Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL June 20, 1900 HAVOC OF FLAMES Two Million Dollars of Bloomington Business Property Consumed in a Night FIRE SWEPT FIVE BLOCKS OF STORES The Court House Square and Adjacent Buildings Reduced to Ashes in Seven Hours - Will Rebuild at Once Area Burned over . . . . . . . . . . Four Acres Total loss, estimated. . . . . . . . $2,100,000 Total insurance, estimated . . . . . $1,500,000 Deaths as result of fire . . . . . . . . . One Injured. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Six Duration of fire . . . . . . . . . Seven Hours Number buildings burned. . . . . . . Forty-five Floor space consumed . . . 500,000 Square Feet Thrown out of employment . . . . . . . . . 300 - Scourged with scorpion tongues of flame, the city of Bloomington lies prostrate in ashes today. Her heart is eaten out with the canker of destruction, and for a mom- ent - only for a moment - she is fallen dumb and motion- less under the awful pall of the chastisement. Between the hours of midnight and the dawning of the day on June 19, fire swept through the most splendid por- tion of the city's business district, burning up and tear- ing down nearly half a hundred of the most stately structures, consuming within them merchandise whose value represented many hundreds of thousands of dollars, and blowing away, as with a breath, material wealth which on the setting of the previous sun had seemed most solid and substantial, representing as it did, the accumulations of many years of arduous toil. A NIGHT OF TERROR It was only a few minutes past the hour of midnight, when an alarm of fire, caused by suspicious lights in the Model laundry building on East Monroe street, called out the Bloomington department. With only a few blocks to run, the efforts of the fire brigade gave hope of being able to subdue any threatening blaze. But once loosed, the ele- ments seemed instantly and with demoniac fury to overleap all human control. Within a half hour after its first dis- covery, the fire roiled and enveloped a large portion of the entire Durley block; in another hour it threatened two blocks beyond to the southwest, the third hour there seem- ed no power to stop its course, and as the day began to dawn it had two further solid blocks of business houses within its possible sphere of destruction. EXTENT OF THE LOSSES Ordinary means had lost their force to quench the flames, and citizens stood agape in helpless terror to watch the fire run its course. Appeals to other cities had by this time brought responses, and the exhausted powers of Bloomington's brave department being supple- mented by fresh reinforcements, the tide of destruction was turned, and the onward progress of the flames was stopped. In its course, the fire had crossed six streets, de- stroyed in whole or in part five business blocks, con- sisting of about forty-five separate buildings, and laid waste property estimated in value figures between $1,800,000 and $2,100,000. STUNNED BY DEVASTATION Happening as did this fire in the waning hours of the night, the existence of as terrible a conflagration was unknown to a large preportion of the sleeping citizens of Bloomington until daylight revealed it in all its horror. Thousands awoke to learn of the city's visitation with a shock that was almost stupefying in its sudden- ness. Hurrying to the scene, the first thrill of terror was not at all lessened by the visible evidences of the widespread sweep of the fire. The very heart of the com- mercial district was left in smouldering ruins, while apparently vain efforts were making to stem the further spread of the destruction. It was only after the whole city was thoroughly aroused to the awfulness of the visitation that the limit was finally set. THE AREA BURNED The entire row of buildings facing north on Monroe streets between East and Main from Monroe to Jefferson; Jefferson from Main to Madison; on Main from Jefferson to Washington; on Monroe from Main to Madison; on Center from Monroe to Jefferson; and part of Center north of Jefferson - all the business houses on these thorough- fares are now only piles of brick and mortar. In its midst of them, too, stand the great stone court house of McLean county - a ruined pile, a shell, a half crumbling and grim wreck of the once splendid edifice. This is the extent of the fire's work in seven hours. WILL RISE AGAIN It took one day, perhaps, for the people of Blooming- ton, and particularly the suffering business men of the burned district, to recover from the first shock of the calamity. But as night came on, the feeling of gloom gave way to one of grim determination and energy. Talk of re- building was heard on every hand, and there is not the least doubt that within a reasonable period the entire burned-out area will be covered with larger and better equipped structures than those which were standing the day before yesterday. SYMPATHY OF THE COUNTY Bloomington has suddenly become the focus of atten- tion throughout the Mississippi Valley. The eyes of millions are upon the city, and the energetic citizen- ship of the mighty middle west will watch her citizens in their herculean task of raising a new and better city out of the dust and ashes of the conflagration. Scores and hundreds of offers of friendly aid are received, and there will be no lack of encouragement extended in the work of rebuilding. ==========================================================================