Starch Factory Fire02

Waupaca County Post

May 15, 1919

FACTORY FIRE THRILLS MANY SPECTATORS

LONG IDLE BUILDING OF WAUPACA STARCH CO. SUCCUMBS TO FLAMES THURSDAY EVENING

A fire of unusual spectacular quality, one which lighted the sky for miles, and drew hundreds of people from their beds, was the one which destroyed the old starch factory on Thursday evening of last week, and seldom has so big a blaze caused so comparatively small a financial loss, the building being valued at somewhere around $1,000 under the circumstances.

The fire was discovered about 10 p.m. by two boys, who report that they saw the flames leap upward as though aided by kerosene. This statement gives rise to the rumor and general belief that the fire was incendiary, but whether vicious or from carelessness, is unknown.

The fire department did excellent work, preventing the spread of the flames to adjacent property, the only losses outside of the old factory, being to cordwood stacked nearby.

The factory was built in 1889 by the Waupaca Starch company, Major R.N. Roberts, Col. J.H. Woodnorth and John W. Evans being the main initial owners. The structure was built solidly and well and would have cost today from $10,000 to $12,000, as it contained 75,000 feet of lumber, 98 big 9x12 stanchions, besides other lumber, but the cost of demolition, it was figured, would have left but a small margin of profit.

The factory was run annually for fifteen years and then for a few years on alternate seasons, as potato prices became too high for starch. Since the spring of 1909 the factory had been idle. A majority of the stock is now held by J.W. Evans, upon whom the loss falls most as there was no insurance. About an acre and a half of land is all that remains of the Waupaca Starch Company’s buildings.