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Fire in Waupaca
Twelve Buildings Burned, including Vosburg's Hotel, and
the post office-no insurance except $300 on the post office. Just as we go
to press (Friday afternoon) we learn from Mr. J. C. The Plover Times - Plover, WI - May 23, 1872 Fire in Waupaca! An entire Block Consumed:-Great Loss of Property-No Insurance!
Probable Loss $75,000.00 From the Waupaca Co. Republican-Extra. FRIDAY MORNING, May 17, 1872 About half past nine o'clock last evening, a fire broke out in the vacant barn, formerly occupied by Geo. Snyder as a livery barn. Within five minutes it had communicated with Woodnorth's Saloon on the north and P. A. House's Wagon Shop on the south. Desperate efforts were made to stop the fire, but men seemed powerless. The distance from the river rendered the Engine unavailable-Cisters were pumped dry in a minute, but the water had no effect. The hose became badly burned and leaked so fast that no one fourth of the water reached the fire. The Vosburg Stable next took fire, and a stiff breeze coming up, the fire went through it as if it were a tinder box. By this time it became evident that the Vosburgh house must go too, and the furniture was carried into the street. The fire swept through the house, leveling it in twenty minutes. The heat on the opposite side of the street was intense. The Tuttle House was scorched over its entire front; Bell's Grocery Store had a close call, and it was only by superhuman efforts that they were saved. R. R. Roberts store north from Stetson's, was expected to fire at every minute, but fortunately it escaped. The Republican office is over the last named store.
After the Vosburg House, came the block of stores east, clear through to E. L. Browne's office, which was saved.
THE BUILDINGS burned, are P. A. House's wagon shop, livery barn, Woodnorth's saloon, Vosburg House and stable, Gilmore's clothing store, Hales' Restaurant, Perkins' Art Gallery, Dr. Scott's Dentist Office, the Post Office, Ware's Saloon, Mrs. Thorn's milinery store, and dwellings, Mead's store, vacant, and Mead's Bank.
The loss cannot yet be estimated, but will probably not fall short of $75,000.00. It would have been four times the amount, but the contents of most of the buildings were saved.
There was no insurance on any of the buildings, except #350 on the P. O. The companies refused to take the risks.
Mr. Vosburg had lately began improvements on his house, and had expended about $100. It is all gone, but Frank is pluck, and says that another-and a brick one this time will go up.
House lost nearly all of his stock in material, but all the manufactured stuff was carried into the street and lies there this morning, a scattered confusion.
The Court House came very near burning. It did take fire once or twice but was put out.
This is a heavy blow to our village of Waupaca. By far the hardest that ever fell upon it. But there is grit here, and nobody thinks of sitting down to despond. Vacant rooms in town have been engaged, and those who lost their places of business will open out again in a day or two.
N. W. Milwaukee, traveling agent for F. F. Adams & Co."s tobacco house, of Milwaukee, fell from piazza roof of the hotel to the ground, breaking both bones of the leg, in a frightful manner. He was taken to Dr. Manchester's, and the limb was dressed, but it was found necessary to take out a piece of the bone, an inch in length. We learn that he is felling quite comfortable this morning, considering the severity of his injuries.
The Court House square was filled with every description of goods, and household furniture. This was carried into the Court House after the fury of the fire had abated.
It is the generally accepted opinion that the fire is the work of an incendiary. It looks very strange that two fires should have taken, in an unexposed place within four days of each other. But who were the men, and what the motive, remains as yet a mystery. We cannot close the hurried and very imperfect account, without paying a tribute to the women of Waupaca. The efforts of the men seemed to sink into the shade by the side of them. They worked and carrying water, taking out goods, and one lady actually took every door and window from Mrs. Thorn's Milinery Store. They are heroes. Heroines is too tame. God Bless them, one and all.
The following articles
were transcribed
January 6, 2005 by Jean Spiegelberg -
jspieg@athenet.net Newspaper: Ogdensburg Leader, Published every Friday, Ratcliffe and Hopkins, Editor and Proprietors, Terms: $2.00 – if paid in advance $1.50
Local
Personal
Meat Market
Milling
Mr. Livermore is making preparations for supplying the market with hardwood timbers. Anyone in the need of plow beams, sleigh runners, wagon tongues, etc., would do well to call on Mr. Livermore before purchasing elsewhere. Customer will find Mr. Livermore very obliging and gentlemen-like in all his dealings and reasonable in his prices. If you want to know who gets married, or unmarried – who dies or meets with an accident – who prospers – who runs for office – who gets beaten – who is elected – who keeps the cheapest and best goods – who gets into the meshes of the law, and how they get out – and wants to get a general information of all that transpires worthy of note, subscribe for and read your local paper. Cold With a vengeance – last week Wednesday and Thursday the thermometer stood at 10 and 12 degrees below zero. We don’t know how that suited the rest of mankind, but it was low enough for us! Livery Stable We understand that arrangements are being made for starting a livery stable in our village. Mr. Jensen is reported the proprietor and we heartily wish him success. We understand that Mr. Libby of New London has been appointed mail agent on the line of the G.B. & L.P. R W (Green Bay and Lake Pepin Railroad). Improvement During the last 3 or 4 months, our village has been undergoing quite an improvement. The M.E. and Baptist churches have been completed and in such a manner as would do credit to a larger town than ours. Mr. Damon has enlarged his hotel and it now presents quite a citified appearance. Several private dwellings have also been erected, but the most important improvement of all is the advent of the Iron Horse. New Years Ball We understand that Mr. Damon, the gentlemanly proprietor of the new hotel is making preparations for a grand entertainment on New Years Eve. Mr. Damon has recently enlarged his hotel and now has one of the most commodious halls in the country. The gentlemanly proprietor is making arrangements with the expectation of a large attendance and all who desire to trip the light fantastic and usher in the new year in a pleasant manner, will do well to attend. Scandinavia The work on the Scandinavia depot which was discontinued on account of cold weather has been resumed again and the building will soon be completed. It is feared that the water tank at the place will prove a failure; the wind having a poor effect on account of the surrounding hills. The tank also leaks badly and with two defects, it’s impossible to keep a sufficient amount of water on hand. Depot Our new depot has just received a new coat of paint which adds greatly to its appearance, the interior divided into a waiting room, baggage room, office, and freight room. Mr. Richardson, the contractor, pronounces it the best one on the line. This looks like improvement and ere long we expect to hear the voice of the brakeman calling Ogdensburg. Epizootic All the horses in town have got the epizootic and Back and Bright are in good demand. The only horse team we have seen for some time came in on the south road Tuesday afternoon, minus the driver. The horses didn’t appear to be affected with the epidemic, but we imagine the driver was, with poor whiskey of which he had imbibed to freely to keep out the cold. Another unlucky personage of our community converted a peddler’s car into a smoke house for the same purpose. We should like to know what is to become of us poor mortals this cold weather, if we have got to dispense with hot blocks and whiskey. Lumbering Prospects It was generally thought that the lumbering interests would prove dull this winter, on account of the great numbers of logs “hung up” in our streams. We are very happy to state, however, that such is not the case. Several firms have already commenced operations and others are intending to commence next week. It is very probable that there will not be as many camps run as there was last winter, but there will be enough to make it lively. We are prepared for winter; got two stoves, 20 lengths of stove pipe and a dozen cords of wood – how’s that for comfort. Runaway Last Tuesday evening while Mr. Lambkins was making some purchases in the store of Moses Bros, his team which was standing at the door came to the conclusion that the delay was uncalled for and started for home. While ascending the hill, after crossing the bridge, they came to the conclusion the wagon was altogether too burdensome and decided to leave it – which they succeeded in doing admirably – piece by piece along the road. After becoming detached from the wagon, they made fine time for home until they reached a point where it was necessary to make a turn – here they missed their calculations and instead of turning the corner, turned over into the grubs on the adjoining side of the road. No damage done to the horses that we have heard of - but the wagon presents a multiplicity of pieces. An example for young men William Thompson determined several months ago to abandon the use of ardent drink, so he joined the Good Templars, confined himself exclusively to tea, and foreswore tobacco. At that time he was poor and had no friend – no one to love and none to caress him. Now he occupies a lucrative position on a canal boat and is engaged to be married to four women. If the story of William Thompson shall induce any young man to follow his example and strive like him to win advancement and honor and the devoted love of some true-hearted woman, or six or seven true-hearted women, we shall feel that we have not published in vain. Committee on equalization reported the following statement as a basis of equalization of taxes:
The
report was adopted unanimously and a vote of thanks was tendered the
committee for their labors in harmonizing this vexed question
Market Report Advertisements
Flouring mill – G. L. Lord
Blacksmith – T. Durgy
N. Livermore Company
Moses Bros.
Local Correction
Prime - the elder Chas. Hoeffler’s Mr. Hoeffler has opened a grocery on the corner of West Water and Main streets at which place he stands ready to fill the stomachs of all lovers of sweet meats. Business
Dance Mr. Damon’s hall in our village is to be “warmed” on New Years night. Mr. Damon has been to considerable expense in getting his house convenient and he has it so. He has a fine hall, large enough to accommodate about 80 couple, which he will do in a gentlemanly manner. We will guarantee all who go to have a joyful time and a good oyster supper. Advertisements
Note: Advertisements published in previous papers are not duplicated.
M. C. Quimbey – Carpenter and Joiner
Churches
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertisements Note: Advertisements published in previous papers are not duplicated. Land and Timber Agents The undersigned will pay taxes, buy and sell land, lumber and in fact transact all business pertaining to the land and timber agency. H. Cleaves, Ogdensburg, Wisconsin Druggist and Apothecary G.
H. Calkins, M.D. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Our Interests Now that the G.B. & L. P. R. R. is completed through our town which brings us in direct connection with the outer world, we think it’s high time that our citizens began to look at their interests and see in what way they can improve them. Improvement has been suggested to our people many a time but they have delayed it, giving as their reasons for doing so that the home interest were not sufficient to enlist an effort in any great improvement and unless our interests were added to by the railroad, all attempts at progression would be fruitless. As the above requisite has been met, we expect to see every man put his shoulder to the wheel of improvement and help roll it on. We have advantages and privileges which, if recently improved will make our location a thriving one. All that is required is a little tact, backed by a fair amount of energy on the part of our citizens. Let every man assume and add his part whether it be little or more and we assure you success will follow. There’s not one of us utterly devoid of an object in life; none of us but what are aiming at something in the future; and our goal, whatever it may be, is only attainable by an untiring perseverance. But let us glance a while at some of these privileges… To begin with, we have an excellent farming country around us, for the most tilled by an industrious class of people. We have a splendid location for machinery of all kinds, for the working up of hard and soft timber; in this line we possess unparalleled advantages over any other present manufacturing point, being nearer the timber and on the most direct railroad line to the great market viz Minnesota and Iowa. These states are suffering for a commodity which we are burdened with and all we need for their relief and ours is a little capital. Our direct communications with the great grain growing regions – our facilities for shipping to eastern markets – our nearness to the timbering regions and our steady home market makes the milling privilege a valuable one. Our facilities and location will afford a healthy support for blacksmiths, wagon makers, cabinet makers, shoe makers and in fact all classes of manufacturers. But, unless we show ourselves as thriving and enterprising, people will never locate with us. We await further development – Who will lead? Local
Notis! Came into my inclosure, December 15, one pig, about 4 months old. The owner is requested to call, prove property, pay charges and take the same away. A. C. Quimby, Ogdensburg, Wisconsin Notis! Came into my inclosure December 7th, one white pig about 3-4 months old, which anyone may have by proving property, paying charges, and taking same away. N. Livermore, Ogdensburg, Wisconsin (December 9, 1872) Advertisements For the great dollar weekly the United States – 8 pages, 31 columns weekly. Forty percent commission. The U.S. will contain during the year, nearly as much matter as A THREE DOLLAR MONTHLY and agents will find it profitable paper to work for. For specimens, particulars of this kind and other business for agents, inclose stamp and address H. C. Bartlett. Royalston, Mass. K and A. G. Sexton and Company Wholesale dealers in hardware Tinner’s stock Nails, etc. No house in the west sells at lower prices. Orders solicited and carefully filled. 3387 E. Water St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Local
Excelsior House
Waupaca
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