The Fire of 1876
It is probable that if there is ever a history of Somerset written, the month of May will come in for a good share of the attention of the historian. Most of our readers will remember— we are sure all that live within the limits of Somerset county will— that on May 9, 1872, a large portion of our beautiful but old-fashioned town was destroyed by the agency of fire. Our citizens, with commendable energy, immediately commenced the erection of new homes and business houses of a more modern style, and on Thursday morning last there were but three of the lots that had been denuded of their buildings that were vacant. At 1:10 P.M. on Thursday last (of course it was Thursday— we were burnt out on Thursday in 1833 and on Thursday in 1872) a fire broke out in the pattern-shop of the foundry of Davis, McCoy & Co. (very near the place where the fire of 1872 started). The alarm was sounded, and soon there was a crowd of earnest, determined men on the ground ready to risk life and limb to stay its progress. The origin remains a mystery, though the most probable supposition is that it originated from a spark from the forge in the blacksmith-shop in the foundry. The wind was blowing a regular gale from the southwest at the time, and the flames immediately spread to the adjoining shops, the wind bearing them far in advance. The shed between the pattern-shop and the residence of Prof. George Schaefer was torn down, but before the fire could be got under control it leaped across the street to the carriage-shed and stables attached to the Somerset House.
The buildings were as dry as paper, and burned as readily. Though the wind carried the fire directly before it, it also by its gusts and eddies extended it, and a number of stables on Patriot street were soon on fire. Huge masses of burning material were taken up by the wind and carried far in advance, and wherever they fell they produced a fire. One of these torches lit on and ignited the residence of Frank Weimer, and another fired a frame building attached to the residence of George Holderbaum almost simultaneously. The Somerset House was soon on fire at the east as well as at the west side, and the men who had been trying to save it turned their attention to saving the goods.
Although the men of Somerset fought this conflagration stubbornly, and contested its advance from every fancied point of vantage step by step, yet, by reason of the high wind, the lack of fire apparatus and an adequate water supply, the devouring element pushed on in a general northeast course until its force was spent in destroying the Hay block and Mrs. Ogle’s residence, on the northwest corner of Union and Main Cross streets. Thus the foundry and the square bounded by West, Main and Patriot streets and Church alley were destroyed. Also all the buildings on the square bounded by West, Main and Union streets and Church alley, except those owned by Jacob Neff and Jonas Crook. On the square next east of the one last mentioned, the imposing Baer & Coffroth block alone was saved.
According to the account above referred to, the names of the sufferers by this fire and the losses sustained by each were as follows:
Davis, McCoy & Co. – $20,000
Somerset House, Mrs. E.A. Flick, proprietress – $20,000
Francis E. Weimer – $4,000
Ezra Griffin – $6,000
C. & G. Holderbaum – $12,000
Herman L. Baer – $13,000
George R. Parker – $10,000
Solomon Baer – $5,000
H. A. Flick – $10,000
Flick & Kreger – $3,000
Valentine Hay – $15,000
John H. Uhl – $12,000
Dr. Henry Brubaker – $4,000
Barnet House, B. Picking, owner – $12,000
John Cessna, Esq. – $2,500
J. W. Patton – $5,000
Barnet Picking, dwelling/house – $5,000
Mrs. Emily Ogle – $4,000
Besides those mentioned, there were a considerable number of others who lost personal property of much value. However, the district last burned over has been largely rebuilt, and spacious hotels, elegant private residences and stately business houses have now taken the place of nearly all spaces made vacant by the fires of 1872 and 1876.
(Source: History of Bedford, Somerset & Fulton Counties; 1884)
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