Title	Mr.
Last Name	Bridges
First Name	Earl
Middle Name	P.
Maiden Name
Nick Name
Place of Birth	Marion, ME
Date of Birth	1877?
Place of Death	Dexter, ME
Date of Death	1948-12-22
Publication	The Eastern Gazette 12-23-1948, pp.1 & 5
Obituary	Earl Bridges Dies Of Burns In Two-Alarm Fire, Which Left Three Families Homeless Blaze Destroying Old Bigelow Place Laid To Freak Accident BY HORACE P. LANDRY Earl P. Bridges, 71, of Dexter died Wednesday in the local hospital from third degree burns which he received Monday morning at a blaze that destroyed the old Bigelow place in the rear of the Dexter business section, and drove three families to the street. Dexter firemen laid more than 5000 feet of hose to fight the alarm fire, which shot flames and clouds of smoke high over town. While in the hospital, Bridges told relatives that he had lit in fire in a stove, and as he was walking toward the door of the garage with a can of gasoline which had been near the stove, he caught his trousers in the fender of a car parked in the garage. To untangle his trousers, Bridges said that he had to walk back toward the stove which was now a mass of fire. The can of gasoline in his hands burst into flames, and covered him with gasoline and fire. He did not know what caused the original explosion. Leslie Frost of Dexter, owner of the commercial garage, located in the building, was treated for second degree burns, suffered when he dragged Bridges from the burning [Mrs. Herbert Wark and five children, who were driven from their home on Monday morning by fire, are seeking an apartment. Anyone having knowledge of accomodations may call the United Stores or Mrs. Wark.] structure. Frost said that he was standing in the doorway when Bridges went into the garage to light a fire in one of the stoves. He heard an explosion and a cry from Bridges, and rushed into the building, where the man was covered with flames. The garage owner sprayed the man with chemicals from a fire extinguisher in an effort to smother the flames. Meanwhile, two alarms brought all of Dexter's fire apparatus into action. Firemen poured tons of water to prevent flames from spreading to adjoining buildings. Firemen and volunteers carried furniture from the two-story building occupied by three families, including six children. Drenched with water, firemen were covered with ice as they fought the blaze more than two hours. Several storekeepers, locked their doors and assisted the firemen in carrying furniture and clothing from the building. Working with the fire department, local police kept a large crowd of spectators, and traffic from hindering fire fighting operations. A town sanding crew threw sand over the ice-covered ground as water sprayed over the surroundings in freezing temperatures. An automobile owned by Hugh Atwater, parked in the garage, was destroyed along with most of Frost's equipment. Frost said that he had some insurance. Arthur French of Guilford owned the buildings. Fire chief Preston H. Richardson estimated the damage at more than $10,000. The families driven from the building were Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Wark and five children, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kneeland, who were driven from their apartment in the Keyte building last year by fire, and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Conner and two others who were staying with this family. Bridges was born in Marion, Maine, the son of Charles W. and Lydia Stanhope Bridges. He was employed at the Fay & Scott Shop for 30 years, and retired several years ago. He is an honorary member of the I. O. O. F. Survivors are: his wife, Erma Russell Bridges; two sons, Jackson Bridges of Dexter and Milton C. of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; two daughters, Doris Aiken of Hollywood, Fla. and Clarissa Goodine of Old Town; two brothers, Ralph H. of Calais and Rex P. of Bangor; two sisters, Mrs. Fred D. Pennell of Machias and Mrs. N. D. Wentworth of Veazie; also 11 grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at the Crosby Funeral Home in Dexter, Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with the Rev. Morley Droust, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating.