Disastrous Early 1900 Fires in Farwell

There are no ‘horseless carriages’ or automobiles in sight. Wagons of all kinds of uses are in the photo if you look closely. The wagon on the right has “laundry” on side. A wagon in the center hauls small logs or poles. While the card is postmarked August 1908, the photo was probably taken in cooler temperatures as the horses have blankets over their backs and the ladies in the photo are wearing coats over their dresses. Historic photos like this are fun and interesting for the number of details they contain. It’s like a childhood seek and find; a fire hydrant, a child, horses, etc. In 1909, Farwell suffers a fire which started in Leonard’s store (far left in photo). The Sentinel reports the fire in their May 21, 1909 Issue.

DISASTROUS FARWELL FIRE

Littlefield Block destroyed Completely Early Tuesday Morning

THE TOTAL LOSS REACHES OVER $6000

Farwell correspondent. A fire was discovered in L. F. Leonard’s general store, which was situated in the center of the Littlefield block, Tuesday morning about three o’clock. When discovered it was beyond control and rapidly spread to the adjacent stores occupied by D. R. Wait, grocer, and Miss Myrtle Sifton, milliner. The latter saved the major part of her stock, but Mr. Wait, who carried no insurance, lost, his whole stock. Fire next consumed the store building of O. I. Maurer but most of the groceries were saved and moved into the building of Silloway & Boucher where he will continue business. Wiesman’s store, the bank and J. W, McMichael’s store was badly blistered from the intense heat and the large windows were shattered. The K. O. T. M. hall above Wait’s store together with the furniture and park seats, also a quantity of furniture belonging to Mrs. D. I. Elder, which was stored in the Littlefield Hall was destroyed, no insurance. The Bell Telephone Company also sustained considerable damage. The losses follow: Chas. I. Maurer, building $600, stock $500—no insurance. J. L. Littlefield, three store buildings $3000—no insurance, L. F. Leonard, general stock, $5500. Insured for $4400. D. R. Wait, grocery Stock $1200. No insurance. K. O. T. M. M. and L.O. T. M. M. $400 Insured $200. Michigan State Telephone Co. $150. L. Wiesman $25. Masonic Temple building damaged $150—insured. Farwell Banking Co. $250 damage, insured. Miss Myrtle Sifton, millinery stock $50.

Much sympathy is felt by the community for those who sustained losses by the conflagration. The fire voluntary department are to be congratulated for the efficient service rendered. Farwell seems to have flood and fire dealt out with lavish hand this spring. Concerning the future it is too early to make definite announcement. But Mr. Leonard will probably go into the lumber business. Mr. Wait is well along in years and the loss falls heavily on him. He has several progressive sons and will probably not determine his future till advising with them, J. L, Littlefield intimates the probability of a brick block replacing the buildings of burnt area.

In 1916 Farwell suffered another fire the Sentinel reports as a $40,000 loss. That report in part reads as follows:

The village of Farwell mourns the loss of her finest brick block, two stores are out of business and the U.S. Post office is doing business temporarily in the Saxton building there, all as a result of a disastrous fire which occurred Thursday night of last week. The entire Littlefield block, a fine brick structure erected only a few years ago and housing to the double store occupied by Calkins & Schlegel, the local post-offices and the grocery store of E. W. Brown, is in ruins, only parts of the walls still standing, and these being of doubtful value for rebuilding purposes. The flames seem to have been discovered about midnight by parties living across the street, the entire basement of the Schlegel store appearing to be afire then. The village fire bell was reported to be in poor working order, one of the pump at the water works bad to be coaxed into submission before it would consent to do anything. These troubles were which soon put them out of the reach of human control. Half a dozen lines of hose were connected up and turned upon the raging furnace but the pressure was not sufficient to accomplish much. Several adjacent stores caught fire from the flying sparks, bucket brigade putting them out in every case.

A hurried telephone call was sent to Clare for assistance from their fire department, but owing to lack of pressure at the Farwell water plant, more hose was decided to be useless. After a frantic effort to keep the flames from spreading to the post office on the east, the job was given up, that and the Brown store adjoining being left to their fate. For some time, it looked as though the Maurer store would also go; in fact so well convinced of it was the proprietor that he had volunteers carry his entire stock across the street to a vacant building. But luck seemed to be on his side—especially so as he carried no insurance on either stock or building. One humorous feature of the situation was the discovery next morning that a sack of eggs that had been done up for a customer the day previous and not delivered was all intact—not an egg being broken.

The loss seems to fall most heavily on J L. Littlefield, one of Farwell’s well to do and progressive citizens. Reports say that this block cost in the neighborhood of $12,000, with insurance covering at least a part of value. The stock in the big Schlegel store was said to inventory in the neighborhood of $14,000. The Caple agency in this city issued policies on this to the extent of some six or eight thousand, we are informed. Postmaster Brown informs us that his store stock was probably about covered by insurance.

In the post office, there was not much outgoing mail, and only a little for local delivery. The mail for routes 1 and 3 had been “made up” the night before and was rescued. But that for route 2 could not be reached. Some fifty copies of the Sentinel went up in smoke, but we were lucky in having extra enough to duplicate. Most of the office books, some money orders and other records were saved.

It is quite doubtful whether a new building will go np on the former site. Such a hoodoo seems to lark around this corner that the owner may hesitate before taking any further chances with fate.