CORTLAND'S GREATEST FIRE

The Cortland News, Friday, February 22, 1884.

MORE FIRES!

The Cortland Wagon Co.’s Shop Burned!

Garrison Block and Wickwire Building Leveled to the Ground!

The Union Hall Block Damaged Beyond Recovery!

Cortland’s Greatest Fire—The Loss Over $100,000.

   About 11 o'clock P. M., Thursday, Feb. 14, a fire was discovered in the rear of the building on Railroad street [Central Avenue] owned by the Cortland Wagon Company, but for some time previous occupied by Mr. H. O'Neill as a wagon manufactory. An alarm being immediately sounded, the department turned out and in twenty minutes from that time streams were being thrown from the village steamer, which was placed at the hydrant on Railroad street near the burning building.

   The Wagon Company's steamer was also brought into use, and was placed at the hydrant on Church street, near the court house. Both steamers did most effective service, the village steamer in particular, working to the full extent of her powers for nearly two hours and a half. By the efforts of these and of the firemen the fire was confined to the interior of the main building, but completely destroyed the upper stories and, with the water, left the floor in a badly damaged condition. So successfully was the fire fought that the outside wooden walls to the third story are still standing.

   The wind was blowing slightly from the north-west, and the small house immediately east, owned by Mr. Adolphus Tanner, was torn down. The Homer department was sent for and arrived at 1 A. M. Their steamer did fine work until one of the chambers gave out, which caused only a short delay, when she was again set going, doing splendid work.

   At about 2:30 A. M. the village steamer met with a very serious accident, which rendered her useless the rest of the time.

   The fire originated under the wagon stairway back of the main building, up which wagons were drawn into the finishing room, and was, without doubt, of incendiary origin. In December last the stock was inventoried at $45,000, part of which previous to the fire had been removed, and was insured for $20,000. The building was insured for $3,500; loss about $1,000. Mr. Tanner's house was insured tor $500; loss about as much.

   The weather was intensely cold, and many caught severe colds from exposure. Mr. J. Kerwin was injured by a brick which fell on his head from a chimney. Mr. E. Stanton was hurt on his forehead by a hook striking it; and Mr. J. Fitts fell down a stairway; all members of Emerald Hose, and at this writing getting the better of their injuries.

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   On the morning of Wednesday, February  20, soon after 1 o'clock, fire was discovered in the interior of the rear part of the Wickwire building on Main street, and although the fire department was quickly at work, owing to the inflammable material of the wooden structure and the great force of the wind, which was blowing from the south-east, the flames had gained complete possession of it and was already forcing their way into the Garrison block, on the north, before water was thrown from the steamer. As it was apparent that the first-named building could not be saved, the efforts of the firemen and citizens were directed toward saving the surrounding property, the Homer department, in the meantime, being sent for.

   A heavy rain storm was in progress, to which many other buildings probably owe their escape from taking fire, for the sparks fell in showers and were carried a long distance over the northern part of the village.

   So quickly did the flames consume the Wickwire building, and so rapidly did the Garrison block burn, that few articles were saved from the latter, and less from the first. Indeed, the Garrison block burned with a rapidity and fierceness seldom equaled by an old wooden structure, for in an incredibly short space of time after the flames had entered it its walls were falling.

   So intense was the heat on Main street that the large plate-glass windows in the stores on the west side in Masonic Hall block were badly cracked. The flames, fanned by the fierce gale from the rear of the buildings, swept half way across Main street and drove the firemen back from that quarter, compelling them to take refuge behind doors.

   The goods were removed from the Keator residence on the north and from C. H. Pride's grocery, adjoining this, as it looked for some time as though the fire would sweep the Dexter House corner in spite of all that could be done. Some even in the blocks across Main street prepared their goods for removal.

   The Homer department had by this time arrived and went to work with a will, their steamer being placed at the hydrant on Court street and throwing two powerful streams of water. The spreading of the flames farther north was stopped at the Keator house by the well-directed efforts of the firemen, when it was discovered that the roof of Union Hall block, which adjoined the Wickwire block immediately on the south, was on fire, and unless checked or confined to this building, the flames would spread to the wooden buildings in the rear and south of it and probably sweep Main street to Court street.

   The two streams from our steamer on Sager's corner, the two from the Homer steamer and one from the Wagon Company's steamer on Railroad street, were now directed upon this building, and by their united power the flames were conquered in this quarter after about two hours persistent and hard work. The hand engine was stationed at the hydrant in front of Fireman's Hall, and manned by firemen and volunteers from the spectators, was used in throwing water upon safes in the ruins and upon surrounding buildings.

   The morning broke upon such a scene of desolation as Cortland has never before witnessed. Two blocks leveled to the ground; another so badly damaged as probably to preclude its further use; the entire contents of two grocery stores, one dry goods store, and one hardware store; much of the material of a dry goods store and a crockery store, broker's office, and of other' offices and rooms, amounting to upwards of $100,000 in value, swept out of existence in the course of only about four hours; and all this the result of the act of a cowardly incendiary.

   Maybury & Maycumber carried about $65,000 insurance on the property mentioned. S. E. Welch, $14,000 on part of Union Hall block and dry goods; C. W. Collins, $6,000 on part of Union Hall block and $18,500 on crockery, etc.; J. & T. E. Courtney, lawyers, $500 on books, etc., of office; Mrs. E. A. Seamans, $1,000 on millinery goods; Luther T. White, dentist, $500 on stock and tools; T. P. Button, barber, $200 on furniture, etc.; L. D. Garrison & Co., $2,250 on grocery stock; C.H. Garrison, $10,000 on block ; Keator residence, $3,000; Mary Keator, furniture, personal property.etc, $700; Tanner Bros., $15,300 on dry goods; and Mrs. Annie E. Pudney, $1,000 on household goods stored in the Garrison block; H. M. Kellogg has $10,000 insurance on his stock of stoves, hardware, tools, fixtures, etc.; Kirkland Bros., $2,300 on groceries; Wickwire Bros., $5,000 on building and $500 on stock stored therein and ready for shipment; Mrs. Cook, $1,200 on hair goods.

   The personal losses above insurance as estimated are about $12,000 to C. H. Garrison; $2,000 to L. D. Garrison & Co.; $13,000 to Tanner Bros.; $7,000 to Wickwire Bros.; $1,000 to H. M. Kellogg ; $1,000 to Kirkland Bros.; $1,200 to Mrs. Cook; $150 to T. P. Button; $250 to L. T. White; $400 to I. H. Palmer; $300 to J. & T. E. Courtney; $450 to Stock Exchange in Garrison block; $10,000 to C. W. Collins; $4,000 to S. E. Welch; $1,000 to Mrs. Seamans.

   Desperate efforts were made to save property in all the buildings, and only when driven away by the flames and smoke did the large crowd desist. Kirkland Bros., H. M. Kellogg and L. D. Garrison & Co. saved nothing; Tanner Bros, a small amount in silks; C. W. Collins a good deal of his most valuable goods, but all more or less damaged; S. E. Welch considerable of his stock, but also damaged.

   About daylight the wind suddenly veered to the north-west, and in a short time the ground was white with snow and the water in the roads and gutters was freezing, while the change in the temperature added greatly to the discomforts of the night's labor and perils of the overworked firemen.

   We can not close this account without expressing the deep obligation the people of Cortland feel toward the gallant, generous firemen of Homer. Of late the calls upon them have been frequent, but in every case the response has not only been promptly, but even gladly made, and the aid they have rendered has been of the most skillful and efficient kind.

   Cortland needs another steamer. Will she vote it?

   With such force was the fire-bell rung that it was cracked, and is now useless.

   Wickwire Brothers intend to rebuild and will begin operations as soon as plans can be perfected.

   Coffee was freely served to the firemen on the occasion of both the above fires, for which all were very grateful.

   There is a prospect that Tanner Bros, will go into the store, in the Standard block formerly occupied by the shoe store.

   No more wooden cornices on public buildings. The destruction of Union Hall block is owing solely to its wooden cornice.

   J. & T. E. Courtney have located their law office in the old Schermerhorn building on Main street, and District-Attorney Palmer goes to the Keator block, opposite the Messenger House.

   Three streams were thrown through the front four-story windows, each being directed from the tops of V ladders erected in the street, and which were splendidly handled by the Hook & Ladder companies. One stream was also thrown from the roof of the Dickinson & McGraw building, and another from the rear.

 

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The Cortland House fire and that of Wednesday morning might have been prevented by efficient watchmen. At the last charter election the proposition to engage night watchmen was voted down. Will our citizens appropriate the necessary funds at the next election ?

   Cortland ought to authorize the Water-Works Company to put up forty hydrants. Will she do it?

   Beginning with Nov. 28 last [Cortland House Fire, also called "Cortland's Greatest Fire" by The Cortland News--CC ed.], three large fires have occurred in Cortland, two of them involving the heaviest losses the village has known, and all of them of incendiary origin.

   P. H. Ingraham, an employee of the Stockwell Wagon Company, of Marathon, has patented a front wheel gear brake for farm or lumber wagons. It can be used with all kinds of loading. The Stockwell Wagon Company have the exclusive use and control of the patent in this State. They are now making a steel-tired wagon, with the brake attached, for Samuel Sloan, president of the D., L. & W. Railroad Company.— Binghamton News.

Reference map:
http://www.cortlanddowntown.com/media/PDF/WALKINGbrochure.pdf