Fire in the Public Square

SPEILMAN, JORDAN, STEWART, HASTINGS, SHRINER, BOYD, PARKER, BUCK, HUFFORD, SHAFFER, DAVID, ALSTON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 3/26/2007 at 19:11:26

"Fairfield Ledger Weekly", December 9, 1869

Another Fire in Fairfield.--- The cry of “Fire!” about 2:30 o’clock on Tuesday morning, drew a large concourse of people to the west side of the Public Square, where a conflagration was in full operation. All that row of one story frame buildings on the West side between SPEILMAN’s and JORDAN’s brick buildings, except the one on the alley occupied by W. A. STEWART, was burned to the ground. The fire originated, so we are told by those who first discovered it, at the southwest corner of the room, on the outside of the building, occupied by HASTINGS & SHRINER as a dry goods store. No stove was there, and but two conclusions can be arrived at: either that the fire was the work of an incendiary or was caused by rats igniting matches in some manner.

When the front room of HASTINGS & SHRINER store was broken open, the air was so hot that no one could get in, and the whole stock of goods is an entire loss. The building was owned by Marquis SHRINER, and was valued at $1,000, no insurance.--- About $4,000 worth of goods was in the store. Samuel HASTINGS had an insurance of $1,500 on his share in the Keokuk Mutual Insurance Company, so that his loss will probably be from $300 to $500. George SHRINER had no insurance on his share of the goods, and his loss is from $1,800 to $2,000.

Andrew BOYD owned the next building south, which is valued at $1,500; no insurance. He and Joseph PARKER had a billiard saloon in the rear of the building. The tables – three of them – and furniture in the rooms were valued at about $1,500. BOYD had no insurance on the stock. PARKER had his part of the stock insured for $800 in the Putman. One of the tables was saved in a damaged condition.

T. BUCK occupied the front room in BOYD’s building with a news depot. He also had books, cutlery, pipes, tobacco, &c. Everything was saved, although somewhat damaged. He is opening out in Dr. HUFFORD’s room, next the Bank.

The next building was owned by C. S. & J. M. SHAFFER. It was valued at $1,000; insured in the Continental for $600. C. S. SHAFFER had a boot and shoe store in it, the stock being insured for $1,000 in the same company. Everything, even to the shelving, was saved, somewhat damaged, as a matter of course. Mr. SHAFFER’s stock has been taken to Charles DAVID’s agricultural ware-rooms on the East side of the Park.

The next building, owned by Wm. ALSTON, was only about three feet from SHAFER’s house, but the sides are not even scorched, so rapidly and energetically did the people work in tearing away SHAFFER’s house. It was occupied by W. A. STEWART, with a stock of groceries. All the goods, counters, shelving, &c., were taken out and piled up in the street or Park. They were also damaged.--- STEWART had no insurance. His goods are now back in the same room.

ALSTON’s building, which is one of the old landmarks, stands fire well. About two years ago the Jefferson House, just across the alley, was burned down. It escaped then, and now it has again escaped.

The work done by a few men with ropes, demonstrates the fact that much property might be saved if we only possessed a good and efficient Hook and Ladder Company.--- Some of our citizens say, however, that we can save more property without it.

We are glad we have an ordinance against the erection of frame buildings around the Park. Our great hope now is that the owners of the property will be able to build good and substantial brick buildings on the grounds burned over.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.