Recently in fires Category

Fires occur all too often, whether they are accidental or deliberately set. Even with the immediate communications and speedy response today, fires are still scary. Just think how frustrating the wait for the arrival of the firefighting apparatus was 130 years ago, such as at the scene described below, from the December 24, 1878 York Gazette.

We would probably be surprised at how murky city skies were a hundred or so years ago. Manufacturing was booming, and that meant a lot of smoke and steam.

The York Gazette of December 31, 1867 reports on a major fire that took a while to get noticed because of those conditions.

Every since humans discovered fire, we have been relying on it for cooking our food, keeping us warm, and lighting our way.

We also know the destruction and tragedy accidental fires can cause. Three items, datelined Hanover, from the April 25, 1908 York Gazette illustrate why fire needs to be treated with respect.

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.

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:

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:

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