Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== SOURCE: Portrait and Biographical Album of Newaygo County, Mich. Chapman Brothers: 1884 THE GREAT FIRE Sunday, April 29, 1883, occurred the memorable fire which burned 30 buildings, and destroyed in all $50,000 worth of property. For many years the row of wooden buildings on Main Street had been considered a fire-trap and periodical agita- tion of the necessity of fire protection had occupied the minds of the people. But long cont- inued exemption from the ravages of fire lulled the business men and property holders to rest, and the magnificent natural advantages for protecting the town by means of water were allowed to remain unused. Even the large pump and hose which had been placed upon the public square by private subscription was not in shape for use, and when the hour of danger dawned upon the village of Newaygo, her people found themselve at the mercy of fire and flame. The following is the account given by the Repulican: "Sabbath morning dawned peaceful and smiling, and looked down upon a quiet town all unsuspicious of the rude awakening soon to break in upon its se- renity and make it a day long to be remembered. At about half past eight o'clock in the morning the alarm was given, and soon the flames broke forth through the roof of the store building opposite the Brooks House, owned by E. L. Gray, and occupied by E. Pine as a jewelry and news store, and overhead for a dwelling." The cause of the fire is not certainly known, and as there are different reports concerning its origin, the question will doubtless remain an open one. "It was soon apparent that the flames could not be stayed, and the work of saving property commenced. Men and women worked like heroes, and a large portion of movables were taken from the burning building, and from those adjacent thereto. From this point the fire spread in both directions until it was finally stayed on the west at J. H. Edwards' hardware store, and on the east by the dwelling of J. H. Standish. In the meantime the flames crossed the street, and in spite of every effort on the part of the workers, the 'Brooks House,' long the pride of village, was a mass of fire and smoke. From this point the fire lapped up the old meat-market build- ing, and the law and printing offices of W. D. Fuller, on the north, and, jumping over the brick store of S. K. Riblet, stopped by the way long enough to remove the old vacant store building once used by J. F. A. Raider, and also a small building next adjoining, oc- cupied by Persons and Edwards as an abstract office, and which had been an eye-sore to the villagers. Here the Raider brick block stopped the further spread of the flames, although McKee and others on the south removed most of their goods and fur- niture to safer quarters. "As soon as the fire was fairly under headway, dis- patches for help were sent to Grand Rapids and Woodville, and just as the flames were under subjec- tion an engine from each town appeared upon the scene of action. The Grand Rapids engine left a quantity of hose, and the Woodville machine, manned by a brave set of men, proceeded to wet down the burnt district in a thorough manner. All day long the joint work of destruction and salvation went on, and as the shadows of night closed in upon the vil- lage, the stars looked down upon a scene of wide- spread ruin and disaster. One hundred heads were shelterless, save as cared for by their more fortunate neighbors, and many had lost their all. Still a spirit of cheefulness reigned, and plans for rebuilding were talked of before the hot flames had sunk into sullen rest amid the smoking ruin they had so quickly wrought." The principal losses were as follows: W. D. Fuller, law office and personal property, $1,000. Insurance $500. Aaron and William Courtright, Brooks House, fur- niture and other personal property, and old meat- market building, $18,000. Insurance $4,500. The Brooks House was one of the ancient landmarks of the village, having been built by John A. Brooks. J. F. A. Raider, vacant store and small building adjoining, and damage to brick store, $1,000, mostly covered by insurance. J. H. Edwards, small building adjoining his hard- ware store, and an old barn. $700. Richard Surplice, store and dwelling, $5,500. In- surance, $2,200. J. H. Simmons, two buildings, $3,500. Insurance $1,500. D. H. Gates, household goods, etc., $250. Mrs. Julia Jarse, Jarse House, $4,000. No Insurance. John Bailey, two buildings, $2,500. No Insurance. George King, store and dwelling, $2,800. No Insurance. E. L. Gray, office and store building and papers $500. No Insurance. A. G. Day, office and papers, $500. No Insurance. I. N. Robinson, personal property, $300. No Insurance. Banker & McKee, one building, $1,000. No Insurance. Kalamazoo Printing Company, $300. No Insurance J. M. Allen, dwelling house and livery stable, $2,500. No Insurance. C. A. Banker, blacksmith shop. $500. No insurance. Congregational Church, $3,000. No insurance. Charles Atwood, dwelling, $200. No insurance A. P. Day, house and barn, $1,000. Ed. Pine, personal property, $700. No insurance Joe. Maynard, personal property, $100. No in- surance. S. D. Thompson, damage to store building, $300. Covered by insurance. S. K. Riblet, damage to store, $500. Covered by Insurance. David Millard, goods, $200. No insurance E. I. Hewes, damaged goods, $700. Insured Jerome Carpenter, stock and goods, $1,200. No Insurance. Scarcely had the ruins stopped smoking, when the work of rebuilding began, and, before the winter set in, several brick structures were completed, or well underway. "The Courtright," which succeeds the Brooks House, was formally opened Nov. 16. Severe as the individual losses were, it is certain that by an- other year Newaygo will be all the better for the fire. A better class of buildings are going up, and the village is to have better protection from the de- stroying element. A liberal sum has been voted for water works. ===========================================================================