An Aug. 13, 1966 blaze threatened an entire block at the north end of Davis Street in downtown Hamilton, destroying two business buildings.

Four business establishments and a utility company office were destroyed in one of the buildings: Humphrey Plumbing and Heating store, Real Gas Corp., Ray Thompson Appliance store, the B & M Donut Shop and the Missouri Power and Light Co. office. Also destroyed was a one-story building housing the MFA insurance office.

The fire broke out over Humphreys Plumbing and Heating Store. Mrs. Ada Jones and Miss Leta Carson, occupants of two apartments on that floor were evacuated safely.

As with the previous fire in 1965, lack of water threatened to halt the fire fighting but hoses were extended to the community swimming pool, nearly a quarter of a mile away from the fire.

It was the second large fire in the Hamilton business district in just a year.

25-year old local man admits to setting the fire.

Approximately a week after a fire destroyed two business buildings in Hamilton, James Frank Bohrn, admitted verbally that he had set the fire.

Caldwell County Sheriff Maurice Robison said the man gave no specific reason for setting the fire. He relayed that he was working at Humphreys Plumbing, was sent upstairs on an errand, saw some sacks in which pipe had been shipped and set them afire. The sheriff said Bohrn then locked the door and left.

The sheriff then said Bohrn spent the rest of the day fighting the fire.

The sheriff said Bohrn also admitted setting a recent fire which damaged the Goldburn Esteb building in Kingston by stuffing papers under a weatherboard and lighting them.