Oswego Palladium
Monday, Aug. 22, 1881
An Old Land Mark Gone.
Sterling, Aug. 22 - The Churchill tavern on the "telegraph road" in the town of Sterling, 8 miles west of Oswego, burned between 10 and 12 o'clock last night. It was owned by Mr. Joseph Tremain of Oswego and occupied by William Alton. Mr. Alton does not know how the fire occurred. he was awakened by the neighbors, and his family barely escape alive, losing all their household goods and clothing. The property was insured for $800. Loss $1,000 or upwards. Mr. Alton had $250 insurance on the furniture. The Churchill tavern was one of the landmarks on the old stage road from Oswego west.