By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
news4garrod@gmail.com
Several towns in The Courier-Leader coverage area have experienced downtown fires of one type or another during the past nearly 170 years. The fires destroyed or badly damaged businesses, but following the devastation, the communities rallied, and buildings were constructed, replacing badly damaged or burned-out shells of previous stores.
On the night of Dec. 31, 1859, the Village of Lawrence experienced a destructive fire, which swept the west side of Paw Paw Street of all its stores and laid nearly the entire business portion of the town in ashes, according to historical accounts published about the fire. The stores burned were two belonging to Chadwick & Bro., and sites of Sylvanus Rowe, J.B. Potter, George Koon, J.L. Phillips, and L. Moulton. It was reported that the aggregate loss was about $12,500. “Measures were, however, speedily taken for the rebuilding of the structures, although the business interests of the village received a severe blow through the disaster, which now would be considered serious, and then was a great public calamity,” it was reported.
The Village of Paw Paw also did not escape the ravages of a downtown fire, noting that four different fires were experienced over a period of approximately 30 years.
According to a history of the Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department, the “long and tragic series of events which set the stage of action to form a fire department was a very real part of the early history of Paw Paw.” It further stated, “Beginning with the destruction by fire of a sawmill on the river at the west end of Main Street in 1839, the newly platted village was to experience “the ordeal of uncontrolled fire” often during the next 30 years.
Numerous individual residential and commercial fires occurred, and on three occasions large sections of the business district, between Gremps and Niles streets were destroyed. In 1859, the Exchange Hotel, now the site of the Dyckman restaurant, was destroyed. “A bucket brigade composed mostly of women and children, drew water from the river in two small cisterns for the men who fought the blaze in vain,” it was reported.
It was reported at the next town meeting that the need for an organized fire department and equipment was discussed. The only action taken was a request that all local businesses “shall provide and keep a number of pails available and suitable for fire and on the alarm of fire, residents were requested to hasten to the scene and present themselves for services as needed.”
The year 1866 saw both sides of Main Street, west of Kalamazoo Street, partially destroyed. One business that was destroyed was the Smith Clothing Store. In the same year, two other businesses were destroyed in the current location of the Warner Supply Do it Center.
Two years later, in the spring of 1868, the north side of Main Street between the Dyckman Hotel and the Post Office was swept by a fire that lasted for two days. The topic of an organized fire department was once again discussed by village trustees. It was reported that a special meeting was set for Sept. 6, 1868, to discuss the matter of a fire department. At this meeting, a board was appointed to draft an ordinance for the organization of a fire company and to investigate the cost and availability of fire equipment.
On Sept. 28, 1868, 22 persons were appointed as firemen with the Paw Paw Fire Company. The next night the newly appointed firemen met and organized the Paw Paw Fire Company No.1. The following members, elected by members, served as the first officers of the fire company:
Chief Engineer of Dept. – W.L. Eggleston, 1st Asst. Chief of Dept. – T.W. Melchor, Foreman of Fire Company – James M. Servoss, 1st Asst Foreman of Fire Company – John Rousseau, 2nd Asst. Foreman of Fire Company – S.S. Hatt, 1st Pipesman – B.K. Tuttle, 2nd Pipesman – Wm. Hodemaker, and Secretary – O.D. Martin.
A month later, on Oct. 28, the board of trustees gave approval to purchase the first fire apparatus. A hand drawn engine was $1,050, a hand drawn hose cart was $200 and 306 feet of hose for $369, were purchased. It was reported that the engine was operated at hand lever and was supplied with water by dumping water into a small tank using either buckets or a suction hose.
On June 13, 1888, fire again erupted, destroying seven buildings, including 11 businesses and two lodges in the village.
Late Friday, April 6, 2012, the City of Gobles saw a fire that swept through century-plus buildings that include the businesses of Jan’s Trailside Café, Jan’s Oasis and C.C.C. Bait & Tackle. The buildings were in the 200 block of South State Street (M-40).
Murawski’s Tavern sustained water and smoke damage, but no fire damage.
A total of six area fire departments responded to the downtown Gobles blaze.
The City of Hartford saw a fire destroying a large portion of the downtown on Thursday, Feb. 22, 1968.
It was reported that fire departments from seven communities fought the blaze for four hours, battling high winds and freezing temperatures.
