USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
In addition to the incorporated banks there is a private banking business carried on by W. L. Root, which he started in 1874.
Thus it will be seen that the aggregate banking capital of the incorporated banks of Bay City is $550,000, and this amount could at any time be increased to many times that sum. The surplus is $120,000 and the aggregate loans and discounts $2,077,233.63.
FIRES AND FIRE PROTECTION.
The fire records of Bay City do not show that the place has suffered to an unusual degree from fires. For twenty years the fire department has fully kept pace with the progressive movements of the village and city. The first fire of any considerable magnitude oc- curred in 1863. On Sunday, July 12th, a fire broke out on the south side of Center Street, just east of where the Fraser House now stands, and rapidly spread in all directions. The entire block between Center and Seventh Streets was laid in ashes; at the same time the fire swept across Water Street and devoured everything consumable there, including the saw mill of Grant & Fay and the sash and blind factory belonging to the Carneys. The loss occa- sioned by this fire was estimated to be $50,000. The gain to the city was a better class of buildings.
On Sunday, October 4, 1865, a fire broke out in the Watson Block, on Water Street, and from the Griswold Block crossed Wa- ter Street, and burned from George Lord's drug store to Fifth Street, destroying the stores and places of business of the following persons :- George Lord, Decker, Lewis & Co., John Drake, T. M. Bligh, Dr. N. H. Webster, Hotchkiss & Mercer, A. Huggins, A. Lovenstein, J. J. Richardson, P. T. Devaney, H. B. Landon, Frederick Derr, United States Telegraph Co., T. C. Prosser, J. O. Brown, Western Union Telegraph Co., William Graffart, C. A. Jay, and H. Mellins & Co. The pulling down of the store of the last named concern prevented its further spread in this direction.
On Center Street, the two stores owned by Capt. C. M. Averell, and occupied by W. W. Middaugh, D. Campbell, and William R. Chapman, were burned.
On Fifth Street, near Water, a small building occupied by Messrs. Hoag & Corbin, was also burned.
But two buildings, F. Arnold's bakery and shop, were left standing on the block surrounded by Water, Saginaw, Center and Fifth Streets, and the stores and dwelling houses facing this block on the south side of Center, east side of Saginaw and north side of Fifth, were only saved by the most strenuous efforts. Most of the establishments below Fifth Street moved their goods to places of safety, the fire at one time threatening to sweep the whole of Water Street.
The following is a list of the sufferers, amount of losses and insurance :- H. Griswold & Co., loss on building, goods, etc., $25,- 000; insurance, $16,000 to $18,000. Decker, Lewis & Co., groceries and provisions, $14,000; insurance, $9,000. James Fraser, loss on seven stores, $12,000; insurance, $5,400. George Lord, stock of drugs, groceries, etc., $10,000; insurance, $5,000. James Wat- son, buildings, $3,200; insurance, $2,800. L. A. Perrault, liquors, $1,000; insurance, $800. Mueller & Simons, butcher shop, meats, etc., $800; insurance, $300. J. F. Winkler, groceries and provisions, $3,840; insurance, $2,500. Assignee of Swinscoe & Son, groceries and liquors, $2,500; insurance, $2,500. Phillips, Sullivan & Brooks, groceries and provisions, $6,000; insurance, $3,000. C. H. Deni- son, law books and office fixtures, $500; no insurance. R. J. Carney, books and office fixtures, $200; insurance, $50. Dr. C. A. Maxon, dentist, tools and office furniture, $575; insurance, $300. Board of Trade, furniture and papers, $200; no insurance. J. S. Judson, cloths, etc., $200; no insurance. J. McDermott & Co., boots and shoes, $2,500; insurance, $1,600. F. V. Walthausen & Bro., buildings, drugs, etc., $1,200; insurance, $1,600. Miss J. Hemme, millinery, $1,600; insurance, $600. L. Heumann, building and gro- ceries, $2,000; insurance, $1,000. T. N. Zehner, jeweler, $260; no insurance. J. Arnold, butcher shop, meats, etc., $900; insurance, $400. L. Bloeden, buildings, furniture, etc., $2,000 to $3,000; insurance, $3,500 ou stock. A. Lovenstein, clothing, over $6,000; insurance,
.
101
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
$4,100. P. T. Devaney, boots and shoes, $4,500; insurance, $3,- 000. Frederick Derr, dwelling house, $1,200; insurance, $600. T. C. Prosser, buildings, bakery, etc., $3,900; insurance, $3,000. John O. Brown, tobacco and cigars, $750; insurance, $750. H. Mellins & Co., fancy goods, and hats and caps, $1,500; no insurance. Western Union Telegraph Co., office fixtures, etc., $50; no insur- ance. W. Graffart, barber shop fixtures, $250; no insurance. John Drake, books and office fixtures, $150; no insurance. Dr. N. John- son, books, medicines, etc., $875; insurance, $525. T. M. Bligh, books and office fixtures, $150; no insurance. Dr. N. H. Webster, dentist's tools and office furniture, $150; no insurance. Dr. H. B. Landon, office fixtures, $50; no insurance. Hotchkiss & Mercer, books and papers, $1,000; no insurance. C. M. Averell, buildings, $2,000; insurance $1,200. W. W. Middaugh, furniture, $200; no insurance. D. Campbell, photographer, $200; no insurance. United States Telegraph Co., battery and office fixtures, $160; no insurance. A. N. Rouech, damage to building, $50; insured. Ernst Frank, loss by removal of stock, $50; insured. The follow- ing persons also sustained losses :- Charles A. Jay, groceries and provisions, insurance, $1,000; A. Huggins, household furniture; J. J. Richardson, barber; William R. Chapman, clothes cleaner ; Street Railway Co., damage to track.
Sunday morning, April 9, 1871, a fire broke out in the salt block of the New York Salt Company, at Portsmouth. A strong wind was blowing, and the fire spread rapidly to other property. The property burned and losses were as follows :- Two salt blocks belonging to the New York Salt Company and rented by Albert Miller, loss $35,000, no insurance. Mr. Miller's loss was about $4,000 and no insurance. A. C. Braddock, loss $1,500, insured. The Crampton House, $5,000; insured for $2,000. Mr. Thorp's wagon and blacksmith shop, $4,000; insured for $800. Mr. Gos- law's house, $1,000; no insurance. Mrs. John Crampton's house, $1,000; no insurance. Mr. Stewart's house, $500; insured. Mrs. Raby's house, $1,000; partial insurance. Six families were left homeless. Amount of property destroyed, about $53,000. About 10 o'clock the same morning another fire started in a pile of seasoned lumber, on Rust's dock, and about $30,000 worth of lum- ber burned; insured for $25,000. The propeller "Bay City," lying at the dock loaded with lumber, took fire, and had to be scuttled and sunk. The total loss from this day's fires, above insurance, was about $50,000.
About half past four o'clock in the afternoon of April 11, 1878, a destructive fire occurred, which was described by the daily Tribune of the following day as follows:
"At about half past four o'clock yesterday afternoon, just as the Tribune had gone to press, an alarm of fire rang out, and a dense smoke was seen ascending from the direction of Eddy, Avery & Co.'s mill, at the foot of Eleventh Street. A fierce gale was blow- ing at the time from the southwest to northeast, directly towards the business heart of the city. Instantly all was excitement and activity. The hose companies made quick time to the scene of the conflagration, and it seemed as if the entire population of the city were running towards the locality.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
1
"So far as can be learned, Mr. E. Y. Williams was the first man that saw the flames. He is a lumber inspector, and was superin- tending the loading of a cargo from the dock, when, all at once, he saw a blaze spring up between two piles of lumber, about midway of the dock. The draft of the wind between the piles was strong, and they caught almost instantly, as it seemed, and a column of flame leaped high into the air. The first blaze must have caught from a spark from a passing tug, as Eddy & Avery's own tug had
not been fired for some time. Mr. Fay, of the firm Gates & Fay, informs us that their tramway caught fire three times before the outbreak of the fire on the Eddy dock, by sparks from passing boats, and he sent men repeatedly to warn the managers of the River Line to keep away from the dock. By dint of stationing men with buckets of water to put out the sparks as fast as they fell, Messrs. Gates & Fay succeeded in preventing a conflagration spreading from their docks.
"Higher and higher rose the flames, licking up with their red demon tongues pile after pile of lumber, and sending aloft into the air pillars of fire, which struck terror to the hearts of our citi- zens, along the river's edge from Essexville to Portsmouth, and eastward to the furthest city limits. A dense pall of smoke hung diagonally over the apparently doomed metropolis of the valley, reaching to its northeastern corner, and the air was filled with fiery torches and burning brands of pine and large sheets of tarred building paper, which burned fiercely and prolongedly after they struck the ground. These burning masses, some of them larger than a broad-brimmed hat, fell as far out as Johnson Street. The houses within a swath of five or six blocks, running back in the direction of the wind, were in constant danger from these devil's missiles, and all members of the family within the threatened districts, had full occupation in extinguishing them, or in wetting down their houses with hose or buckets. For more than half a mile back from the fire the reign of terror was universal. Men and women watched the mounting mass of flames pushing sub- limely, steadily and swiftly back from the river's bank, with labored breath and eyes aglow; little children clutched their parents as if overcome by some dread sense of impending doom, -for if the wind did not abate it was only a question of time when their houses, too, would be engulfed by the red destroyer. The brave firemen fought steadily and intrepidly, although it seemed as if fate was against them. Had they had an adequate supply of hose at their command, there is a possibility that they could have confined the fire to the dock where it originated. But as it was, they fought at terrible odds.
"The heat was so intense that the hose men were obliged to direct their streams from behind wooden screens, where they stood and fought, literally enveloped by sheets of flame. The wind, fanned to the intensity of a hurricane by the heat, blew the water into a spray, that made no impression upon the burning lumber, and efforts were now directed chiefly towards saving the mill. The openings of the mill were closed, and its engine and hose put to work flooding the roof and exposed portions. Its salvation seems like a miracle, but it was really due to persistent and heroic work.
"A tug came up to the burning dock, hitched on to a burning pile, and pulled it over into the water. The burning boards floated down to Bradley's dock, and soon the flames, as if delighted with this new prey, began to leap and dance towards Bradley's lower mill, which was soon wrapped in the destroying element. Now the progress of the flames was very rapid. The fire leaped across Water Street, from the point of its origin, and set fire to a frame building occupied as a barber shop, laundry and dwelling. It and the ad- joining building, occupied by Connelly as a shoe shop, and both owned by City Attorney Daglish, were speedily consumed. From here the flames communicated to A. Grabowsky's residence on Sag- inaw Street, between Tenth and Eleventh Streets, owned by P. J. Perrott. The adjoining house, although on fire, was saved, and the progress of the destroyer was stopped at this point. But the fly- ing cinders communicated the flames to the residence of F. A. Ban- croft, four blocks away, at the corner of Ninth and Water Streets, and that fine residence, with the adjoining one occupied by E. J ..
BAY CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
@
0
102
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
Wright, were speedily consumed. Then the Universalist Church went, then Judge Miller's beautiful residence, L. Bloeden's house on the corner of Eighth and Washington Streets, C. Brown's resi- dence, a little in the rear, and a large number of other buildings which will be found in detail below.
EXTENT OF THE DESTRUCTION.
"Two blocks are swept entirely clean, and two others have only three buildings left standing between them.
"It was about 8 o'clock when Judge Miller's house caught, and it was felt then that if the conflagration could not be kept from crossing Eighth Street, the best portion of the city would have to go. Just about this time aid arrived from the Saginaws, with nearly 1,000 feet of hose, and this timely reinforcement enabled the fire- men to throw streams of water upon the exposed as well as the burning buildings, thus raising a hope that the progress of the devourer might be stayed.
"But better still, the wind, which had been gradually abating, now subsided to a gentle zephyr, and the whole city drew a long breath of relief. There was then no further question that the remainder of the city would be saved. The devoted firemen con- tinued all night to throw streams of water upon the embers, but the mass of citizens, except the unfortunates whose houses were destroyed, or whose furniture had been removed at the height of the alarm, went to their homes and slept, vividly realizing how blessed is the feeling of security after passing through a season of terror. The scenes on the streets during the three hours' reign of terror before the fire was under control, were by turns ludicrous and heart- rending. Furniture was removed from many houses that were thought to be in danger, and some of the friends of the threatened families, in their eagerness to serve, threw marble top tables down stairs, heaved mirrors out of the windows, and carried down mat- tresses, as is usual in such cases. The damage by reason of broken and scattered furniture is a large element in the ruin wrought by last night's work, which it is difficult to estimate.
"We saw little children going along the streets, their hands clasped by crying mothers or elder sisters, who knew not where they would find shelter for their little ones. Many families this morning were unable to find their household goods, and in a few cases children were missing, but it is hoped they will turn up during the day.
"There were men with coats burned full of holes, their hair singed, and faces, necks and hands scarred from fighting the flames. There were some people who were nearly frightened out of their wits, and cut up amusing antics; and there were others who were as cool as though sitting on the point of the north pole, and made no effort to save their property, remarking that they were 'fully insured.' There is nothing like a fire to bring out human nature.
"Drays and all sorts of vehicles were in great demand, and many procured the removal of their furniture who afterwards regretted it. "The tugs 'Rumage' and ' Annie Moiles' lost their lines by hitch- ing on to lumber piles which they were unable to move, and the rapid spread of the flames made it too hot to unhitch them.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
"We give the following detailed statement of losses and insur- ance, which is as full and correct as can be ascertained at this writing :
"Industrial Works on fences, docks and shed, $600; partially insured. Eddy, Avery & Co., lumber, $50,000; drill house, $1,200; cooper shop, $500; trams and docks, $15,000; salt, 8,000 barrels, $6,000; office, $500; stores and other stock, $3,000; total loss, $76,200; insurance on lumber, $17,000; salt, $700; drill house,
$1,200; total insurance, $18,900. L. Q. Robinson & Co., lumber on Eddy, Avery & Co's dock, $13,000. Avery & Murphy, lumber on Eddy, Avery & Co's dock, $15,000. William Daglish, two buildings opposite Eddy, Avery & Co's office, Water Street, $2,500; insurance on one, $800. I. Catlin, boarding house, corner Tenth and Water Strrets, occupied by Mrs. Walker, $1,000; insurance, $800. I. Collins, house occupied by M. Garland, corner Tenth and Saginaw Streets, damages $100; Garland's furniture, $250. P. Perrott, two houses on Saginaw, between Tenth and Eleventh Streets, one occupied by A. Grabowsky, $800; insurance, $600; the other by himself, damaged, $350; covered by insurance. Perrott's furniture, $1,000; insured. The Rouse mill, $10,000; lumber, $9,000; docks and trams, $2,000; salt, 6,000 barrels, $4,500; salt sheds, $1,000; barn, $1,000; office and contents, $1,000; total, $28,000; in- surance, $4,000, on lumber, docks and trams. Old Eagle Brewery, Tenth and Water Streets, $300; barn and ice house, $100; and a house on Saginaw Street, $500; all belonging to same parties; total, $900. E. Stanton's residence on Water Street, between
WATSON BLOCK.
Ninth and Tenth Streets, $3,500; insurance, $1,000; barn, $200; insurance, $50. The residence was occupied by E. J. Wright, whose loss on furniture was covered by insurance. Mr. Stanton had furniture in the residence, of which he lost $700; insured for $500. Mr. Stanton had three houses on Saginaw Street, between Ninth and Tenth Streets, loss $1,100; insurance, $400. Stanton's total loss, $4,800; total insurance, $1,900. F. A. Bancroft's residence, corner Ninth and Water Streets, and barn on Saginaw and Ninth Streets, $3,000; insurance, $2,500; furniture, $1,000; insurance, $900; total loss, $4,000; total insurance, $3,400, by Braddock & Shannon. C. C. Fitzhugh, barn, damage, $50; insured; fence, $100. C. Bruner, house and two barns, Ninth and Wash- ington Streets, $1,000; insured, $700, Crable; furniture, $300; insured. Universalist Church, on Washington Street, between Eighth and Ninth Streets, $3,500; ins ired for $2,000 L. Bloeden, two houses and one barn, Washington and Eighth Streets, $1,500; insured for $400. C. C. Wheeler, house, corner Eighth and Saginaw Streets, $600. A. Carter, two houses, Saginaw Street, between Eighth and Ninth Streets, $3,000. Paul Greul, hotel, Saginaw Street, between Eighth and Ninth Streets, $2,000; insured, $1,000; furniture, $300; insured. Steinbaur's old brewery, corner
0
103
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
Ninth and Saginaw Streets, $2,000. Burbridge's shop, corner Ninth and Saginaw Streets, $1,500; tools, $500; insured, $700, Crable. Wildman's boiler shop, Ninth and Water Streets, $1,200. Mrs. F. R. S. Balen, boarding house, Water Street, between Eighth and Ninth Streets, $500; insurance, $400, Pratt & Denison. Wells & Son, blacksmith shop, $500; furniture stored in the block, $700. W. H. Pusey, shop and contents, $400; on Water Street, between Eighth and Ninth Streets. William Couler, store and dwelling, Water Street, near Eighth Street. I. Catlin, damage to dwelling, corner Eighth and Saginaw Streets, $100; insured; house on Saginaw Street, near residence, $500; insurance, $300; barn, $100; insurance, $50. C. W. & H. Randall, shop on Water Street, between Tenth and Eleventh Streets, $100. Judge Miller's house and barn, $5,000; insured for $3,500. A. Grabowsky, furniture, $1,200; insured for $1,000. Chapman, Laforge & Co., lumber on Bradley's dock, $3,200; insured for $1,000. Mrs. Elizabeth Camp- bell, damage to house, $100; insured. Mrs. J. Redmond, damage to house, $100; insured.
THE TOTAL.
"This will make a total loss of $178,950, and other losses not reported will probably swell this amount to $200,000, of which over $90,000 is for lumber alone. The amount of insurance to cover this will reach about $55,000."
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
At a meeting of the village council, held December 19, 1859, the question of a fire department was reached, and a committee on fire department appointed, consisting of Israel Catlin, H. M. Brad- ley, and H. A. Chamberlin. At a subsequent meeting of the council, January 4, 1860, this committee were instructed to rent a sufficient amount of leather hose to use until Spring, and to procure a triangle with which to alarm the inhabitants whenever the fiery darts of the fire fiend should issue forth. This was certainly a modest beginning. Then a small hand engine, by the terrifying name of "Tiger," afterwards changed to the more sonorous title of "Peninsular," was purchased, and John McEwan elected captain. In April, 1861, the growing interests of the place seemed to require increased efficiency in its fire department, and W. L. Fay was com- missioned to procure an engine, and he purchased one in Chicago, known as "Red Rover." H. M. Bradley was appointed chief en- gineer of the fire department, and organized it in an efficient man- ner. There was but little use for the fire department until the 12th of July, 1863, when a fire broke out on the south side of Center Street, between Water and Saginaw Streets, sweeping both sides of Water Street for two blocks, involving in its destructive course the "Red Rover" engine and its engine house, leaving the village not only in ashes and in mourning, but as well in danger of greater con- flagrations. An attempt was now made by Councilman Louis Bloe- den to establish fire limits, but without success. On August 10th the bonds of the village, to the extent of $6,000, were ordered by the council for the procuring of more apparatus, and a "sufficient amount" was ordered to be expended in a steam fire engine (which, however, was not done for several years), with not to exceed $500, to repair or rebuild the "Red Rover" engine; and, at the same meeting the president and recorder were instructed to procure a site for an engine house. This committee purchased a lot on Saginaw Street, at the price of $475. An endeavor was made to organize a hook and ladder company, but failed, as had all similar efforts to this date. In October of this year, 1863, the council pur- chased two hand engines from the city of Rochester, N. Y., with hose carts and other apparatus. These engines were designated as "Red Rover" No. 1, and "Protection" No. 2. These engines cost
the village $1,500, and were subsequently sold by the city for nearly the same price.
At a special election held September 12, 1865, it was ordered that a steam fire engine be purchased, and in accordance with that decision, a Silsby steamer was ordered, which was accepted by reso- lution adopted by the council, November 18, 1865. The first chief engineer was E. Y. Williams. The first engineer of the steamer "Neptune" was B. F. Ray, and he continued in that position until the reorganization in 1873, when he was made chief of the volun- teer department, in which capacity he served until February, 1881, when he resigned. In 1873 the department was re-organized, and made a volunteer department, and subsequently the number of men was reduced, and it was made a part pay department. When the waterworks began operation the Holley system of fire protection was instituted. When Portsmouth was annexed to the city, their steamer, the "Alert," was added to the department, and the two steamers are now held in reserve. The present department is upon the volunteer plan, part pay. There are now four hose companies, with carts drawn by horses, and one hook and ladder company. The following are the
OFFICERS AND COMPANIES :
Chief engineer, Robert J. Campbell; first assistant, John Fow- ler; second assistant, Henry Woods. First Ward, Vigilant Hose Company and steam fire engine "Neptune," southwest corner of Fitzgerald and Belinda Streets; Second Ward, Neptune Hose Com- pany, east side Saginaw, between Center and Fifth Streets; Fourth Ward, Rescue Hose Company, east side Water, between Tenth and Eleventh Streets; Seventh Ward, Night Hawk Hose Company, northeast corner of Thirty-fourth and Taylor Streets; steam fire engine "Alert," on Middle Ground, opposite Thirty-second Street; Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, Fourth Ward engine house, north Water, between Tenth and Eleventh Streets.
FIRE LIMITS.
Whether necessary or not, fires are inevitable and very effec- tive as a rejuvenating agency. It usually happens in the experience of new towns that a few fires are necessary to stimulate public action in the direction of future protection against the ravages of this dangerous element. This was true with reference to Bay City, and yet few places have been more enterprising in providing for the public comfort and welfare than this metropolis. The fire of July, 1863, was a serious one for a village of 2,000 inhabitants,involving, as it did, a loss of $50,000. Immediately after that fire an attempt was made to establish fire limits, but without success. A second unsuccessful attempt was made in the council early in 1865, but the big fire in October of that year convinced the people that delays were dangerous, and soon after that the council established fire limits, preventing the erection of wooden buildings in the business parts of the town west of Saginaw Street.
There was considerable opposition to the restrictions imposed by fire limits, although their necessity had been so expensively demonstrated. This feeling, however, soon passed away, and the natural consequence of fine brick structures has followed. The present fire limits are Second Street, north; Adams Street, east; Eighth Street, south; and the Saginaw River, west.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.