A photograph of the destruction at Schaeffer’s Knitting Mill, Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, from the fire of September 27, 1904. Photo from Liberty Hose Company No. 2, Lykens.
From the Lykens Standard, September 30, 1904:
WICONISCO’S DISASTROUS FIRE!
NEARLY THE WHOLE OF THE BUSINESS PORTION OF THE TOWN IN RUINS!
About 9 o’clock Tuesday evening fire was discovered in the southeast corner of the basement of the three-story frame building situate on the south side of Pottsville Street, Wiconisco, owned by the Sheafer estate, and the windows on the east side broken open in order to extinquish the flames. In the absence of the proper apparatus to fight the fire, which shot up along the rear part of the building with great rapidity, it was at once evident that a great conflagration was threatened and an alarm sounded by blowing the whistles of the Wiconisco Knitting Mill.
The Shaefer building was occupied on the east side by the Wiconisco Knitting mill. The engine was located in the southwest corner of the basement, and the boiler in a building some distance south of the main building. Miller’s store occupied the first story on the west side, and the third story was fitted up as a lodge room, having been occupied until several months ago by Ashlar Lodge, F. and A. M., but vacant at the time of fire. Adjoining Miller’s store was the general store of Kimmel & Company; next Isaac Mossop‘s residence. West of Mr. Mossop’s residence was a ten-foot alley, then came J. H. Mark‘s store and residence, Charles Row‘s residence, W. H. Clay Keen’s residence, and property owned by Mrs, Margaret Maurer, occupied by Fred Boddorf. West of the house occupied by Mr. Boddorf was an alley, the adjoining property being the Wiconisco House, owned by J. H. Pontius.
Shortly after the alarm was sounded the Lykens Fire Department repaired to the scene and soon made a connection with the private plug in front of Kimmel & Company’s store, but the flames having spread to that part of the row just about that time burst through the large plate glass windows, compelling the firemen to beat a hasty retreat. Two sections of hose were lost, and for a time the firemen were helpless, as the town is without fireplugs except those installed by private individuals for their own protection. Hood McKay, Superintendent of Short Mountain Colliery, who was on the scene, and recognizing the gravity of the situation, sought out Vernon Mitchell, chief of the department, and got him to connect with the colliery pump at the coal yard, when soon a stream was at play upon the flames, and shortly thereafter another from the same source. Mr. McKay also had a two-inch line run from the pump at Lykens Valley slope. This line consisted of two-inch pipe and was completed in a remarkably short time.
As soon as the flames had spread to Miller’s Store, the residents of both sides of the street commenced to remove their household effects , and considerable was saved by this timely action, as every building on the south side of the street, consisting of the Sheafer Building, Miller’s Store, Kimmel & Company’s Store, Isaac Mossop‘s residence, J. H. Mark‘s Store and residence, Charles Row‘s residence, and Ex-Representative W. H. Clay Keen‘s residence were destroyed, while the property of Mrs. Margaret Maurer (occupied by Fred Boddorf) situated on the corner of the alley east of the Wiconisco House, was torn down to stay the progress of the flames. The stables and other buildings at the rear of these premises were also destroyed. On the north side of the street the properties destroyed were the double block of Mrs. Elias Harman, occupied by her and her son Edward Harman, the latter having his tin store in the basement; Mrs. Hannah Israel‘s property, residence part occupied by Edward Jury and basement by Adam Miller‘s green grocery; Abraham Deeibelbis‘ residence and his adjoining property occupied by Theodore Gordon as a store and residence, but he managed to save everything except several hundred cigars which were caried so far away by those who so kindly (?) helped him that they could not be found. Across the street west of Theodore Gordon‘s residence was the residence of Mrs. Margaret Maurer, where the fire was conquered on that side of the street, going west. The residence of W. H. Kissinger, adjoining the Harman block on the east, was saved through the heroic efforts of William Reeser, who had mounted the roof and in the face of great danger kept the roof and west end of the building saturated with water passed to him by the bucket brigade. The thick grove east of the Shaefer building stopped the progress of the fire in that direction.
Too much praise cannot be given Superintendent Hood McKay, who came so promptly to the relief of the Lykens Fire Department, and had tow fire engines in readiness at Harrisburg to be sent at a moment’s notice if necessary. He also had dynamite in readiness to blow up buildings if in the judgment of the citizens whis would be thought necessary. The Lykens Fire Department, as usual, won the praise of the citizens for their persistent efforts to control the fire. And to all who assisted in saving the household effect of the unfortunate ones much praise is due, while nothing but condemnation is due the unprincipled scoundrels who in the guise of friendliness robbed those whom they pretended to assist while carrying out their goods. The burnt out families have all secured quarters withg relatives and friends.
The loss is estimated at between $75,000 and $100,000. The insurance on the Shaefer Building, hosiery machinery and stock could not be found out by the time of going to press. Isaac Mossop had an insurance of $1,000 on his furniture, the actual loss on same being $2,000. Kimmel and Company’s Store was insured for $9,000 and the stock for $15,000. J. H. Mark‘s, $1,200, furniture, $500; Charles Row, $600 on residence, $200 on furniture; W. H. Clay Keen residence, $1,000; Mrs. Maurer, both properties fully insured. Miller’s Store between $10,000 and $11,000, insured for two-thirds. Mrs. Elsie Harman, $1,000. Ed Harman loses nearly entire stock. The Dreibelbis residence, $1,000, and next residence, occupied by Theodore Gordon, $800, stable $200. Mrs. Hannah Israel, $800. In removing goods, Adam Miller, Keen Brothers, and many others lost by theft.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, 30 Sep 1904:
WICONISCO SWEPT BY FIRE
THIRTEN BUILDINGS DESTROYED
LOSS IS ESTIMATED ABOUT $50,000
The worst fire in the history of this valley occurred at Wiconisco, about 8 miles west of Tower City, on Tuesday night. Thirteen buildings, not including several stables and warehouses, were entirely destroyed, eight buildings on the south side of the street and five buildings on the north side. Those burned on the south side were Sheafer’s Hall, a large three-story frame building, in which were located the general store of the Samuel Miller estate, Shaefer’s Hosiery Factory and a lodge room, the latter having only recently been vacated by Ashlar Lodge, F. A. M., the large general store of Kimmel & Company, Isaac Mossop‘s residence, Charles Rowe‘s dwelling, home of ex-Representative Clay Keen. On the north side of Pottsville Street, Theodore Gordon‘s store and dwelling, Abraham Dreibelbis dwelling and three dwellings having basement stores, the property of the Daniel Israel estate were destroyed.
The fire started shortly after nine-o’clock p. m. in the cellar of Miller’s Store in the Sheafer Building. How it originated will probably never be known. An alarm was given by a boy who saw the store room filled with smoke. There was a prompt response on the part of the citizens, but as Wiconisco is a township, the town has only one fire plug and that was located directly in front of the burning building. There is a splendid water supply but the mains have no pressure. Word was sent to Lykens and the two hose companies of that town were quickly on the scene with their hose. In the meantime a bucket brigade were fighting the flames.
The Hose companies attached two sets of hose to the plug but in a short time the fire raged so fiercely that the hose was burned from the plug. Under the direction of the officials of the Lykens Colliery, a pipe line was hastily constructed from the colliery to the town, a distance of about 1/4 mile, to which a hose was attached and several streams were thus gotten on the firer. This probably saved the town from entire destruction. A large steam pump at the colliery supplied the pressure.
Word was also sent to Harrisburg for a fire engine but before they got started, the fire was under control and they were notified not to start. Hose was also sent from Williamstown but was not needed. No appeal was made to Tower City for aid.
The first intimation that people of this vicinity had of the fire was at about 10 o’clock when the electric light suddenly went out. Shortly after the heavens in the became illuminated and it was then known that a serious conflagration was in progress. An unsuccessful attempt was made to reach the lower end by phone. Several parties then drove to the scene, but by the time they reached the scene there the worst was over.
The loss is estimated at from $50,000 to $75,000, part of which is covered by insurance. The most of the burned section, especially the business part, will likely never be rebuilt.
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