Fire of 1876
The first City Hall building was erected in 1869. It burned down in 1876. Not much is known about that fire, but there is a brief account in Mabel Jones Bryan's book, Missouri Musings Over Eighty-five Years, 1951.
The flames were tall.
It was not uncommon for business owners to live above their shops and those on the north side of the Square were quite concerned that their buildings, just to the south of the City hall, would be consumed as well.
Volunteer firemen fought the blaze with a bucket brigade.
One person suggested taking a store's stock out and put it in the park (Elm Park) but an insurance agent happened by and told people not to do that as any claims for items that were damaged but outside of the building would not be covered. The agent suggested only taking personal belongings and the business books out of the building as a precaution.
In the end, the firefighters were able to keep the flames at bay and save the buildings on Webster Street. The City Hall was a loss however.
Source: Bryan, Mabel Jones Bryan, Missouri Musings Over Eighty-five Years, 1951.
The flames were tall.
It was not uncommon for business owners to live above their shops and those on the north side of the Square were quite concerned that their buildings, just to the south of the City hall, would be consumed as well.
Volunteer firemen fought the blaze with a bucket brigade.
One person suggested taking a store's stock out and put it in the park (Elm Park) but an insurance agent happened by and told people not to do that as any claims for items that were damaged but outside of the building would not be covered. The agent suggested only taking personal belongings and the business books out of the building as a precaution.
In the end, the firefighters were able to keep the flames at bay and save the buildings on Webster Street. The City Hall was a loss however.
Source: Bryan, Mabel Jones Bryan, Missouri Musings Over Eighty-five Years, 1951.
