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Page 149
MAJOR FIRES IN DUBOIS
CHAPTER XXXI
DuBois had four major fires. The first fire occurred in
November, 1880. An opera house had been built in the vicinity of 29
West Long Avenue. The first performance occurred in November, and
during the night, after the show had closed, this house took fire
and burned to the ground. At present it is understood to have been a
one story structure, and while some persons claim that the loss was
$25,000.00, yet at that time $25,000.00 would have built a very
large wooden building, and in addition thereto it is doubtful if the
owners of this property ever had $25,000.00.
The second fire occurred in December, 1883, and
originated in about the same locality. This fire not only destroyed
what was known as the American House Restaurant, but it crossed the
street and burned several buildings on the north side of West Long
Avenue. The estimated loss in this fire was as extravagant at that
of 1881.
The third fire occurred in February, 1886, at the
corner of Long Avenue and Brady Street. At this point there was a
two story frame building known as the "City Hotel," having probably
10 to 15 bedrooms. The office, bar-room, and lobby at first were in
the corner room. Later, the bar-room was segregated to the north
side of the building. This fire spread north along Courtney Street,
and destroyed the Grier Brothers Hardware Store, and the building of
H. S. Knarr. This loss was considerable.
After this fire the land on the corner was sold to John
Bierley, who started to erect a three story brick building. Bierley
got as far as the first floor and then ran out of money. He finished
the store rooms and rented them.
The room on the corner was rented for the DuBois
Deposit Bank. Grier Brothers bought a lot from Kuntz and erected a
brick building on the property. H. S. Knarr rebuilt on his land,
erecting a three story brick building. The first floor had three
store rooms, as at present, and the second floor was used for
offices. The third floor was for lodge rooms.
The next great fire occurred on the 18th of June, 1888.
The entire area of the central part of the town from Sugar Alley
east to Stockdale Street was built of wood, except four buildings.
One, a three story brick building, located in the vicinity of 239
West Long Avenue, and used for hotel purposes at the time of the
fire; one on West Long Avenue in the vicinity of 25-27-29 was a one
story brick building used for store rooms; farther east at No. 7
West Long Avenue was a two story brick building occupied by the
First National Bank of DuBois City. The fourth building was the
Grier Hardware Store and the Knarr building on North Brady Street.
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