West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
MILK FACTORY FIRE

Shortly after 2 o'clock Friday morning, July 5, 1912, fire of unknown origin, was discovered eating its way through the roof of West Liberty Condensed Milk company's plant, south of the Rock Island tracks. The interior of the main building was then ablaze and at 4 o'clock the entire building and its equipment composed only a mass of smoldering ruins.

A stiff wind blowing from the southwest fanned the flames and within an hour after the discovery of the blaze, flames shot up the elevator shaft. A gas tank exploded and soon afterwards the condensing tank crashed through the floor, breaking the water main. The wall, separating the main building and boiler room at the west end crashed and the draft rushing in, fanned the flames. Sparks and brands were carried for a great distance. The roof of the Burger blacksmith shop caught fire from several sparks, several times, but volunteers with buckets prevented any damage.

When the firemen saw that they were unable to check the factory fire they turned their attention to the ice house of J. D. Potter, the roof of which was smoking, the Fenner home and other nearby buildings.

The plant belonged to a company composed of business men of Whitehall, ILL., S. B. Silkwood, manager, who purchased it from the West Liberty stock holders, Jan. 26, 1910, for $18,000. The building erected in 1904, cost $22,000.

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