2023 Spring Newsletter

From the Miami Republican, Paola, Miami County, Kansas, Thursday August 12,1965 $75,000 Loss In Paola’s Big Fire Of 91 Years Ago

(What was undoubtedly Paola's bigger fire in regard to the number of persons and firms affected oc curred 91 years ago, August 6, 1874. The following account appeared in the August 8 issue of The Mi ami Republican, two days following the fire. Accord ing to old timers, the St. Charles Hotel Mood where the Coker Store, building is and the Union Block ad joined it on the east.) Disastrous Fire

to save the property from flames. J. W. Price, druggist, and E. K. Shaw, jeweler, occupied the rooms under the St. Charles and by steady, constant work, nearly all of Mr. Shaw’s stock and most of that in the front room belonging to Mr. Price was removed to a place of safe ty in the Park. Nearly, if not quite all of Mr. Price’s goods in the back room were lost as the fire communicated more rapidly to that part of the building. J. W. Campbell occupied the corner basement room under the St. Charles Hotel as a saloon and succeed ed in removing a portion of the furniture and liquors. Comparatively little however could be secured and the Colonel is a heavy loser. Charles Button’s barber and bath rooms were next east and his effects were removed with a loss of about $20. The First National bank occupied the first room of Union Block on the ground floor and the officers of the bank after removing all valuables from the safe and securing as nearly as possible the office furniture and fixtures found that little time was left them. All the bank papers are safe and the business facilities are unimpaired. W. E. Nicely & Co. with a large stock of dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, hats, caps, etc, occupied the room next east of the bank and with such a large and varied stock it seemed impossible that much could be done to effect a removal. However, the great mass of goods was removed in good order to a place of safety In the Park. They had many willing workers and it was a matter of surprise that so much could be done. But it was done. The Hoosier Store, occupied the east and remaining room of the Union Block. N. H. Williams, the senior` member of the firm, was absent at Louisburg, but in a short a stream of workers engaged In the removal of the manifold articles comprising the stock of a first class grocery.

Paola's Most Severe Loss ! The St. Charles Hotel and Union Block Burned ! A Large Number of Busi- ness Rooms Destroyed ! Loss, Seventy-five Thousand Dollars

During the past year and a half Paola has been most unfortunate in the matter of fires. The burning of the wooden structures on the northeast and north west corners of the square was looked upon as a great misfortune but was considered as one likely to occur at any time where business houses in close proximity were constructed of entirely of combusti ble material. Of our brick buildings we felt entirely secure, regard ing it as almost impossible that they should or could burn. It was a matter of regret amounting to almost grief when on Thursday morning last, the 6th inst., at about three o’clock the fire alarm rang out and the assembling citizens found the St. Charles Hotel, owned by Messrs. W. G. Krutz and W. R. Wagstaff, the building which was considered the , most se cure, was in a blaze of flames and this feeling deep ened into positive anguish as the fruitless efforts of the firemen to obtain control of the flames became momentarily more evident. From the first it was evident that the hotel was cer tain to go but slight hopes could be entertained re garding the safety of the adjoining building known as the Union Block and owned by Thos. Lester of In diana, Ontario. Canada. The firms occupying this building commenced at once to remove their stocks of goods and for two hours men women worked as rarely they can work

Page 19