1917
27 September 1917
School of Arts.
The new School of Arts building, which is an ornament to the town, is rapidly nearing completion, and an opening celebration will shortly be held. It is the intention of the committee to provide a concert and dance hall as soon as the debt is cleared off, and the necessary permission from the authorities is obtained. When this is completed Cassilis will be able to boast of one of the best School of Arts in the country. We feel sure that with the efforts of the generous public of Cassilis this will not long be delayed. Mr. Amies, who has the contract, deserves credit for the manner in which he has done his work, which proves that he is second to none in his skill at his trade1
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1941
18 November 1941
CASSILIS FIRE
DESTROYS SCHOOL OF ARTS AND BUSINESS PREMISES
Shortly before midnight on Saturday last, a fire broke out at a shop and dwelling at Cassilis occupied by Mr. G. T. Rivas, and spread to the School of Arts. Both buildings were destroyed.
The fire was first noticed by Miss B. Lennox, of the Royal Hotel, on the opposite side of the street. Miss Lennox at first thought that the blaze was from some rubbish burning at the rear of Mr. Rivas' shop. The alarm was quickly given and, there being no town fire brigade, bucket brigades were organised, and these were later joined by a bush fire brigade from "Dalkeith" Station. The fire burned so fiercely that it was only by drenching the woodwork of the post office adjacent to the fire and the Royal Hotel opposite that these buildings were saved.
Constructed of wood, both the shop and the School of Arts blazed so fiercely that few things were saved from either building. It is understood that the School of Arts was covered by insurance.
It is felt that but for the fact that light rain was falling at the time the fire could easily have spread With disastrous results.
The bucket brigade did wonderful work in preventing the spread of the fire. - 'Merriwa News’2
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