ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Many Stories After the Fire


The village hall, far left, and the current State Farm Insurance building (with the awnings) at the corner of North Defiance and Holland streets in downtown Archbold survived the 1913 fire that destroyed most of the buildings on the east side of North Defiance Street.– Buckeye file photo

The village hall, far left, and the current State Farm Insurance building (with the awnings) at the corner of North Defiance and Holland streets in downtown Archbold survived the 1913 fire that destroyed most of the buildings on the east side of North Defiance Street.– Buckeye file photo

(Editor’s Note: The following was originally published in the Sept. 5, 1913 edition of the Archbold Buckeye.)

When the fire was burning at night the flames could be seen for miles around.

About 3,000 people came from every direction in autos, on cars and trains. Automobiles were parked in all parts of town.

The number of drunks in evidence during the fire was something almost unbelievable. The excitement must have emptied Ridgeville, Ney and Naomi of all their customers.

The alley back of the Buckeye office was the headquarters of a big gang of bottle suckers. They quarreled, swore and fought like beasts.

For some fifteen minutes, two men were fighting in the alley. Two drunks chased two Archbold women up an alley. The women were the better runners and took refuge in a residence.

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It seems that fate was against Archbold in every way that night. Even after our good neighbors arrived to assist us, some unforeseen thing delayed the operations of each engine.

We are thankful that they showed their great kindness in coming to our assistance, and Archbold is thankful for both the good will and the service.

The Toledo engine was out of commission about one hour and twenty-five minutes after arrival, making repairs to the check valve.

The Toledo engine used two lengths of Archbold hose, which under pressure leaked badly, interfering much with the progress of their powerful stream.

Bryan fire company remained under orders of the Archbold marshal until the Archbold engine was repaired. Bryan kept the ruins wet down, and then loading on Toledo’s special, went home.

The special then turned back and picked up Toledo.

Some of Archbold’s citizens did not know the difference between the working uniforms of the Toledo and Bryan companies, which were much alike.

Toledo’s small nozzle was just the thing with which to walk into the Murbach building and soon control the flames.

The nozzle of Bryan was large and just right to throw a large volume of water to subdue the fire.

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Although Farmers & Merchants Bank building still stands, a mute monument to the fireproof idea, yet the great heat of the fire from the burning wooden walls against it damaged the walls considerably.

Since the back wall of the bank is exposed to the eye, the first impression of this beautiful structure is not as impressive as when first viewed from the corner front.

How It Started

There were so many stories about how the fire originated– none of them reliable, as no one knows how it started– that this paper did not try to say how the fire of Saturday night started.

Some of the clerks were in the room where the flames originated not fifteen minutes before the fire started and saw nothing unusual.

Most people are inclined to suspect the acetylene gas tank of exploding.

This theory has several points in its favor. Principally that the flames burst out immediately in a great volume, also that such tanks have been known to perform queer stunts.

The tank as it lays shows that it was thrown open by violent force. Yet the coal oil tank was near also a small quantity of gasoline in a can.

There was also baled paper near and about everything in such a warehouse is combustible. Just what caused the fire will probably always remain a mystery.

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Some citizens wonder why Stryker did not come to help us with their steam engine, and one man went part way to Stryker with a team to meet Stryker engine.

The reason is this, and is in no way the fault of our excellent neighbor on the west.

When Mayor Munro began to phone for help, he called Stryker first. They were obliged to send a messenger to reach the foreman of the Stryker fire company.

While the messenger was out, mayor Munro ‘phoned Wauseon– and got a ready response and quick promise to come. The same with Bryan and Toledo.

When the Stryker foreman was at the ‘phone, Mayor Munro thought three engines would be enough and only requested Stryker to send men to help.

This Stryker did, and much of the credit in saving the balance of the town was due to the help of our good neighbors, Stryker.

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It is rumored that the Farmers & Merchants bank will soon consider the matter of rebuilding the business room, which was occupied by Theobald & Gype.

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Archbold has some real businessmen, and the town is going right ahead again.

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Archbold lost a lot of money and property in the fire, but Archbold is made of better stuff than some think.

Archbold is not so poor as some estimate. In fact, the individual wealth of Archbold citizens is always underestimated.

This is due to the saving habits and the fact that many of our older citizens never learned to spend.

The town will be built up again. But in the meantime, Archbold can sell you anything it could sell you before the fire. Archbold is still a town in every way.

Archbold has merchants who believe in themselves and in the town. We have made some expensive mistakes because of over-economy, but upon the ruins of our mistakes we build our successes.

Here’s hoping that some of the Archbold money will now find investment in new buildings in Archbold instead of going out of town for opportunities.

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The night of the fire, two men carried all the clothing their arms could hold and piled the goods into an automobile. On top of this they threw a mattress and wheeled away.

One tramp carried away a plate glass mirror. He may intend to get a good look at himself.

Some brasses disappeared from the fire apparatus, and numerous ladders, pails, tubs, and tools have disappeared.

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Mr. & Mrs. Sam Rich had no insurance on their household goods, which were in the rooms above the Whiteborne machine room.

Someone saw a man carry away two bureau drawers filled with clothing from the Rich rooms. The clothing has not yet been found.

Sam mourns most about his treasured work bench and tools, at which he was won’t to spent many hours.

Gype & Buehrer Bros. have in mind rebuilding, but fear they can not get the labor this fall and may be obliged to wait until Spring.

The expert of the factory came Wednesday and opened the big fireproof safe from Henry Hitch’s office. The books and papers inside were only slightly scorched by the great fire.

The Theobald & Gype safe was also opened Wednesday. The books were not greatly damaged.

If owners of buildings destroyed by fire will apply at the office of the county auditor before October first, the pro-party will be taken off the tax list.

Citizens will have a cleanup bee, Friday, Sept. 12th, to clean up the ruins of the fire. Civic pride ought to prompt each citizen to take a hand. Those who cannot come may hire a substitute.

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Archbold has received an awful blow, but it is by no means a death blow nor a knockout.

Archbold still has every line of business. The town still has the biggest hardware store in the county, big dry goods and furniture stores, jewelry stores, two drug stores, two butcher shops, three grocery stores, two harness shops, five and ten store, clothing, livery ban, horse hospital, two poolrooms, picture show, two smith shops, two printing offices, two banks, novelty store, grist mill, elevator, stave factory, greenhouse, ladder factory, sawmill, four doctors, two dentists, tinsmith, plumbing shop, poultry and egg packing house, machine shop, garage, wood-working and door factory, and numerous other flourishing enterprises.

Archbold has a good brick schoolhouse, seven churches, two miles of brick paved streets with miles of sidewalks, a new town hall, many beautiful residences costing from $1,500 to $9,000.

No, Archbold is not knocked out. We can sell you anything we could before the fire. Come.

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And in all the fire and all the excitement not one life was lost, not one family was deprived of its breadwinner, not one home is in mourning because of the great misfortune that befell the village.

In small towns, human life is placed away above property, and for both these conditions let us be truly thankful.