Grinnell, IA Business Section Fire, June 1889

FLAMES IN GRINNELL, IOWA.

NEARLY THE WHOLE OF THE BUSINESS PORTION OF THE TOWN BURNED.

Grinnell, Ia., June 13. -- Fire broke out at 12:30 yesterday in TREAT & Co.'s elevator, on the town side of the Rock Island track, situated in the southwest part of town. A brisk wind was blowing from the southwest and the flames spread rapidly to adjacent buildings, and soon reached the heart of the business center of the town. The fire department was slow in getting into action and after water was finally turned upon the roaring flames it was powerless to stay their course.

Help Called For From Other Places.
Aid was summoned from Brooklyn and Marshalltown, but it was two hours in getting here, and was entirely too late to render assistance. Forty-one business houses were burned, comprising nearly all the business portion of the city. The losses so far foot up $160,000, and the insurance $45,000. The stocks of goods were largely saved, being piled up in the park and placed under guard of Company G, Third regiment, of state militia.

Some Of The Heavy Losers.
The heaviest losers are TREAT & Co., elevator, $6,000.
BOWLER Bros., hardware, $9,000.
HORALD printing office, $10,000.
MORRISON, McINTOSH & Co., glove factory, $10,000.
ARTHUR SEAMAN, $5,000.
CASS & WIRBS, $12,500.
H. P. PROCTOR, $14,600.
J. G. JOHNSON & Co., $4,000.
Grinnell was devastated by a cyclone seven years ago, about seventy-five houses blown down and forty people killed.

Logansport Pharos Indiana 1889-06-13
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!