“That the disastrous fire, which destroyed the large, wooden Central School building at the southwest corner of Albany and Mill streets late yesterday afternoon was of incendiary origin, is the general belief of those who discovered the conflagration and the educational authorities, who reviewed the details of its start. Today, the historic structure, which was over half a century old, is a smouldering [sic] heap of debris, surrounded by charred and broken walls….
Constructed Many Years Ago.
The Central school building contained 13 rooms. It was built many years ago and hundreds, yes, thousands of Ithacans received their preliminary schooling within its walls. It was originally constructed as a six-room building, then two more rooms were added. Later more rooms were built on, and it was remodeled, repaired and rebuilt as its needs grew more imperative. The building has been afire several times before but none of the blazes, until yesterday, resulted disastrously….
While yesterday’s fire did not destroy the structure it reduced the interior to ruins, and would render the building in its old form an impossibility.”