Another article clipped by my Grandmother, Gladys Donaldson Ross. This references a fire of a home that belonged to Harold and Jennie Ross. Jennie is a Van Leeuwen cousin of my Grandma, Harold is the brother to my Grandpa. Jennie told me at one point, she may have thought the fire was intentionally set to get back at her by Harold. She lost some of her prized Charlie Russell paintings in the fire.

“Pleasant View – Although they would have liked to, city officials here voted against loaning city equipment to help clean up after a recent house fire.

“City councilman and Mayor Richard Diamond said they feared such an act would set a precedent that may be difficult to live with as the years come and go.

“In addition, a group of citizens appearing before them on other matters felt the same way.

“Voiced Sympathy

“Mayor Diamond asked the group how they felt about granting such a request involving the home of Harold Ross at 975 W. 3800 N., that was gutted by fire.

“Several of the people responded. They also expressed sympathy for the cause, but said it would not be wise for the city to loan the front-end loader.

“A couple cited other examples in which such requests could have been made and said there would be no place to “draw the line.”

“Debris left over by the fire was being cleared by volunteers, mostly neighbors and friends.

“The front-end loader, it was explained, would have come in handy to scoop up the debris and load it into waiting trucks.

“In further illustrating the problem such an act would create, Councilman Leonard Cevering mentioned an experience at his own home.

“He said he came home at 10:30 one evening to find his basement half full of water.

“”I would have been great if I could have called the city and had them bring over a piece of equipment to dig down and drain the water out,” he said.

“As it was, he added, the task involved considerable time and expense on his part. He said there could be a number of such problems in the future.

“City officials, however, did not rule out the use of city equipment during emergency situations when lives or property might be threatened.