Nov. 1, 1899: CHICAGO - Three men were killed and three others were missing as the Chicago Fire Department responded to the collapse of a six-story building at 139 & 141 West Lake Street. A dust explosion in a seed store within the structure may have caused the collapse. Firemen continued digging in search of any people still trapped inside.
Nov. 2, 1899: HOBOKEN, NJ - A fire, possibly incendiary in nature, started in the Meyer Brothers Mattress Factory on Grand Street and quickly spread to a printing shop on Second Street and an adjoining building before leaping to the old two-story Hoboken Casino building at the corner of Second and Grand. The landmark wooden structure was the site of many famous boxing exhibitions.
Nov. 4, 1899: WAUKEGAN, IL - The friction of a machine belt in the Washburn and Moen Wire Works started a fire in the huge barbed wire factory. Local firemen were virtually helpless as the mill, owned by the American Steel and Wire Company, was completely ablaze as they arrived. Firemen were able to stop the flames from spreading to adjacent structures.
Nov. 5, 1899: KANSAS CITY, MO - Shortly after midnight, a blaze broke out in the six-story Jones Dry Goods department store at the corner of Main and Sixth streets. The fire swept through the entire structure, causing a loss of more than a quarter of a million dollars.
Nov. 8, 1899: MASSILLON, OH - A fire originating from defective electrical wiring spread through a large store owned by Allman & Putnam. Flames moved quickly through the dry goods, trapping the store's cashier inside. He was rescued, unconscious by firemen. Mutual aid from the Canton Fire Department helped to extinguish the fire.
Nov. 8, 1899: JERSEY CITY, NJ - A cauldron of pitch apparently boiled over and caused a fire in the Eastern Granite Roofing Company on Eleventh Street near Henderson Street. The three-story frame structure was soon a mass of flames and the entire department of lower Jersey City responded to the three alarms.
Nov. 8, 1899: WASHINGTON, D.C. - An early-morning fire at 355 Pennsylvania Ave. NW resulted in the death of a government worker. Several rescues were accomplished over ladders, but the one fatality was later found in bed in the fire room.
Nov. 8, 1899: NEW JERSEY - Two churches suffered fires believed to be incendiary in nature. The first was in Colestown, where the historic Episcopal Church was lost. In Moorestown the Methodist Church caught fire after a blaze was started in the sheds attached to the structure. Townspeople were able to stop the fire from consuming the church.
Time Capsule
NOV. 28, 1899: SIMULTANEOUS MAJOR FIRES STRIKE PHILADELPHIA
Two fires broke out in the heart of the business section of the city early in the day. At 6:30 A.M., a blaze was discovered in the large department store of Partridge & Richardson, at Eighth and Filbert streets, the very center of the shopping district. Battling a strong wind and hampered by the narrow nature of both Eighth and Filbert streets firemen waged a losing battle to protect the building next door.
For four hours, firemen battled the fire as it spread to the Lippincott Publishing Company on Filbert Street. Firemen struggled in vain to stop the flames, as it was known that over a half million dollars' worth of manuscripts, plates and other materials were in the store's safe. It was hoped that the fire did not penetrate the vault. The fire then spread to the Lit Brothers department store, which adjoined the publishing building. Firemen made a successful stand here as the fire was contained to one corner of the structure.
While this fire was being battled, another fire was discovered at about 7:30 A.M. on the fourth floor of 419 Market St., only four blocks from the first fire. The Market Street building housed several manufacturers and wholesale dealers. The fire soon had control of the entire building and soon spread to the adjoining structure.
The monetary losses for both fires was high, $2 million. Luckily, only a dozen firemen received minor injuries after the intense battle. More than 2,000 people lost their jobs as a result of the damage to the buildings and the many companies that occupied them.
Compiled by Paul Hashagen
