Cherokee Brick and Tile Works Burns

STARBUCK

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 10/24/2004 at 16:40:09

From the Cherokean Democrat November 25, 1891

THE CITY’S CALAMITY

Such was the Fire Which Destroyed the Cherokee Brick and Tile Works.

The fire which last Wednesday night destroyed the greater portion of J.M. Starbuck’s brick and tile works must be looked upon as a great misfortune to the city as well as to the individual proprietor. It was a magnificent concern for Cherokee-in fact the only manufacturing plant of any prominence. While Mr. Starbuck’s succession of misfortunes beat heavily on him, we all feel the loss is ours, as every citizen was proud of the concern which Mr. Starbuck had built up, and which employee more men and was of more real value to the city than all over enterprises.

In the past seven years Mr. Starbuck has been twice seriously damaged by wind storms, the flood last spring put him in the hole in the neighborhood of $10,000 and now the fire creates a loss of from $25,000 to 28,000. After each successive loss he has gone bravely to work with limited means and built up, each time making more substantial and valuable improvements, until the works were as complete as any in the state, with modern machinery and every convenience necessary for the transaction of an immense and profitable business. But in a few minutes all, or nearly all, is swept away. It would not have been a surprise if Jack had become discouraged, but he seems as full of pluck and energy as ever. If he had the means we would see arise from the ashes a plant more magnificent then that which fell, a credit to the city and a monument to the indomitable perseverance of its builder. As he has not the means he does not yet know what he will do and will not make any move until the insurance is adjusted. He had insurance of $9,000, besides $2,500 in the Waterloo Municipal, which is n.g. The portion of the plant saved he says is worth $10,000, providing the works are rebuilt, but absolutely valueless otherwise. To rebuild as it ought to be rebuilt, would require an expenditure of $20,000, and Mr. S. does not feel like starting up any snide concern now. What he will do under the circumstances remains to be seen, but Cherokee cannot afford to let this institution go down. It must be kept up.

Mr. Starbuck was fortunate in being well through with his contacts. He saved with the kilns about 160,000 brick. His Storm Lake contract calls for 600,000, which his had planned to make during the winter. If the works cannot be rebuilt at once this contact cannot be fulfilled.

The machines are all rendered worthless and are not worth a dollar more then they will bring for old iron. The boiler is not seriously damaged, and can be repaired at comparatively slight expense.