The Lake Huron Shore

"History of Alpena County"

pages 234-235

City of Alpena

Sunday morning, November 12, 1871, a fire broke out in the saloon known as Fort Donaldson, adjoining the Globe Hotel on River Street. The losses were as follows: A. McDonald, saloon building, $700; Rosina Potvin, Globe Hotel building, $1,500; J.R. Beach, proprietor of hotel, $500; J.C. McDonald, saloon, $800.

The most disastrous fire, excepting the fire of 1872, that has ever visited Alpena, occurred April 9, 1871, and destroyed the entire business portion of the city on the north side of the river. The fire broke out about midnight, in a saloon kept by Guild & Clewley, in the Beebe Block. An alarm was promptly given, but before the arrival of sufficient assistance to check the progress of the flames, the fire had been communicated to a dwelling-house, in rear of the saloon owned by Mr. Beebe and occupied by J. Sheahy at the time, it soon became plain to every one that not a building on that side of the street, from the river to Fletcher Street could be saved, and that all that could be done was to save the contents of the same. The weather had been warm and dry, and the flames spread rapidly in both directions, and the fire reached the Huron House and the store of Bolton & McRae at about the same time.

The wind began to blow about the time the Huron House was burning, and the spread of the fire was rapid until four o'clock in the morning, when the wind began to abate, and the flames were brought under control.

Many buildings were destroyed, and over a hundred citizens were suddenly turned out into the streets, and deprived of a home and shelter. The local newspaper, in its account of the fire, said:

"Our city has received a severe loss, and one that it will take years to recover from. The public have also sustained a great loss, in the destruction of our two principal hotels, the Huron House and Star; and in the burning of the Evergreen Hall, we are deprived of any place for public entertainments or public gatherings, as since the courthouse was destroyed last Winter, the Evergreen Hall was the only building of the kind left in the place. Neither Mr. Boggs, the proprietor of the Huron, nor Mr. Beach of the Star, are able to build again this season, and our accommodations for the entertainment of those who may visit our city is limited.

Much of the destruction and spread of the flames might have been prevented, had there been in our city an organization for the purpose of extinguishing fire; but up to this time in our history, we have no fire companies of any kind or any fire engine, and we earnestly hope and trust the first act of our newly elected city fathers will be to provide for the organization of a fire company and the purchase of a fire-engine; also that a hook and ladder company may be organized, sot that in the future we may not be entirely at the mercy of the devouring flames.

The principal buildings burned were the Huron House, Beebe's building, Bolton & McRae, dwelling-house and store on Fletcher Street owned by Mason, Doty & Luce, dwelling-house of Moses Bingham, Evergreen Hall, Star Hotel, and the store owned by J.C. Bowen, occupied by Folkerts & Butterfield.

The following is an approximate estimate of the loss, as far as we have been able to ascertain the same:

Samuel Boggs lost $10,000; insurance of $2,000 for the benefit of B.C. Hardwick, who holds a mortgage on the property. Blackburn's loss $2,000, insurance $1,000. Henry Beebe, $8,500, no insurance. A.A. Denton, meat-market, $200, no insurance. John Sheahy, household furniture, $250, no insurance. Bolton & McRae, on building, and stocks, loss from $15,000 to $20,000, insured for $18,225, will nearly cover their loss. Mason, Doty & Luce, loss $4,000, partly insured. Moses Bingham, loss $2,500, no insurance. J.R. Beach, loss $10,000 to $12,000, $3,000 insured , for the benefit of T. Luce & Co., who hold a mortgage on the property. J.C. Bowen's loss, $4,500, insured for $3,000. Mrs. Smith's loss $400, no insurance. Guild & Clewley, on billiard table, saloon furniture, etc., loss $2,000, no insurance. S. Warner, loss $2,000, no insurance. Folkerts & Butterfield, loss from $2,000 to $2,500; their goods are fully covered by insurance, no insurance on grain or building used for store-house, back of Huron House. L. Masser, loss on clothing and gents furnishing goods $800, no insurance. The loss falls severely on a number of our citizens, Mr. Boggs and Mr. Beach sustaining the heaviest loss. Mr. Bingham also will feel his loss severely, as he is deprived of his home, and has not the means to rebuild. He suffered very severely by the fire that destroyed the sash and blind factory of Doane & Bingham last Fall, and all of his means are invested in the new building which Doane & Bingham have erected on the site of the old one. We understand that Bolton & McRae and Mr. Beebe contemplate rebuilding immediately, upon the site occupied by the buildings belonging to them, which were destroyed, by putting up good, substantial brick buildings.

THE BIG FIRE

Alpena's great fire occurred July 12, 1872, when about fifteen acres were laid to waste, and upward of $175,000 worth of property destroyed. The number of buildings destroyed was not far from seventy. This fire was described by the editor of the Pioneer as follows:--"About fifteen minutes to five o'clock in the afternoon a black smoke was seen rising from Boggs' barn, directly back of the Sherman House. The alarm of fire was immediately given, and the engine quickly run upon the bridge, and the hose laid. The blaze had broken through the roof, and the northwest wind was driving it with hot and hurried force upon the new and commodious Sherman House. Every minute seemed an hour. In seven and one-half minutes after leaving the engine house the steam was up, but the fierce flames had already wrapped their devouring arms around the Sherman House, and were darting a hundred fiery tongues into the air. The engine commenced to play, but it was evident that one little engine was fighting against fearful odds. The buildings were all built of pine wood, and burnt like tinder. Goodrich's residence and jewelry store were immediately on fire, and the heat became intense. Aber's buildings came next, and then shot across the street like lightning, almost instantaneously setting fire to Blackburn's buildings. Crowell & Godfrey's Block, and Creighton's boot and shoe store. The fire then backed up a little, taking Mrs. Murray's house, and falling back on the buildings along River Street, on both sides, and sweeping Gavagan's building. During this time the wind changed its course so often that it was impossible to tell which houses were most in danger. The Burrell House and Geo. L. Maltz residence were swept away, and the fire springing across Chisholm Street, danced and played from building to building as if gotten up for the grand amusement of the people. At this time it looked as if everything would be swept to the bay shore, and men, women and children were running confusedly in wild dismay, each intent on saving something from the destroying element. Teams were driven hurriedly in every direction, loaded with goods, stocks from stores and every conceivable piece of movable property. Mayor Pack's residence, McDade's Hotel, J.C. Chisholm's two houses, Ambrose's house and paint shop, with the intervening houses, were all burned. The fire company, though fighting against fearful odds, worked with as much alacrity as if the fire was under their control. They stood like salamanders where it did not seem possible for human beings to live. Several of them were so badly burned on their backs and shoulders as to need the care of a physician. Marshal Scott was everywhere directing the movements and caring for property. Policeman Sherwood stood upon the barn where the fire first caught, calling for water, until the flames almost enveloped him, and was efficient in saving the lives of several persons. A.H. Gaffney, Chas. Bullock, Joseph Park, William Edwards, and many others equally deserving of praise, made themselves conspicuous by the fearless and successful manner in which they fought the spread of the flames, saving a large amount of property. With excellent judgment the engine was used to defend the mill, preventing the destruction of Water Street. Mrs. Minton's house burned, but the firemen found a shelter behind a large pile of green slabs from Bewick, Comstock & Co.'s mill, where they could play on Healy's store, and thus by almost a miracle saved the warehouses, stores, and docks on the river. Hyatt's barn took fire, but was discovered, and the fire quenched just in time to save the buildings east of River Street. A number of men stuck to Mr. T.H. Hunt's house until Mr. Hunt urged them to leave, fearing they would perish; but they stayed and saved hi house from destruction. Mr. C.H. Rice stood upon the piazza of Mr. E. White's house, and another man on the roof, until the flames were checked in that direction. At Abe Crowell's, T.G. Spratt's, O. Mather's, and G.L. Bailey's residences on the south, men fought the fire with determined obstinacy, checking it on the section line road and accomplishing what seemed an utter impossibility. The hose at Comstock's, Luce's and Barlow's sawmills were put to work, keeping everything drenched within reach. Mr. Barlow procured more hose of the steamer 'Marine City,' and wet down the Fletcher House and surroundings. Dea. Hitchcock's house caught fire several times, and was only saved by the exertions of Moses Bingham who remained upon the roof and drenched it with water. David Plough's and Daniel Carter's houses barely escaped."

The time occupied by this work of destruction was about two hours. Three lives were lost: Geo. B. Westbrook, Mrs. H.G. Westbrook, and Geo. Westby.

The principal losses, as given by the Pioneer, were as follows:

W. Van Inwagen, $6,000; C. Golling, $5,000; R. Ambrose, $3,000; F.S. Goodrich, $9,000; J.C. Chisholm, $3,700; A.P.A., $500; E.J. Dane, $1,000; Wm. McMaster, $3,500; Capt. Harrington, $2,000; Dr. A. Warner, $1,000; Bewick, Comstock & Co., $2,000; A. McDonald, $3,500; Sam'l Boggs, $8,000; A. Pack & Co., $8,000; C.C. Whitney, $11,000; Mrs. H.G. Westbrook, $1,000; J.C. Reed, $1,000; Stevens & Turnbull, $1,000; Mrs. Murray, $2,500; Dr. Maiden, $2,500; Potter Brothers, $16,000; A.L. Power & Co., $10,000; Galbraith & McCollum, $5,000; P. McDade, $4,000; John Gavagan, $2,000; H.J. Eaton, $2,500; Mrs. Minton, $2,500; Odd Fellows, $400; J.W. Hall, $4,800; J.W. Creighton, $2,500; Geo. L. Maltz, $3,000; T. Lalonde, $2,000; C.T. Paxton, $1,200; G.N. Blackburn, $4,000; Clewley & Woods, $1,000; Crowell & Godrey, $4,300; Burrell & Lee, $10,000; J.R. Beach, $5,000; Engine House, $1,500; M.M. Viall, $4,000; Wm. Todd, $2,000; J.C. Park, $1,500; L. Doyle, $4,000; Goodenow & Dow, $8,000.

With the exception of the societies we have give no losses except those of $1,000 and upward. Thirteen of those enumerated had no insurance on their goods and buildings, the rest were partly insured.

The heart of the city was destroyed, and scarcely a store remained on the south side of the river. But the people met the emergency with manful energy, and fine brick blocks were erected on the sites of the wooden buildings burned. It was alleged at the time that the fire had its origin in the bitter strife that existed between the temperance element and liquor sellers, and the latter were charged with burning the city. A detective was employed to ferret out the matter, and several arrests were made, but the charges could not be sustained, and they probably were not true. The real cause of the fire has never been known.

The Sherman House, back of which the fire first started, stood near where the Goodrich Block is now situated on Second Street.

September 4, 1872, a fire broke out in the blacksmith and carriage shop of Robert Napper, on River Street, which destroyed that building, together with a dwelling-house and barn of Elisha Harrington, and the dwelling of H.J. Eaton. Mr. Napper's loss was about $6,000, with an insurance of $1,500. Mr. Eaton's loss, $3,000; insurance, $2,000. Mr. Harrington's loss, $4,500; insurance, $3,000.

June 5, 1875, during a terrific gale of wind, fire started in the slab piles and edgings near the upper part of Fletcher Street, and burned with great fury. A dwelling-house belonging to Thomas Doyle, and the barn in the rear of the Fletcher mill boarding-house, were partially consumed. A span of horses in the barn, belonging to Charles Rice, perished in the flames. It was a critical time, as the woods on all sides of the city were burning, and threatened general disaster. On the north side, the fire ran in the woods down to Trowbridge Point, in spite of the efforts of citizens to check it, until it reached the hemlock extract factory and warehouse, belonging to Smith & Doane, and in the afternoon they were entirely consumed. In the township of Alpena considerable property was destroyed.

February 21, 1876, a fire started in Beebe's Block, on Dock Street, having its origin in the shoe shop of M. O'Brien. The block was entirely destroyed, in spite of the efforts of the fire department. Mr. Beebe's loss was about $12,000; insurance, $7,500. Mr. O'Brien's loss was about $4,000; insurance, $1,000. There were two or three other small losses.