Chisholm, MN Fire, Sept 1908 - A Bigger and Better Chisholm

Chisholm Fire Stirs the City

Holiday Trade in Place Destroyed a Few Months Ago Is Better Than Ever.

(Range Bureau of the News Tribune.)
Chisholm, Dec. 23.-Though only a few short months ago Chisholm was in ashes and the people over the northwest came to the aid of the fire-stricken citizens, today the city has apparently almost recovered from the disaster. This is shown in unmistakable manner by the immense holiday business of the merchants. Merchants state that on the average they are selling as much goods as on other Christmas seasons and some of them report a bigger trade.

The motto of many of the merchants since the fire is: “A Bigger and Better Chisholm.” Judging from the large number of substantial brick, cement and stone business blocks building and completed and the character of the houses going up, the motto is being carried out. There is no spirit of discouragement, but there is push and determination which before the fire were not so conspicuous.

The Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN 24 Dec 1908

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Blame Rests With Chisholm People

Mayor Says If Any Fire Victims Are in Want Range Town Committee is Responsible.

Mayor HAVEN said yesterday, in regard to the report that five Chisholm families are in want and are totally unable to take care of themselves, that no word of such a state has been communicated to him, or as far as he knows, to any member of the relief committee. “If such a condition does exist the Chisholm relief committee should have reported it to us.” he says. “This it has no done, and I know nothing whatever of the matter.

“There is money here with the treasurer of the relief committee to provide for anyone who is suffering as a result of the fire, and if the relief is needed, the local committee is there to report the case. If fire sufferers are in need of relief they can get it.”

“We have not had a call from the Chisholm local committee since the start of the year. It seems that if such a condition as is described in the report exists, the committee would have reported it.”

The report which comes from Chisholm is to the effect that there are five families who are destitute and that Chisholm is still without the allotment of a part of the relief fund collected last fall.

Mayor HAVEN says, in regard to the latter part of this report, that the money was collected for the relief of actual suffering and that so far as he knows all actual suffering because of the fire has been relieved. “There is a tendency on the part of some people,” he says “to think that they should be reimbursed for a part of their losses. The money was not collected for this purpose, and it will not be paid out except to relieve suffering.”

The Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN 2 Feb 1909