Doing a Google search on forest fires is eye opening. As I write this, fires are raging in the mountains of New Mexico; tigers and elephants are threatened by the fires in two national parks in India; and 45 forest fires have started in Irkutsk, Russia the past few days.

I don’t recall any major forest fires in York County lately. That wasn’t always the case.

Posted in 1920s Lower Chanceford Twp. Shrewsbury Township Universal York York County York Furnace fires

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1908 York County Prison

The former York County Jail has stood empty for many years. Every now and then someone suggests a new use for the striking five story brick building, but nothing seems to come of it.

The original stone castle-like prison, built in the 1850s had become crowded and inadequate.

Click here to read my previous post on the Christmas Prison Break from the old not-so-secure prison.

Construction on the monumental multi-story brick addition, which still stands, was in process during the winter of 1908. A fire, caused by construction equipment, caused the locked-up prisoners much anxiety.

The Gazette reports that during the 1908 fire:

Posted in 1900s Universal York York York County buildings fires prisons

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We often hear of terrible fires that could have had even worse consequences if it were not for extraordinary ordinary people, and well as brave firefighters, risking themselves to save other humans as well as animals. The same held true in the past.

There was an ever-present danger of fire 150 years ago. Homes were heated and cooking was done in fireplaces and stoves with flames or smoldering coals. Arson seemed also to be a popular crime. In the winter of 1857 the Gazette reports on a five-structure fire and how horses were saved by a not very well clad rescuer:

Posted in 1850s Universal York York City animals arson crime fires horses rescues

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One hundred years ago the Gazette reported a disastrous fire in Red Lion:

When Mrs. Emanuel Barshinger of North Main Street woke up about 4 a.m., she could see a fire in Millard Smith’s cigar factory. It soon spread to surrounding buildings. The Smith factory and his warehouse were destroyed, as were John Garner’s warehouse, the stables of Levi Kaltreider and of Dr. G. N. Yeagle.

The Leo Fire company was credited with saving Mrs. John Seitz’s barn and

Posted in 1900s Red Lion Universal York cigars fires history industry manufacturing people

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