Second Class Mail Registration Number 0025 BURKS FALLS - POWASSAN Almaguin NEWS SERVING East Parry Sound District Combining the Burks Falls Arrow, the Sundridge Echo and the Powassan News 30c a copy $11.00 a year $21.00 for 2 years BURKS FALLS, ONTARIO, WED., JANUARY 16, 1980 VOL. 95 REACHING 6,000 HOMES NO. 4 COMMUNITY CENTRE LOST TO FIRE: The Sundridge Community Centre on Main Street in Sundridge was lost to fire on Monday, January 14th. Firemen fought the blaze attempting to save the 30-year-old structure, but it was gutted and beyond repair. Shown in photo firemen at the south-west side of the building at one of the apartments. Staff Photo Community centre lost in fire of unkown origin SUNDRIDGE: Residents of Sundridge suffered a great loss when their community centre was destroyed by fire on Monday, January 14th. Fire of unknown origin broke out in the community centre on Main Street about 12:30 p.m. and firemen soon arrived in an attempt to extinguish the blaze. Along with firemen, citizens rushed to the scene to evacuate material from the centre which housed the municipal office, library, senior citizen club rooms, bowling alley and two apartments upstairs. One resident of an apartment, Mrs. Laura Kennedy was rushed to hospital by ambulance. Burks Falls Red Cross Hospital reports Mrs. Kennedy in satisfactory condition. Everything was saved from the municipal office, library, as well as the piano and the majority of tables and chairs from the large hall. Contents in the above apartments and the Happy Gang's piano and pool table were lost in the fire. Fire Chief Gord Forrington told the News that the cause of the blaze is unknown at this time. Firemen remained on the scene until 7:30 a.m. Tues- day morning to ensure the fire was entirely quelched, making a total of nearly 20 hours firemen attended the scene. Sundridge and Strong Fire Department requested assistance from South River- Machar Fire Department. They soon arrived with men and a pumper. The job of moving the evacuated materials from the centre was taken over by volunteers who piled goods into cars, vans, trucks and anything that would carry the articles to a safe location. "People appeared out of nowhere to help with the evacuation," said reeve Gary Hammond. The building would have celebrated 30 years since its official opening on February 22nd, 1950. A great celebration took place during the opening with the lieutenant governor on hand. The council office will temporarily be located in the medical centre on Park Street. Library books are now in the basement of the Anglican Church. People with books out from the library are asked to keep them until further notice. Inter-library loan books should be returned though. Information on these may be obtained from the librarian Francis Therrin. Card parties, bingoes, Lions meetings will all be moved to the community hall (Cont'd on Page 6)