Big Fire in Monroe 1888

ROBERTS, DIXON, HISKEY, SHAW, DAVIS, FISHER, SCHARF, SCHENCK, CLAPPER, KIPP, DALRYMPLE, GREENLEAF, SCARTH, VANDERMAST

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/12/2012 at 15:01:51

Monroe Mirror Extra

BIG FIRE IN MONROE

MONROE, IOWA, Jan. 10, 1888.

What has for so long been dreaded has occurred. The entire row of frame business buildings on the west side of the square were burned down last night. The fire originated in the rear of Frank Robert’s store, between 10 and 11 o’clock. Nearly everybody had retired and when discovered the flames had made full head way, and it was impossible to save scarcely any thing in five of the buildings. Shaw & Son, S. Dixon and Frank Hiskey succeeded in getting their goods all out. It was only by superhuman efforts that the flames were checked on the south of the brick building occupied by W. Davis, Fisher & Co., and J. L. Scharf. The loss is a terrible one to Monroe. As near as we can get it this morning it is as follows:

F. Roberts, grocery stock, nothing saved. Loss $1,800. Insured $1,000. Building owned by T. Schenck; valued at $800. No insurance.

J. C. Clapper, barber fixtures, nothing saved. Loss $250. Insurance $200. Building owned by Irwin estate; valued $400. No insurance.

J. Kipp & Son, attorneys. Nothing saved. All fixtures, papers and law books, the accumulation of years destroyed. The safe with its contents of valuable papers was saved. Loss on building and contents $2,000. No insurance. The records of the Ind. Dist of Monroe, all burned. All town records burned, with exception of Council Proceeding which were in hands of Recorder.

Dalrymple’s Drug stock and fixtures. Nothing saved. Loss $2,500. Insurance $1,000. Building belonged to an Eastern party and was not insured. Valued at $1,000.

Greenleaf & Scarth, meat shop. Loss about $300. The building owned by Dixon Bros. No insurance. Loss $750.

L. M. Shaw & Son, Jewelers, and S. Dixon book, and news store, in one building. Goods about all saved. Goods were insured: Dixon $500; Shaw & Son, $1,000. Building loss. $1,000. Insured for $500.

F. Hiskey, boot and shoe stock, just invoiced at $3,700. Goods nearly all saved, were covered by $1,000 insurance. Loss to building, $1,000. Insurance $500.

Although from the best motives, yet the worst thing to Scharf’s store was the carrying out of all his goods. Loss probably will reach somewhere between $500 to $800.

In a note to us Mr. Vandermast says the total loss will be $14,000. ~ The Newton Journal, 1-16-1888.