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 St. Paul Sunday Globe Sunday, August 17, 1884 Council Proceedings The council met at 1 p.m., the full board being present. A committee, on motion, was appointed to confer with the business men on the propriety of establishing fire limits. On motion the committee on fire department was authorized to procure temporary quarters for the steamer and other fire apparatus. On motion the city treasurer was authorized to move all city records to his residence. Adjourned till Monday evening. NOTES Without a trace of the former prosperous city left them, the day Saturday was, of course, a gloomy one to the business men of Anoka. Occasionally a telegram would come from some of their wholesale creditors assuring them that they would stand by them, but with so small a proportion of insurance and destruction total, it is no wonder that many of them do not rally at once. Among the heaviest losers is H. L. Ticknor, who loses in the vicinity of $50,000, and has but $500 insurance. Mr. Ticknor is an old resi- dent of Anoka, and has made his money by close application to business for many years. What most concerns the people is whether the flouring mill will be rebuilt or not. Should that be begun hope will spring afresh in every heart, and the sound of the hammer and trowel would be heard in every corner of the burned district. As it is, people who have anything at all saved are going to be very conservative about rebuilding. Some, however, have already begun. G. H. Fair- banks starts his building Monday morning, and will rush it for keeps. Tom Carroll, wholesale and retail dealer in tobaccos, cigars and smokers' materials, had a tent up before sundown at the site of his former place of business, and had begun business again. The fine wagon and foot bridge which crosses the river at Main street had a very narrow escape, a section of the planking being being (sic) burned as it was. Anoka was never in a more propserous state than she was just before the fire. Anticipating a heavy fall trade her merchants had bought heavy stocks and were caught with full shelves, where most of the goods were left in the wild panic and whirlwind of flame that so rapidly devoured them. The city and county had just completed a foot and wagon bridge across the Mississippi and from this they expected great things. The mills furnished employment for a large number of laborers and a good market for the farmers grain. But when the citizens have had time to recover from the stunning effects of the blow they have received Phoenix-like out of the ashes of their destroyed and now desolate city will arise another city finer perhaps than the other. Interview With Mr. Washburn The GLOBE last evening found W. D. Washburn at home and from him learned the following: Mr. Washburn said: "Yes, I returned from Anoka this afternoon and can give you something of an idea of what our losses are. In the first place there is the Lincoln mill, the most perfect mill I ever saw, of 800 barrels per day capacity, which is entirely destroyed. The engines may be worth a little something yet, but that isn't much. The mill was worth from $140,000 to $150,000, and is insured for $96.000. The old flouring mill below the Lincoln mill, was also burned. It is insured for $13,500, which will fairly cover the loss; a planing mill belonging to us was burned and is insured for $5,000; also a small shingle mill, insured for $800. Our loss on the office, stable and lumber sheds, is about $5,000, nearly covered by insurance. A dry kiln worth $5,000, which was burned was insured for $3,500. The bank block in which was the First National bank, three stores and an Opera house on the third floor was burned to the ground. It was worth at least $35,000 and was insured for $20,000. The insurance on the whole will probably reach $144,000 and the losses will exceed the amount by from $40,000 to $60,000. The insurance on the mill property is scat- tered among a great many different companies. Good companies do not take large risks in this kind of property, consequently the insurance is in small amounts with various companies." "As to rebuilding, or what we shall do, I really cannot say at this time. We will have to look around first and get the losses straightened up." "Yes, it's a terrible blow for Anoka. Just think of it! The entire business part of the town is blotted out. There may be two or three little stores remotely situated which escaped, but there is not a business building of any prominence left standing. I don't know whether the town will ever recover from it. The worst of it is that the owners and merchants had very little insurance, and in some instances none at all. While our loss is large, still we were pretty well insured, a fact which is of con- siderable consolation." ==========================================================================