A fire that occurred on January 30, 1918, destroyed most of the buildings west of the square. Outside temperatures were reported at -20F, and it iced over. It was the second of three major Townsend fires (the others being in 1892 and 1960). More than 100 people moved bags of Townsend goods across Fourth to the Farmers Trust building (later Citizens and today Bank Midwest) in preparation for Townsend’s reopening on the north side of the square in a former grocer space. Towsends was in the Michau Building on the corner, which later became Place’s. Some items from Nodaway Valley Bank were moved to the First National Bank
Weekly Democrat-Forum and Maryville Tribune January 31, 1918:
$150,000 FIRE VISITS THE BUSINESS DISTRICT DESTRUCTIVE BLAZE AT 6:30 LAST NIGHT WIPES OUT FIVE BIG RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS-25 FIRMS SUFFER LOSSES -OCCUPANTS OF OTHER STORES MOVE STOCKS TO SAFETY ENTIRE BUSINESS BLOCK THREATENED. Plans Are Already Under Way for Rebuilding Burned Structures. Rush for Available Storerooms and Offices. WAS CITY’S WORST FIRE? With the thermometer ten degrees below zero, firefighters had a great difficulty. Difficulty in Making Headway
(From Thursday’s Daily) The most destructive fire in the history of Maryville occurred last night shortly after six o’clock when nearly one-half of the business houses in the block facing the courthouse were burned with a loss estimated at between $120,000 and $140,000.
The buildings burned were: the Michau building, occupied by the Townsend Grocery Co., Murphy Clothing Co., Masonic hall on the third floor, Wright & Ford attorneys, Chas. Stilwell, attorney, and Dr. C.
A. Bone, Wallace Bros. real estate, Miss Mary Quinlan, dressmaker, Bellows Bros., stockmen, W. F. Moyer, Miss Kate Willis, Kessler hardware store, two stories. Lincoln store, occupied on the second floor by Dietz & Keck, tailors. Holmes Jewelry store, occupied on the second floor by Holmes & Wolfert, real estate, and J. J. Heifner, insurance.These buildings were all complete losses, together with their contents. The fire, occurring at an hour when the occupants of the buildings and offices had gone for the day, is believed to have originated on the second or third floors of the Michau building on the corner, had gained considerable headway before it was discovered, and with low water pressure when the fire department arrived, the firefighters were at a great disadvantage in making headway against the flames. Within less than an hour of the time the fire started, the walls of the Michau building fell in, and flames shot up a hundred feet, illuminating the sky for miles around, with great burning cinders flying for blocks south and southeast before the wind. It looked for a time as though nothing could save the remaining buildings in the southern half of the block, and a small army of men began dismantling stores and offices, taking everything movable.
The entire stock of the Eversole dry goods store was carried out and stored in other buildings; Corwin & Murrin, clothiers, the Bee Hive shoe store, and Montgomery Cummins clothing company all removed the greater part of their stocks.
Ed G. Orear, druggist, was the only one who did not remove a part of his goods. Mr. Orear, after seeing that it would be an almost impossible job to get everything out of his store, locked the doors and began helping others. His stock of goods is considered damaged by smoke and water, but the building is practically intact, with the fire not getting any farther south than the south wall separating his store from the Holmes jewelry store.
A few things were removed from the Candy Kitchen, and the books and records of the Nodaway Valley Bank were taken to the county sheriff’s office for safekeeping. Almost without exception, occupants of upstairs offices throughout the east half of the block, unburned, removed everything to safety. The damage caused by removal and exposure will amount to a considerable sum.
The Townsend grocery company opened for business this morning in the building formerly occupied by J. B. Nunnelly on the north side of the square. D. L. Townsend, having purchased, nearly 100 people helped carry these sacks to the Farmers Trust Company across the street from the fire.
Frank H. Rea, an insurance adjuster for the Home Insurance Company, represented here by Colby & Baker, was in Maryville yesterday and witnessed the fire.
His company had $10,000 insurance on the Michau building. Mr. Rea prepared proofs and other necessary papers last night and will be sent to the company today. The last four towns Mr. Rea has visited have had a fire either shortly before his arrival or after his arrival.
All of the books, records, and uniforms of the Masonic lodges were destroyed. The membership book of the Royal Arch chapter was at the Real Estate bank yesterday for an audit and was not returned to the hall. Insurance was carried by all of the Masonic bodies on their equipment. A meeting of the Masons is to be held at the Empire theatre on Sunday afternoon, and it is expected that action will be taken to buy a building. The lodges that used the hall were Maryville Lodge No.
165, Nodaway Lodge No. 470, Eastern Star chapter, Royal Arch chapter, and Maryville Commandery. The fire was first discovered by Ralph Murphy of the Murphy clothing company, who saw indications near the ceiling of the room that something was wrong, and he at once notified clerks in the Townsend store. Harry Scott rushed upstairs with extinguishers, and the door to Wallace Bros. ‘ office was broken in. The room was entirely ablaze at that time.For a time, it looked like the Sewell garage would have to go. All the automobiles were taken out and put in the Wray garage on North Main Street. Fire Chief Burt M. Rowley suffered a sprained ankle when he fell off the ladder on the fire escape on the north side wall of the Michau building. It was at that moment that the explosion occurred, and bricks flew everywhere.
Mr. Rowley thinks his fall probably saved him. The fire alarm was turned in at 16:50 p. m. At 7:30, the entire Michau building was in flames.
Sparks from the fire started a blaze on the roof of the barn at Nick Sturm’s home. It was discovered by Cleav Funk and released on time. It is reported by some of the merchants whose goods were removed that petty thieves were at work during the excitement and that candy, shoes, and clothing were taken. No guilty parties have been apprehended, but the police have been notified of the thefts. The firewall separating the buildings occupied by the Orear-Henry drug company and the Holmes jewelry store helped contain the conflagration. With persistent work by the fire crew, the fire was confined to the area already burned over.
The wall is a standard fire wall twenty-|500. two inches in thickness. The Alderman- Yehle Dry Goods store served coffee and sandwiches to the firefighters about 11 o’clock last night. The Bainum Hotel prepared them. Dr. C. A. Bone has leased an office room over the Maryville Drug Co. The Michau building was built in 1891. It was one of the finest buildings in this part of the state, a three-story structure.
All of the buildings will be rebuilt. Plans will be made at once for the erection of the Michau building. The Empire Theatre did not give its show last evening. Wright & Ford, attorneys, have leased office rooms over the Maryville Drug Company. The fire destroyed their law library, papers, and furniture.
Holmes & Wolfert ‚real estate agents, will have their office at the Diss jitney station. Dr. H. L. Stinson, Dr. Jesse Miller and Dr. Frank Wallis served hot coffee to the firefighters. The coffee was made by Reullard’s. The books of the Nodaway Valley Bank, along with its adding machine and other articles, were moved to the First National Bank. They were not moved back until this morning.
People from all parts of the county came to Maryville last night after seeing the big blaze and hearing about it. The blaze was plainly to | chased the stock from R. M. Cross of Barnard within a few hours after the fire. The stock will be replenished at once from the Townsend wholesale grocery company’s stock, and new goods have already been ordered.
E. L. Townsend was one of the first to discover the fire, and calling to one of his clerks, they hurried to the second floor of the building with fire extinguishers. Mr. Townsend says the fire at that time was in the office of Wallace Bros. and was eating its way into the hallway from inside the room.
The heat and smoke were so intense that they were forced to return, and an alarm was sent in. The fire department lost no time in reaching the scene but found the water pressure low, and with the thermometer down to eleven degrees below zero, there were other difficulties to be overcome. It was half an hour before more than one stream of water was in action, and it was not until nearly ten o’clock that the flames were gotten under control. Neighboring buildings were constantly endangered by flying cinders, and extra firefighters were pressed into service to patrol roofs and watch for any blazes that might start. Sewell’s garage, immediately west of the Michau building, was in extreme danger for a while, and a score or more of automobiles were hurriedly taken from the building.
Daniel Wallace, of the firm of Wallace Bros., said that he left his office yesterday afternoon shortly before five o’clock and locked up before going home, his brother being at a sale in the country. He says he does not see how the fire could have originated in their offices, as no stove was used in the room. All the offices on the second floor of the Michau building use steam heat. Stoves are used in the Masonic hall on the third floor for a meeting of the Owens chapter R. A. M. was held in the hall yesterday afternoon. Members of the lodge, however, do not believe the fire started in the stoves, as they are on the north side of the hall, and the fire was first discovered on the south side of the building on the floor below. This morning, I found chaotic conditions in the block opposite the courthouse, and a small army of men and boys were busy carrying goods back into stores from which they had been removed. The buildings burned were a mass of wreckage and ice, but workers went to work at once, clearing away the debris and getting things in some shape.
The Orear-Henry drug store was open for business at noon, and, except for water and smoke, which damaged goods in the rear of the building, little else showed the effects of the fire. The greatest damage suffered by Eversole & Son was from goods damaged in carrying them away from the building. Mr. Eversole said he urged last night that nothing be disturbed, but that goods were carried out despite his protests. Most of the stock was taken to the courthouse, where it was guarded until this morning, and then returned to the store.
At the Candy Kitchen, significant damage will result from spoiled candies due to mishandling, as a large amount of stock was carried from the store. At Montgomery-Cummins clothing company, willing workers helped carry back the stock of goods and place the store in order. In all the offices. Above the stores, the occupants, not burned, removed most of their belongings to other places. In every case, they were left until this morning, when the work of moving back began.
TOWNSENDS’ BUY STORE The Townsend Grocery Co. purchased the grocery stock of R. M. Cross, who recently bought the Nunnelley stock on the north side of the square. The deal was made about midnight last night.
Links
Nodaway Countians in History Forum Photo
Towesned Jan 12 1892 Fire/Robey Livery Stable Fire Mar 31 1896
Firefighter Ernest Piveral Injured. Temp -20 in 1918 Fire
AI generted the image below from the original.
