Atkins High School - Hi Lites Yearbook (Atkins, IA)

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FIRE DESTROYS SCHOOL On April 7, 1956, the Atkins School was destroyed by fire. It had been built during the year of 1935-36 and included grades from kindergarten through the twelhh grade. 'The fire broke out about 9:15 Saturday night while the school board was meeting in the building, but all the members, including Fire Chief Roy Lundberg, escaped. 'Fire departments from Newhall, Fairfax, and Shellsburg came to the aid of the Atkins firemen, who were on the scene within five minutes. WBy midnight, all the roof, most of the second floor, several interior walls and the entire south side of the brick structure had collapsed. WStrong north winds made the firemen practically helpless in battling the raging blaze once it started up through the walls, but they did succeed in wetting down nearby houses and saving them.' From Cedar Valley Daily Times. THE PICTURES l. The morning following the fire two children and their mother gaze solemnly at what was once their school. At the left stands a bus, this time its passengers were some of the few things saved from the fire. 2. This picture shows the front of the building as the flames leap from the windows of the second and third stories. The firemen and equipment were helpless. 3. Heavy flames come from the windows of the east office where many school supplies were kept. Duplicater fluid added color to the flames. fAs also did the school annual covers probably., h. This shows the ferociousness of the fire at its worst. S. The fire is over but this scene of twisted steel and layers of debris represent all that is left of the stage, gym and stud hall, 6. Facing the southeast corner, the charred ice boxes, twisted radiators, chairs and desks, and heavy beams clutter what was once the lunchroom and kitchen. 7. On Monday morning the cold, gloomy, smoked skeleton of A.H.S. stands deserted, the area blocked off to avoid danger. 8. A few days later a huge crane battered the remaining H1113 of dear old .H.S. Children, grateful for a week's holiday, soon forget the tragedy of this fire as they play on their school merry- go-round.

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