Firen in Mayville, Tuscola County, Michigan

Copyright © 1998 by Bonnie Petee. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  

 

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SWEPT BY FIRE

Taken from, "The History of Tuscola County," H. R. Page Co, Chicago, 1883. 
Contributed by Bonnie J. Petee.

June 19, 1873, Mayville was visited by a destructive fire, of which the following account
was given at the time:

"As near as can be determined the fire originated at about 1:30 o'clock in the morning,
between the hardware store of  N. Schermerhorn and the dry goods store of C. B. Stuck,
in an alley less than four feet wide.  Arthur Veitch was, perhaps, the discoverer of the
fire, having just got up to prepare to go to the circus at Vassar.  His first impression was
that some of Mr. Stuck's family were up, but soon he became alarmed, and upon going to
the place saw flames rapidly spreading toward the roof of Mr. Schermerhorn's  hardware
store, and before he could get any water they were beyond control.  He immediately gave
the alarm, but before assistance was at hand the flames had communicated with the walls
of both buildings, and it became a certainty that the block was beyond redemption.  In an
almost incredible short space of time the dwelling-houses of B. G. Harris and George
Fowler, and the shoe shop of the latter, hardware store of Schermerhorn and store of C.
B. Stuck, were one mass of flames, those building being in a solid block.  The wind being
very mild in the southwest, Allison Bryant thought his store, standing seventy feet north
of  Stuck's, could be saved; and could have been accomplished, but human power cannot
always last, and the heat was intense.  A heavy column of flame rolled over the space,
and Bryant's store was soon counted amount the things that were.  Soon the flames leaped
the distance of one hundred feet and enveloped the drug store of John Veitch & Son. and
immediately thereafter the store of W. A. Clark was consumed with most, if not all, of
the contents.  The time consumed in its destruction did not exceed twelve minutes.  In
somewhat less than two hours $30,000 worth of property had been swept away and five
families made homeless.  The heroism and coolness of the ladies was truly wonderful. 
Charles Reynick was a power within himself but worked beyond his strength and fainted. 
He was carried to the office of H. R. Thomas and cared for.  B. G. Harris saved only a
part of his household goods, among which was not a spoon, plate, knife or fork, and
worst of all, what money he had was consumed in his vest left hanging on the bed-post. 
George Fowler saved only a small portion of his household goods and nothing to eat.  N.
Schermerhorn saved a small part of his hardware, with no insurance on the rest.  C. B.
Stuck carried a large portion of his good across the street, only to be consumed there,
none of his household goods being saved, neither he nor his wife saving a change of
raiment.  Allison Bryant saved a goodly portion of his dry goods, but lost all of his
household goods, and his clerk, E. G. Fox, lost all his wearing apparel, even to his shoes,
and was seen in the street barefoot, working heroically.  It was with difficulty that the
houses of W. B. Trend and Abram Lockard were saved; but thanks to the surrounding
rain barrels they were.  Fourteen buildings in all were burned, and the total loss foots up
$28,500, with an insurance of $12,500.  The names of the principal losers are B. G.
Harris, George Fowler, Barker & Ripley, N. Schermerhorn, C. B. Stuck, Allison Bryant,
W. A. Clark, Veitch & Son and W. B. Trend.











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