Detroit, MI Depot Fire, Dec 1913

OLD DEPOT BURNS; NEW ONE IS READY

Detroit Has Spectacular Fire Which Does $250,000 Damage to Michigan Central Railway.

Detroit, Mich., Dec. 26.- A spectacular fire, starting from a cause undetermined, swept through the main depot of the Michigan Central Railway here this afternoon. The blaze, which started in one of the office rooms in an upper story, gained great headway before an employe discovered it, and although several hundred persons were in the building a the time, only one, a male employe, was injured. His condition, however, is not serious.

LOSS OF RECORDS HEAVY.

After three hours of hard fighting, firemen had the conflagration apparently under control. The damage to the depot proper was estimated at $150,000. Railway records, freight and express were also consumed and officials of the road said the total loss might be a quarter of a million dollars.

The depot was built about thirty years ago. The new Michigan Central terminus, a large and costly structure, was recently completed and it was announced earlier this week that the old building would be abandoned, so far as passenger service was concerned, the first of the year. Tonight before the ruins of the Third Street Depot were cold, passenger trains were running into the new terminal on Fifteenth street.

The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, IN 27 Dec 1913

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Three Thought Dead in Fire.

Detroit, Mich., Dec 26.- Fire started in the old Michigan Central Depot at 1:45 this afternoon and in a short time flames enveloped the entire structure. The police believe that one man and two club women are entrapped in the structure.

The Frederick Post, Frederick, MD 27 Dec 1913

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BULLETIN

DETROIT, Mich., Dec 26- Train service from the Michigan Central depot at Jefferson and Third streets was suspended at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon, when a fire threatened to destroy the building. At 3 o’clock it was believed that all persons had been rescued from the building. A general alarm was sounded, and all downtown fire apparatus us at the scene. The station is believed doomed.

The station was to be abandoned on Jan 4, when the Michigan Central will move into its new $3,000,000 depot.

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 26 Dec 1913

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The old Michigan Central depot at Detroit, Mich., built 30 years ago, was destroyed by fire. Damage to property and records is estimated at $300,000.

The Iowa Recorder, Greene, IA 31 Dec 1913
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