Chisholm, MN Fire, Sept 1908 - Rebuilding

Better Chisholm being Built On City’s Ruins

Buildings Planned are More of a Permanent Character Than the Old. Indomitable Spirit of City’s People Unsubdued and Cheerfulness and Energy are the Rule in All Classes.

Foundations are being laid in Chisholm for more permanent, substantial buildings than there were before the fire, according to Mayor R.D. HAVEN, who returned from the scene of the disaster yesterday afternoon after spending three days of hard work among the fire victims in his capacity as chairman of the general relief committee appointed by Governor JOHNSON.

“Chisholm is a very busy place these days.” said Mayor Haven. “It is thoroughly alive and hustling to make up for lost time. The spirit of the people is remarkable. The more I see of the smiling faces and hopeful countenances of the one time near-millionaires who are now penniless the more I wonder at it. With some of them it has been a terrible discouragement, but from their outward appearance you could scarcely guess it. Their philosophy is marvelous.

Is Democratic Place

“The common disaster had made Chisholm a very democratic place. All are on equal footing and are pushing together. There is work for every one and only a few are idle. The free dining room was closed last Sunday as there were no more calls for meals. Several restaurants have established themselves there and are doing ample service in feeding the Chisholm people who have not yet made permanent home arrangements.”

Mayor HAVEN says there are 122 buildings in Chisholm now in progress of construction and that about 50 percent of them are permanent structures. These are mostly business houses, although several small structures have been erected for residences.

The distribution of the relief fund now in the hands of the committee will begin at once. A thorough canvas of the fire sufferers has been completed and materials for building and furniture will be distributed to the needy as fast as the requisitions can be rationed by the general committee.

An architect in the employ of the relief committee has been on the ground for two or three days making sketches of the houses necessary and these will be ready in a day or two. Three different types of dwelling have been designed, consisting of one, two or three rooms, according to the size of the families.

Records Very Thorough

The records taken of the destitute families have been very thorough. All possible data concerning the property owned before the fire and the amount saved, is included, together with the applicant’s estimate of what he will need from the relief fund, and the recommendation of the Chisholm Relief Committee, which has made a personal investigation of each case. About 300 records have been taken, but some of these people did not solicit relief. It is possible that fifty or sixty houses will have to be built by the relief committee, but the greater demand will be for furniture and household supplies.

After requisition slips have been made out by the Chisholm committee and properly signed with recommendations as to the amount of relief considered necessary, the general committee, consisting of Mayor HAVEN, MILLIE BUNNELL, A.C. WEISS, H.M. PEYTON, A.L. ORDEAN, J.L. WASHBURN and MARTIN HUGHES, must pass upon them before the money can appropriated.

A meeting of the committee will probably be held Tuesday in the mayor’s office to go over the requisition slips so the distribution can be made at once and work can begin on the dwelling houses.

Wednesday or Thursday of next week will probably be a dozen or more of the houses under construction and the rest will be put up in rapid succession. The houses are to be so built that additions will be possible when the owners are able to erect them. They will not elaborate, but a re aimed merely to give the people comfortable quarters until they can provide otherwise for them selves.

Very little cash will be distributed. So far it has been necessary in only three instances, and then in only small amounts.

The Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN 26 Sept 1908