Fire destroys homes of famed baseball player, Cherryvale residence

By Allen Smith
Independence Daily Reporter – November 12, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – November 26, 2013

Local and area firefighters battled two structure fires, one that left a Cherryvale family without a home and the other destroyed a home in rural Coffeyville once occupied by a baseball hall of famer.

Cherryvale firefighters, with mutual aid from the Independence Fire Department, responded to the Phillip Hopkins residence at 311 N. Neosho, Cherryvale, where an apparent electrical fire caused extensive damage to the residence.

Cherryvale Fire Chief Chad Russell said the blaze was reported at 7:29 a.m. Monday and firefighters were at the scene within two minutes. The home received heavy damage from fire and smoke.

The Hopkins family are reportedly staying with relatives.

The Independence Fire Department responded to Cherryvale with its ladder truck and an ambulance.

The ladder truck, according to Fire Chief Rusty Baker, was placed at the front of the house just in case it was needed, and eventually used to assit in the salvage and overhaul of the structure.

At approximately 6:43 p.m. Sunday, firefighters from the City of Coffeyville and the Dearing Division of the Montgomery County Rural Fire District No. 1 responded to a structure fire at a home that used to be occupied by the late Walter “Big Train” Johnson. The structure was located on old E. 8th Street across the road from Walter Johnson Park.

Johnson is said to have lived in the home for a period of time during his baseball career up until the time his wife died 1930, according to the Kansas State Historical Society.

According to the report from the Coffeyville Fire Department the second floor of the residence was fully involved when firefighters arrived at the scene.

Once the Dearing department arrived, command of the scene was turned over to Dearing firefighters.

Capt. Bob Roesky said Coffeyville firemen stayed on the scene to assist with the salvage and overhaul of the property.

The cause of the Coffeyville blaze is still under investigation.

The South Coffeyville, Oklahoma Fire Department also responded to the Coffeyville fire.