Damage from Quincy's Fire At $135,000

Total damages caused by the fire that raged through Quincy House on Nov. 1 will exceed $135,000.

Clean-up and reconstruction will cost $125.000, Cecil A. Roberts, Director of Buildings and Grounds, said yesterday. In addition, personal property damages total more than $10.500.

Last Monday, after Buildings and Grounds has restored the heating and plumbing, and electrical systems. Vappi Construction Company began permanent reconstruction. Although the intensity of the 2000-degree heat twisted metal door frames and burned soundproofing tiles of the ceilings, there was no structural damage to the building itself. As a result, repairs will be completed within eight weeks, Roberts said.

About 20 students sustained losses to personal property ranging from $20 to $1000 each. More than half of these students are covered by their parents' fire insurance policies and will not submit a list of damages to the University.

Arthur D. Trottenberg Jr. '48, Assistant Dean of the Faculty for Resources and Planning, has said the University will extend financial help to students without insurance.

New Fire Locks for All

Buildings and Grounds crews worked overtime until 3 p.m. last night installing new fire locks in all the suites of new Quincy. Although the new locks, like the old ones, operate only in one direction, they are easily adapted to operate from either side, Roberts said.

When the officials decision is made to change the "egress patterns," the new locks will be quickly modified. Roberts added that new locks will also be installed in some rooms in Leverett, Eliot and Winthrop.

Buildings and Grounds is presently compiling a report detailing all phases of the Quincy fire and containing recommendations for new fire policies, and will submit it to Trottenberg by the end of the month.

The recommendations will be taken up at a meeting of all the House Masters an early December, Roberts said. At that time the Masters will consider problems of internal escape patterns and external fire escapes.