THE REPUBLICAN

April 8, 1904

 

BIG BLAZES!

Sends the City Opera House, the Episcopal Church etc., Up in Smoke.

 

            The quick, sharp toots of a locomotive whistle at the Wisconsin Central depot about 3:30 o’clock Tuesday morning, followed by a clang of the fire bell at the city hall and the Episcopal church bell called out the department and many people in time to see the city opera house go up in smoke, followed in a very few minutes with the destruction of St. Mark’s church, the barn and sheds of the Park hotel and the barn belonging to the K. T. Chandler estate, and an awful close call for all the buildings in block “P” and had there been a heavy wind before the water pressure came satisfactory there is no knowing what might have happened.

            The first that appears to have been noticed was an explosion at the opera house just before the fire broke out, caused no doubt by a spark which had made a fire in the scenery and the hot air confined in the auditorium and over the stage.  Tom Pipe, Jeff Woodnorth, Charley Hall and others heard it and it was noticed simultaneously there was a burst of smoke and flame from many parts of the big roof.  Mr. Pipe hurriedly dressed, ran over and rang the Episcopal bell for the last time for soon the church was burning and the bell fell and melted in the hot ruins of the firery mass of timbers.  Charley Hall was at the church in time to save the vestments, silver and altar decorations and soon there were present others who helped get out the memorial altar, organ, lectern, etc.  But the memorial rood screen, given in memory of the late Mrs. Gus Bronson, went among the ashes with the church building; also the memorial font given by Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Truesdell in memory of their little son who was drowned.

            The firemen who were promptly on the scene laid their hose from hydrants on Main Street but the pressure from the reservoir was very light but proved adequate enough to save the Citizen’s Telephone Exchange and keep the low buildings pretty well saturated until Superintendent Nelson got the direct pressure on from the pumps.  Then came a fight to save the Park Hotel, the Curtis House, occupied by Mrs. Myers and daughter, and the Mrs. K. T. Chandler house, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Barney Peterson, fronting Division Street, also fronting on Union were E. E. and E. L. Browne’s law office, Sam Godfrey’s machinery depot and M. R. Randall’s bicycle and sewing machine store and repair shop, also Mr. Randall’s dwelling on the second floor. It looked at one time as if all would surely go when the barns and sheds not fifteen feet from these buildings were all blazing, but the firemen having a good pressure of water used it to advantage and soon had the fire under control.  It was noticed, however, that nearly everything was moved out or packed ready to move from every building fronting on the streets mentioned, and as the sparks at one time were lighting so promiscuously and with such igniting effect on the buildings owned by Mrs. Dr. Brown, Wm. Bruley, E. C. Ware, N. L. White, Dr. Trimble, Mrs. Lehman, Mrs. Fredericksen and Mrs. Hall they commenced to make ready for a hasty move if necessary and only breathed easily when the gallant firemen had  successfully battled with the fire’s progress eastward and north-ward in the block where it started.  Had there been a heavy wind the first half hour it would have been hard work to have saved the buildings on all of the blocks to State Street, east and to the river on the north.

            The losses:

            City opera house, loss $5,000.  Insurance, $2,500.

            Episcopal church, loss $3,000.  Insurance on building $875; on contents and bell $375.

            The above was insured in I. P. Lord’s agency.

            Park Hotel barn and sheds, loss $600.  Insurance $200.

            Mr. Quimby, lessee of barn, loss on hay and oats, no insurance, $50.

            Loss on Park Hotel scorched, $50.  Insurance to cover $50.

            The Curtis barn, loss $200.  Insurance $100.

            The Chandler barn, loss $500.  Insurance $350.

            The above insurance was in Olson & Johnson agency.

            Chandler house, loss probably $200; fully insured with W. Scott & Son’s agency.

            Loss on removal of goods from B.S. Peterson’s, Mrs. Meyers’, M. R. Randall’s, Sam Godfrey’s and E. L. & E. E. Browne’s law office, probably $100.

            Making a loss of $10,250, with insurance of $4,540.

 

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NOTES.

 

            In regard to the origin of the fire it seems to be a mystery.  It was thought by some that the fire might have originated from an air tight sheet iron heater used on the stage during rehearsal Monday night.  Some of the girls in the rehearsal say that the fire was down and it was so cold they decided to go home about half past ten.  And then some think a cigar or cigarette stub got in some rubbish or against a curtain or scene.  It must have smoldered a long time before the fire finally broke out.  But it went quick.

            Father Hirst, the new rector to be of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, left Tuesday for Fond du Lac to consult with Bishop Grafton in regard to aid looking toward he immediate erection of a new church, and a committee of the ladies’ Guild is already securing pledges toward a new chapel.

            The vestry and trustees will no doubt sell the lot where the church stood and build on their lot where the rectory stands, corner of Jefferson and Deer Streets, where W. B. Baker formerly resided, which property recently came into possession of the church through a trade with Wallace Lord.  If they build there the house will be moved onto the south lot, giving the church a pretty location on the corner fronting on two streets, with rectory close at hand, an ideal spot for the two.

            All day Wednesday people were raking pieces of the melted Episcopal bell out of the hot ashes and saving them for mementoes, Mr. Pipe says he will treasure his souvenir in memory of ringing the bell for the last time its clear tones ever sounded.

            Stetson’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin Company which was billed for Waupaca for Wednesday night received a telegram at Ripon from Manager Secor that the opera house was burned.  Later Mr. Kibble, manager of the show telegraphed to secure the Danes’ Home opera house, which was done and the show came on as advertised.  They put up a good show under the circumstances, but of course could not use their special scenery for the play.  There was a fair audience present.

            The “Capitola” play which was advertised for the City opera house will come off at the Danes’ Home opera house on the date as planned Monday evening, April 11.  Rob Smith, who has had charge of the rehearsals says all the members are well up in their lines of the cast and our people can rest assured of seeing a very meritorious entertainment.

            The Citizen’s Telephone exchange met with quite a serious loss.  One of the cables carrying fifty wires to as many residences in the southeastern part of the city was burned and will be out of commission until repairs are completed.

            The roadside on Union Street in the morning looked like a general machinery depot and law book store combined for several rods.  There were also lots of bicycles and sewing machines sandwiched along for variety.

            The City opera house was built as a roller skating rink by Messrs. C. P.Ward and Chris Skallerup in February, 1885.  During the first tow years it paid very well as a rink, but it was soon changed so as to use it for both rink and opera house but was never fully complete as a play house until the late Richard Lea three years ago changed it into an opera house under modern plans drawn by G. H. Slater.