of the house was said to be more than 100 years old.
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her grave has no marker
Two women, a 75-year-old mother and her 49 year-old daughter were burned to death early today in their rural home about 4 miles west of Decatur on old US 36. Macon County Coroner Phares G Thompson identified them as Mrs MaBelle Koehler, the mother, & Mrs George S Sindelar. The house is at 4925 W Main St, west of Wyckles Corner. Thompson said the body of Mrs Sindelar was found on the 1st floor of the residence shortly after 2:30 am. Mrs Koehler's body was found on the 2nd floor in an enclosed sunroom. Thompson said she apparently was awakened by the fire but was unable to escape. The elderly woman was known as "Grandma" Koehler & she lived in the house that was owned by Mr & Mrs Sindelar. Mr Sindelar travels for Sears Roebuck & was located early this morning in Pontiac, IL. Robert Erio, deputy state fire marshal who was called to the scene, said it is his opinion the fire was caused by defective wiring. He & Sheriff Charles D Peters opened an investigation shortly after the first body was found. The fire was discovered at 1 am by John Curry & Roland Koontz Jr. Curry said that when he & Koontz arrived at the scene the rear half of the house & entire top portion were engulfed in flames. They tried to enter the house to see if it was occupied but failed because of the intense heat from the flames that roared through the frame & brick structure. Curry drove to the Harrison Fire station & broke into the building to sound a siren when he failed to arouse anyone. Koontz stayed at the scene & continued his efforts to enter the building. Sheriff's deputies were summoned but the fire was raging out of control when they arrived. Firemen from Harristown, Niantic & South Wheatland were called. They were hampered in their efforts by a lack of water which had to be hauled to the scene. The body of Mrs Sindelar was removed from the building shortly after 2:30 am & Mrs Koehler's body was removed shortly after 7 am.
The house that was destroyed was a prize winning farm house in 1940. The brick & paneled home & its grounds then were judged the most attractive in Macon County. It was owned by the late Harry W Hartong. A brick wall left standing after the blaze still held the bronze plaque awarded by the late Gov. Henry Horner. It also won a contest in 1939 but was damaged in November of that year when a truck crashed through the brick wall along the road & damaged the flower garden. The home was judged for its general impression received by passing motorists, interest & variety of plantings, condition & appearance of lawns, & freedom from sight obstructions. The structure was on a 2 acre landscaped plot. It had 3 bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, 1 & 1/2 baths, & a screened porch overlooking the gardens. A 4 room guest house is on the same plot. Part of the house was said to be more than 100 years old.
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her grave has no marker
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