Article from the New Milford Times dated Sept. 24, 1959:
"Mrs. Constance McKay Van Voorhis, 59 year old wife of veteran radio announcer Westbrook Van Voorhis, died Monday night in a $50,0000 blaze that ripped though the picturesque Van Voorhis home on Paper Mill Rd. while she slept. The fire was discovered at 6:30p.m.; the victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the New Milford Hospital by Joseph Reese, MD.. Medical Examiner Dr. Howard Stevens said Mrs. Van Voorhis died of second and third degree burns which covered two thirds of her body.
The cause of the Van Voorhis blaze has not yet been officially determined. However, State Police Sgt McNamara and New Milford Fire Marshal Kenneth Couch reported there was no evidence that the fire was incendiary.
Officials said that the fire apparatus was prompt on arrival. Using smoke masks, firemen Robert Moore and Charles Peyron pushed their way into the burning house and found Mrs. Van Voorhis lying on her bed in the southeast bedroom.
A second alarm was sounded at 6:45 p.m.. Firemen reported that the blaze had made great headway before it was discovered. The volunteers finally brought the fire under control, leaving the scene shortly after 11 p.m. when Civil Defense crews under the direction of Harry B. Bradbury and Clarence Shrack, Jr. took up an all-night guard post at the site.
The blaze inflicted heavy damage throughout the south end of the house, including the living room and bedroom. Also lost in the flames was a wide variety of valuable antiques gathered by Mr. and Mrs. Van Voorhis during their travels around the world.
Mr. Van Voorhis spent Saturday at his home here, returning to New York for a special broadcast and his Monday through Friday newscasts. Authorities spent several hours trying to locate him to notify him of the tragedy.
The couple bought the Papermill Rd. home in 1949 and moved here a year later following extensive renovations.
Mrs. Van Voorhis was born on July 10, 1900 to Margaret Britton McKay and the late Hugh McKay. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Ashmead Scott Van Voorhis of New York City and a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Atkinson of Bronxville, NY.
Private funeral services have been arranged, with internment in Center Cemetery."
"Mrs. Constance McKay Van Voorhis, 59 year old wife of veteran radio announcer Westbrook Van Voorhis, died Monday night in a $50,0000 blaze that ripped though the picturesque Van Voorhis home on Paper Mill Rd. while she slept. The fire was discovered at 6:30p.m.; the victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the New Milford Hospital by Joseph Reese, MD.. Medical Examiner Dr. Howard Stevens said Mrs. Van Voorhis died of second and third degree burns which covered two thirds of her body.
The cause of the Van Voorhis blaze has not yet been officially determined. However, State Police Sgt McNamara and New Milford Fire Marshal Kenneth Couch reported there was no evidence that the fire was incendiary.
Officials said that the fire apparatus was prompt on arrival. Using smoke masks, firemen Robert Moore and Charles Peyron pushed their way into the burning house and found Mrs. Van Voorhis lying on her bed in the southeast bedroom.
A second alarm was sounded at 6:45 p.m.. Firemen reported that the blaze had made great headway before it was discovered. The volunteers finally brought the fire under control, leaving the scene shortly after 11 p.m. when Civil Defense crews under the direction of Harry B. Bradbury and Clarence Shrack, Jr. took up an all-night guard post at the site.
The blaze inflicted heavy damage throughout the south end of the house, including the living room and bedroom. Also lost in the flames was a wide variety of valuable antiques gathered by Mr. and Mrs. Van Voorhis during their travels around the world.
Mr. Van Voorhis spent Saturday at his home here, returning to New York for a special broadcast and his Monday through Friday newscasts. Authorities spent several hours trying to locate him to notify him of the tragedy.
The couple bought the Papermill Rd. home in 1949 and moved here a year later following extensive renovations.
Mrs. Van Voorhis was born on July 10, 1900 to Margaret Britton McKay and the late Hugh McKay. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Ashmead Scott Van Voorhis of New York City and a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Atkinson of Bronxville, NY.
Private funeral services have been arranged, with internment in Center Cemetery."
Article from the New Milford Times dated Sept. 24, 1959:
"Mrs. Constance McKay Van Voorhis, 59 year old wife of veteran radio announcer Westbrook Van Voorhis, died Monday night in a $50,0000 blaze that ripped though the picturesque Van Voorhis home on Paper Mill Rd. while she slept. The fire was discovered at 6:30p.m.; the victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the New Milford Hospital by Joseph Reese, MD.. Medical Examiner Dr. Howard Stevens said Mrs. Van Voorhis died of second and third degree burns which covered two thirds of her body.
The cause of the Van Voorhis blaze has not yet been officially determined. However, State Police Sgt McNamara and New Milford Fire Marshal Kenneth Couch reported there was no evidence that the fire was incendiary.
Officials said that the fire apparatus was prompt on arrival. Using smoke masks, firemen Robert Moore and Charles Peyron pushed their way into the burning house and found Mrs. Van Voorhis lying on her bed in the southeast bedroom.
A second alarm was sounded at 6:45 p.m.. Firemen reported that the blaze had made great headway before it was discovered. The volunteers finally brought the fire under control, leaving the scene shortly after 11 p.m. when Civil Defense crews under the direction of Harry B. Bradbury and Clarence Shrack, Jr. took up an all-night guard post at the site.
The blaze inflicted heavy damage throughout the south end of the house, including the living room and bedroom. Also lost in the flames was a wide variety of valuable antiques gathered by Mr. and Mrs. Van Voorhis during their travels around the world.
Mr. Van Voorhis spent Saturday at his home here, returning to New York for a special broadcast and his Monday through Friday newscasts. Authorities spent several hours trying to locate him to notify him of the tragedy.
The couple bought the Papermill Rd. home in 1949 and moved here a year later following extensive renovations.
Mrs. Van Voorhis was born on July 10, 1900 to Margaret Britton McKay and the late Hugh McKay. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Ashmead Scott Van Voorhis of New York City and a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Atkinson of Bronxville, NY.
Private funeral services have been arranged, with internment in Center Cemetery."
"Mrs. Constance McKay Van Voorhis, 59 year old wife of veteran radio announcer Westbrook Van Voorhis, died Monday night in a $50,0000 blaze that ripped though the picturesque Van Voorhis home on Paper Mill Rd. while she slept. The fire was discovered at 6:30p.m.; the victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the New Milford Hospital by Joseph Reese, MD.. Medical Examiner Dr. Howard Stevens said Mrs. Van Voorhis died of second and third degree burns which covered two thirds of her body.
The cause of the Van Voorhis blaze has not yet been officially determined. However, State Police Sgt McNamara and New Milford Fire Marshal Kenneth Couch reported there was no evidence that the fire was incendiary.
Officials said that the fire apparatus was prompt on arrival. Using smoke masks, firemen Robert Moore and Charles Peyron pushed their way into the burning house and found Mrs. Van Voorhis lying on her bed in the southeast bedroom.
A second alarm was sounded at 6:45 p.m.. Firemen reported that the blaze had made great headway before it was discovered. The volunteers finally brought the fire under control, leaving the scene shortly after 11 p.m. when Civil Defense crews under the direction of Harry B. Bradbury and Clarence Shrack, Jr. took up an all-night guard post at the site.
The blaze inflicted heavy damage throughout the south end of the house, including the living room and bedroom. Also lost in the flames was a wide variety of valuable antiques gathered by Mr. and Mrs. Van Voorhis during their travels around the world.
Mr. Van Voorhis spent Saturday at his home here, returning to New York for a special broadcast and his Monday through Friday newscasts. Authorities spent several hours trying to locate him to notify him of the tragedy.
The couple bought the Papermill Rd. home in 1949 and moved here a year later following extensive renovations.
Mrs. Van Voorhis was born on July 10, 1900 to Margaret Britton McKay and the late Hugh McKay. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Ashmead Scott Van Voorhis of New York City and a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Atkinson of Bronxville, NY.
Private funeral services have been arranged, with internment in Center Cemetery."
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