12/16/2021
06/02/1970 Three families escaped their burning homes into a terrible downpour when fire, believed to have started in the attic, was discovered. Rochelle Firemen answering a call at 3:11 a.m. Tuesday, found rapidly spreading fire was coming out from under the roof by the time they arrived at 401 S Third. Mr. and Mrs. Winston Brass and their four children were living on the 3rd floor of the house which had been converted into three apartments. His parents Mr. and Mrs. Baden Brass, occupy one of the upstairs apartments and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hicks live in the other. Firemen, with three pieces of equipment, spent four hours on the scene. The attic and roof were completely destroyed and the upper apartments were severely damaged. Fire Chief William Lower estimated damage to the house to be in excess of $12,000. The house, one of the oldest in Rochelle, was once the home of M. J. Braiden, an early businessman and city developer. It is owned by the Rolland Caron’s. Chief Lower said it was a difficult fire to fight since the timbers were very old and dry and flames kept breaking out in almost inaccessible areas. Although at about the height of a two-inch rainstorm that hit the city, the cold rain hampered the work of the firefighters. The fire was believed to have been discovered almost simultaneously by Winston Brass and a child in the Hick’s apartment. One of three children, a grandson, a daughter and an overnight guest in the Hicks apartment awoke and roused the others in time to escape through dense smoke. Winston Brass awoke his family and tried to get to the Hicks apartment to check on them.
