Fire-1876

SIBLEY, CHESTER, DAVIS, CHERRY, TWINING, DENIG, PIPPING, SHERMAN, HARDING, BATHER, HATTON, IRVIN, MCALLISTER, PAPE, GOWEN

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 4/10/2017 at 07:37:41

The Clinton Age, Clinton, Iowa, January 28, 1876

FIRE-About two o’clock last Wednesday morning flames were seen issuing from the dry goods store of Sibley & Chester in the Davis Block on Second Street, an alarm was given. Before the fire could be extinguished, however, it completely ruined the row of frame structures extending from the corner of Sixth Avenue almost to the alley on the south, but one building intervening in this space, that was not damaged by fire. The four hose companies were out and worked with a will, checking the progress of the flames that would otherwise doubtless would have done far more damage. The parties burned out were as followed: E. M. Davis, two story block of four stores; J. M. Cherry and L. A. Denig, each a frame building adjoining the Davis Block; Chas. Pipping, meat market; J. L. Sherman’s restaurant; Mrs. J. Harding’s millinery establishment; Sibley & Chester’s Dry Good store; Bather Brothers’, flower and seed store; E. Hatton’s Merchant Tailoring establishment, and the families of J. L. Sherman, Dr. J. B. Irvin, Mr. McAllister, and Mr. Pape, the rooms of Mrs. Twining and of Osgood Gowen, the later losing his fine law library valued at $2,500. The occupants of the upper floors were lucky to escape with their lives, as the flames apparently enveloped the whole upper portions of the block before discovery Portions of the stock of several stores were saved, but they were so badly drenched and otherwise damaged as to impair their value.

The buildings of Messrs. Cherry and Denig, we believe, were uninsured, as also were the stocks of Mrs. Harding and Mr. Pipping.