Postcard, Picture

Description

There are three views in this series documenting the August 4, 1908 burning of the Church and Center Family barns at Mount Lebanon, NY, by arsonists. Three barns were burned that night. This view shows the ruins of the Center Family barn built in 1853. From the Chatham Courier. August 12, 1908, p. 1: Suspected of Incendiarism. Vagrants Arreted at Pittsfield Thought To Have Set the Fire in the Shaker Settlement. John and William Baurie, brothers, were arrected Saturday night by the Pittsfield police on suspicion that they knew something about the fire at the Shaker settlement in Mount Lebanon Tuesday morning. Both men were charged with vagrancy and were sent to jail for 20 days. While they are in jail an effort will be made to learn of their whereabout on the day of the fire. Chief White questioned the men in regard to where they spent Monday night of last week and they told conflicting stories in ever particular excepting that they were both together on that night. The police have evidence to show that the men were in the vicinity of the burned buildings a few hours before they were discovered to be on fire. Both men worked for the Shakers at one time, and went there Monday of last week and asked for work. They were refused and ordered from the premises. About 12.30 o'clock that night the barns were discovered on fire. Chief White will make no further effort to connect the men with the fire, as Mount Lebanon is in New York state. He has notified the Lebanon officers of the information he had in regard to the case, and it is now up to them to conduct all further investigations. A hat was found between two of the burned buildings which may prove a strong clue in the case. John Baurie is 20 years of age and is brother is 21. Neither has a court record. One of the men had been employed in Pittsfield for several months as a hostler. They made their home with their mother, who resides in Pittsfield.